National Cathedral in Bucharest to be consecrated on 25 November

100 years after the Great Union of all Romanians within the borders of one single State, and only one month before the country will take over the rotation presidency of the EU, Bucharest will see its National Cathedral consecrated, on Sunday, 25 November 2018.

Strange as it may seem for a European nation, the Romanian Orthodox Church, the majority church of Romanians, did not, until now, dispose of a cathedral in Bucharest. The building currently playing the role of Patriarchal Cathedral is actually a small monastic church dating from the mid-17th century.

The National Cathedral that will be consecrated on Sunday represents the embodiment of a more-than-a-century-old dream of the Kings and Patriarchs of Romania, as well as a symbol of the unity and European dignity of the Romanian people. This dream came true due to the determined efforts of HB Patriarch Daniel, who’s name will be retained in history as its main founder. From his very first day as a Patriarch, back in 2007, in economically and socially very challenging times, Patriarch Daniel tirelessly invested himself in the edification of this impressive monument. The results of this effort is that today Romanians finally have a National Cathedral, a representative monument for the spirituality of this Orthodox people. An expression of the love for God, a symbol of the unity and piety of Romanians, as well as of the hope for a God-blessed future, the Cathedral is dedicated to the entire people, to its sacrifices and daring aspirations. Dedicated to the heroes of the Romanian people throughout the ages, the cathedral will have two feast days – the Lord’s Ascension and St. Andrew, the Apostle of Romanians.

The Representation in Brussels of the Romanian Orthodox Church warmly hails this remarkable event for Orthodox Christians in Romania and beyond. The consecration service will be celebrated by His All Holiness Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, together with His Beatitude Daniel of Romania and all the bishops of the Romanian Orthodox Church. On 30 November, the feast of St. Ap. Andrew, the first feast-day of the cathedral will be celebrated in the presence of His Beatitude Teophilos, the Patriarch of Jerusalem.