The 60th Anniversary of the
Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Church

Celebrated at the weekend of November 6-8, 1999 in the presence of His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel

Celebrations were held according to the following schedule:

Saturday 6th Day of November 1999

Welcoming His Eminence Archbishop Nathaniel to Holy Trinity Church with the traditional "bread & salt" - at 6:15 p.m., by president of the parish Council, Mr. Marian Sarbu, and Mrs. Maria Anton, president of the Ladies Aid.

Great Vespers Service - at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Blessing of the Chapel.

A Memorial (Parastas) Service, commemorating the founders & deceased members of the parish, and Confessions followed at the end of the Vespers Service.

A Reception was held in the Romanian Cultural Center, concluding the Evening Services.

At the Saturday Evening services, the following clergy served: Constantin Alecse, parish priest, Very Rev. Father Richard Grabowski, former parish priest at the Holy Trinity for some 12 years, Very Rev. Father Constantin Tofan, president of the Mission Department (ROEA), Priests: dr. Catalin Mitescu & John Limbeson, former deacons of the Holy Trinity Parish, Very Rev. Archimandrite Nikodim (Remus) Bibart, parish priest of the Holy John the Bap;tist parish in Hollywood, Bulgarian Diocese, Father Mihai Carpinisan of Torrance, Romanian Diocese of Torrance, under His Emminence Archbishop Victorin, the Romanian Patriarchate, Rev. Father Anton Frunza, former assistent at the Holy Trinity Parish, Father Josiah Trenham, Rector of St. Andrew's Antiochian Parish in Riverside, California, Rev. Father Andrew Lasko, assistent priest at St. Anne's Paris in Pomona Valley, Father Ioan Poptelecan, Rector of St. Mary's Parish, St. Paul, Minnesota, and deacon Vasile Simonca, attached to the Sfânta Treime parish in Los Angeles, CA.

Sunday 7th Day of November 1999
( Divine Services were held only in Church. The Services were bilingual).

Matins Service - at 9:00 a.m. Vesting of Archbishop Nathaniel (in the middle of the Church) - at 9:45 a.m., followed by: Blessing of the New Iconostasis, Hierarchical Chair, Royal Icon stands and other new church furniture. Blessing of a "Reader", dr. Costin Popescu followed at 9:55 a.m.

Hierarchical Liturgy - from 10:00 a.m., pontificated by His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel, assisted by the parish priest and a sobor of some 12 visiting clergy. The Matins service was officiated by drs. Costin Popescu and Razvan Bena, while Father Catalin Mitescu officiated the Proskomeidia..

The vesting of Archbishop Nathaniel was held in the middle of the Church. Afterwards, His Eminence blessed the new Iconostases, Archierarchical Chair, Royal Icon Podium, the Mother of God Stand, the Gospel Stand, the Cantor's pew and the rest of the church furniture.

The blessing of the new Reader, Dr. Costin Popescu followed.

The Sobor of some 12 invited guests accompanied His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel: the Deans:Constantin Alecse, Richard Grabowski, and Constantin Tofan, and priests Catalin Mitescu, John Limbeson, Minas Sarchizian, Anton Frunza, Ioan Poptelecan, Gheorghe Libotean, from Phoenix, Arizona, Vasile Latis, of Houston, Texas, Virgil Suciu of Phoenix, Arizona and our own deacon Vasile Simonca.

Also part of the procession were: sub-deacons Ion Canciu and Bill (John William) Clark, the newly blessed Reader, Dr. Costin Popescu, and a great number of Altar-boys.

Father Gheorghe Libotean of Phoenix, Arizona, delivered the Sermon about the Power of Faith, while His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel spoke about the spiritual meaning of the Church in the life of the individuals, and the importance of the Sunday School in the formation of the Christian Character in the life of youth.
The Anniversary Banquet and Cultural Program were held in our own newly remodeled ROMANIAN CULTURAL CENTER (adjacent to the Church), from 1:00 p.m. - according to the attached program.

Some 30 people were at the head-table, with some 300 people in attendance. From the General Consulate of Romania in Los Angeles, we were honored to have Prof. Dr. Nicolae Constantinescu, Consul General, accompanied by some other 6 people from the Consulate personnel.

His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel also honored the Banquet with His presence, being the main speaker at the anniversary event.

Ing. Michael Nutza was the Master of Ceremony for the anniversary affair. Many distinguished guests were invited to speak. Each of them invoked the glorious 60 years past of the parish.

Messages from the religious and political personalities from near and far were read. Worthwhile mentioning are the following: The President of USA Bill Clinton (Press Secretary), California's Governor's Office Gray Davis, Mayor of Los Angeles Richard Riordan, Board of Supervisors, Michael D. Antonovich, Los Angeles City Council, Laura Chick, also His Excellency Mircea Dan Geoana, Romania's Ambassador to Washington (message printed entirely in the 16th page of the "Christian Life"), and the Message of Mrs. Georgeta B. Washington, President

of the Union and League of the Romanian Societies in USA, reproduced entirely on page 17 of the "Christian Life". Also messages were received from Very Rev. Father Lawrence Lazar, Dean of the St. George's Cathedral in Southfield, Michigan, Fr, Simion Pavel, Mid-Vest Deanery and Very Rev. Fr. Mircea Marinescu of Atlantic Seaboard Deanery, etc.

A special anniversary menu was served, consisting of: Hors D'oeuvres, Sauerkraut-staffed Cabbage, Home-made sausages (by maestro Nicolae Margan & company), Chicken pane with all trimmings and salad, Cake, American & Romanian Coffee. The Refreshment Center was open for everyone's enjoyment.

Due to the nature of this Anniversary, we have hired two orchestras:

Radu Goldis & Associates (dance, Romanian & International music, dance).
Flowers from Maramures, with Romanian Country Music. Florea Burnea, special guest - intrumental soloist at the Romania Radio & TV, will play 6 musical instruments.

Based on the interest shown by far the members of our Romanian American community, the expectation of "Sold-Out" was for real.

Mrs. Theodora Dragomir: (818) 952-7149; and Mrs. Monica Juganu (818) 715-0887 were available throughout the season to take your reservations. We really thank them dearly.

A Cruise for 2 persons, (from Florida to Bahamas, details at: 818/466-2647), was offered complimentary by Mr. Michael & dr. Dana Nutza, in a special raffle. The winner of the trip was Mr. Ion Ana, who is already in touch for details with the organizers. Mr. Ioan Ionitza, the famous Romanian Cyclist also offered 2 notes of the "Special edition" 1000.00 lei Romanian Notes, which were also raffled. We thank them.

The Raffle tickets were drawn upon all the "entrance tickets" each standing an equal chance to win.
Anniversary Master of Ceremony: Ing. Michael Nutza, who wishes to share his thanks and gratitude to his wife dr. Dana Nutza, Marian Sarbu and Viorel Petrescu, who made it possible by personal sacrifice the purchase of the anniversary flowers for the church and hall decoration for the named anniversary.

Also thanks are deserved by Mrs. Teodora Dragomir, helped by Mrs. Monica Juganu, who took care of the Anniversary reservations. Needless to say that all credit belongs to the ladies auxiliary and all organizers who made a real success of this anniversary event. Thank-you all.

Facts about the Holy Trinity Church, Revealed at its 60th Anniversary, November 6-7 1999

As part of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate, a Diocese within the Orthodox Church of America, served by 6 priests: Martin Ionescu, (1939-1947), Grigore Coste (1948-1957), Victor Barbulescu (1957-1969), Anchidim Useriu (interim, 1969/1970), Richard Grabowski (1970-1982) and Constantin Alecse (1982 to this date), during 60 years, the Holy Trinity Church was instrumental in establishing many missions and parishes in the United States Pacific Coast Deanery, from the States of Washington, Oregon and California, Nevada and Arizona, Texas and even Mexico.

During all these years, generations were saved, attending thousand of regular services, every year, and many more tens of thousand of prayers in private devotion.

Also over these years at the Holy Trinity Church were performed all the services traditional to any Orthodox Faithful's life: Over 800 children were baptized, some 300 weddings were performed, and over 1,000 were buried.
At the 60th Anniversary celebration together we were thankful to the Almighty for all His Blessings upon us, shared in God's Glory bestowed upon the Holy Trinity Church for the last 60 years, since its inception, and commemorated the founders of this Church and their memorable past.

We all pledged to see everyone, once again even at a greater anniversary, the 75th, but promise to be held in the church facilities at a new location.