MCNY is Where the Experts Teach! Dr. Theodor Damian Honored at 100th Gala for the Centenary in Washington, DC

Translation:

The “100 for the Centenary” Gala, initiated by the Ministry for Romanians Abroad, where 100 Romanians from Diaspora are awarded with outstanding activities, promoters of Romanian values and identity, with symbolic distinctions of recognition and appreciation of their merits and their contribution to the image Romania has reached the United States, the press release of the Romanian Embassy in the United States.

The event, organized by the Ministry for Romanians Abroad, in partnership with the Romanian Embassy in the USA, took place on Wednesday, October 17, 2018, in the elegant building of Romania’s mission, Washington becoming the eighth capital in which the Romanian excellence was celebrated everywhere.

In the presence of the minister for Romanians everywhere, Natalia-Elena Intotero, the Romanian ambassador to Washington, George Cristian Maior and along with representatives of the Romanian community in the USA, took place the ceremony of awarding the distinctions to 11 Romanian promoters of Romanian values and identity. Thus they received symbolic distinctions: Adrian Bejan, Eliot Sorel, Michael Horodniceanu, Victor Velculescu, Theodor Damian, Rodica Barasnescu, Dan Nicolae, Marius Stan, Adrian Bot, Alexandra Nechita and Alexandru Marmureanu.

“The Centenary of the Great Union represents a unique moment in the modern history of Romania. And for American Americans, he has extra significance. Let us remember that the Peace of Paris was defined by the ideals then passed with great power by US President Woodrow Wilson. Its idealism has since allowed the peoples the right to self-determination, which has made the Alba Iulia act also ratified at international level. That is why we are connected with America through this extraordinary gesture of an American president, “said Romania’s ambassador George Cristian Maior.

In this context, George Cristian Maior recalled the initiative of the Romanian-American community a hundred years ago, which managed to promote the cause of national unity, gathering all members under a single National League of Romanians in the USA. In 1918, in Philadelphia, the symbolic city of the independence of the United States, the Romanians proclaimed the idea of uniting Transylvania with the rest of the country. The Romanian ambassador remembered the name of Transylvanian captain Vasile Stoica, the president of the Romanian National League, who made a speech at the Philadelphia event and met with the President Woodrow Wilson at the White House to support the cause of Romania. “After fighting and contributing significantly to the realization of the great union, Vasile Stoica later died in communist prisons, a tremendous sacrifice and a tragic destiny,” the Romanian Ambassador said.

In turn, Minister Natalia-Elena Intotero remarked that Romanians everywhere are a treasure of Romania. “By creating here, in the symbolic country of freedom, promote national identity and Romanian values,” said Natalia-Elena Intotero.

The 100th Gala for the Centenary ended in an artistic moment by Laura Bretan, finalist of the contest “America’s Got Talent” and winner of the “Romanians Have a Talent” contest.

The honorees were all profiled…This is the profile for Professor Damian…

Theodor Damian:

Professor of Philosophy and Ethics at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Metropolitan College of New York; Professor of Philosophy and Literature at the Faculty of Journalism and Communication of Spiru Haret University, Bucharest (2008-2011); The President of the Romanian Institute of Orthodox Theology and Spirituality and the literary cenacle “M. Eminescu “of New York, Parish priest of the Romanian Orthodox Church” St. Apostles Peter and Paul “; Director of the Review of Culture and Spirituality, Lumina Lina – Gracious Light, New York, director of journals Symposium and Romanian Medievalia, New York; President of the American Branch of the Academy of Romanian Scientists; writer, member of the Writers’ Union of Romania; journalist, member of the Union of Professional Journalists in Romania;  member of more than 20 editorial boards of literary and academic journals from Romania and USA, as well as numerous national associations (Romania, USA) and international.

He has published over 30 volumes in the fields of theology and ethics, poetry and literary criticism, including The Icons. Theological and Spiritual Dimensions Theodore of Studion (Lewiston, NY: The Edwin Mellen Press, 2002), Introduction to the History of Christianity. The first millennium (Bucharest: The Romania of Tomorrow Publishing, 2008), Philosophy and Literature: A Hermeneutics of the Metaphysical Challenge (Bucharest: The Romania of Tomorrow Publishing, 2008), Life in and Word (interviews, Cluj: Eikon, Life and Mind. Perspectives on the Human Condition, editor with Richard Grallo and Bert Breiner (New York, Sophia Institute – Theotokos Press, 2013), The Idea of God in Eminescu’s poetry (Bucharest: Eikon, 2016), Gregory of Nazianzus’ Poetry and His Human Face in It (New York: Sophia Institute – Theotokos Press, 2017), and poetry including: In the House of Lightning (Iasi: TipoMoldova, Opera Omnia Series, 2013),  The Isar Sign (Pitesti: Paralela 45 Press, 2006), Lazarus, come out (Iasi: Junimea, 2016).

He has received many awards and diplomas to recognize his academic, professional, cultural and literary activities.