Patriarhia Română
His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will attend the consecration of the Romanian Orthodox Church’s National Cathedral in Bucharest, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania announced at a meeting of the National Church Council at the patriarchal residence on Tuesday.
Patriarch Bartholomew was invited personally by
Patriarch Daniel during the Holy and Great Council that took place on
the island of Crete in the summer of 2016, and later via an official
letter.
Pat. Bartholomew expressed his desire to participate in this very important event for Orthodox Romanians in an interview
last year with the Romanian Patriarchate’s television station, stating
that it is always a joy and honor for him to visit the Orthodox faithful
of Romania.
Since after the Holy and Great Council, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel invited me to attend the consecration in December 2018. Every time I return to Romania, it is for me a great joy, exultation and honour. All the more if I be vouchsafed to come to a great and historical event such as the consecration of the new Patriarchal Cathedral in the heart of Bucharest.
Patriarch
Daniel also announced that the celebrations related to the consecration
of the National Cathedral will last for five days, from November 25 to
November 30. He also gave an update on the status of the building
project, stating that it is about 80% finished.
The metal roof
structure is scheduled to be installed from July until the end of
September, and the bells will be installed between August and October.
The crosses will be placed on the domes in late October, with the bronze
doors being mounted at the main entrances during the same time.
The
metal roof structure is scheduled to be installed from July until the
end of September, and the bells will be installed between August and
October. The crosses will be placed on the domes in late October, with
the bronze doors being mounted at the main entrances during the same
time.
The National Cathedral, to be dedicated to the Ascension of
Christ and St. Andrew, is popularly known as the People’s Salvation
Cathedral. It will be the patriarchal cathedral for the Romanian
Orthodox Church and the tallest Orthodox Church in the world (433 ft.
high). The new church is designed to hold 6,000 worshipers—more than ten
times the current cathedral.
The consecration of the foundation
stone of the National Cathedral was celebrated on September 13, 2007 by
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
Photo courtesy of Reuters