WHILE WE KNOW THAT EASTER IS THE GREATEST FEAST IN ANY CHRISTIAN CHURCH AND IS CELEBRATED WITH JOY, IN ROMANIA IT IS UNIQUE. IN THE FORTY DAYS TILL THE ASCENSION WE ARE DAILY REMINDED OF THE GREAT TRUTH OF THE RESURRECTION EVEN IN OUR GREETINGS OF ONE ANOTHER. FOR EXAMPLE INSTEAD OF “GOOD MORNING”, “GOOD EVENING”, ETC. WE SAY “CHRISTOS A INVIAT” (CHRIST IS RISEN) AND THE RESPONSE IS “ADEVARAT A INVIAT” (INDEED HE IS RISEN).

TO BRING SOME OF THE JOY OF THE SEASON TO THE CHILDREN AND PARENTS IN THE ONCOLOGY AREA WE, ONCE AGAIN, PLANNED A PARTY FOR THEM. ALL THE SEASONAL THINGS, CONNECTED WITH EASTER - COLOURED EGGS AND SPECIAL CAKES WITH ONE HUGE CAKE DEPICTING LAMBS IN A GREEN FIELD, WERE CENTRAL. OF COURSE THERE WERE BASKETS OF FRUIT AND BOTTLES OF FRUIT JUICES TOO. ENHANCING EVERYTHING WAS THE JOYFUL MUSIC - LATIN-AMERICAN - PLAYED FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER OF THE LONG HALL. THIS WAS THE GIFT OF MR. DANIEL IONESCU WHO ALSO PRESENTED EACH CHILD WITH A GIFT.

THE YOUTH CHOIR FROM ST. THERESE CHURCH THEN FILLED THE AIR WITH EASTER MUSIC AND ALLELUIAS!

TRULY THESE SICK CHILDREN WERE GIVEN JOY AND SOME RELEASE FROM DULLNESS AND PAIN.


“CHRISTOS A INVIAT”


A GROUP OF VOLUNTEER NURSES AND OUR FRIEND, HENRYK BEHR ENTERED INTO THE JOYFUL ATMOSPHERE BEING MOVED TO TEARS BY THE REACTIONS OF EVERY CHILD AND MOTHER, ALL FORGOT FOR ONE HOUR THAT THEY ARE CONFINED IN HOSPITAL UNDER TOUGH TREATMENT.

FOR ONE HOUR WE HAD ONLY JOY - NO PAIN - NO WORRY - NO CALL FOR DOCTORS.