In his address on New Year’s day at the Patriarchal Cathedral which also marked the inauguration of the Solemn and Commemorative Year 2025 in the Romanian Patriarchate, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel emphasized the dual role of the Patriarchate – not only as an administrative entity but as a beacon of faith and national identity.
The Romanian Orthodox Church marks a significant milestone this year with the celebration of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate. Established on February 4, 1925, following the Great Union of 1918, the Patriarchate has been pivotal in promoting both national unity and spiritual cohesion among Romanians.
This year also honors the memory of Romanian Orthodox spiritual fathers and confessors from the 20th century, who remained steadfast in their faith during the communist regime, leading to their canonization.
The celebrations reflect on the Church’s journey through centuries of trials and triumphs, with a focus on the historical significance of the Great Union and the elevation of the Church to patriarchal status, recognized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in 1925.
The centennial events aim to strengthen the faith, remember the sacrifices of the past, and inspire future generations to uphold the Orthodox Christian values and the unity of the Romanian people.
The Romanian Patriarchate – 100 Years of Serving the Life of the Church and the Unity of the Romanian People
The year 2025, declared by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church as the Solemn Year of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate and the Commemorative Year of the 20-century Romanian Orthodox Spiritual Fathers and Confessors, represents a unique moment in the history of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
This anniversary is not only a celebration of the past but also a call for gratitude towards our forebears and reflection on the role of our Church in the life of the Romanian people. Over the 100 years of its existence, the Romanian Patriarchate has been an undying beacon of faith and national unity, while the Romanian Orthodox spiritual fathers and confessors of the 20th century were true defenders of Orthodox faith against trials and persecutions.
The completion of a century since the establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate is an opportunity to delve deeper into the knowledge of our Church’s history, which has been closely linked to the destiny of the Romanian people and their aspirations for unity and freedom. At the same time, it is a moment to commemorate those who, through their sacrifice, defended and confessed the Orthodox faith, even in the toughest times.
The establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate was a national church achievement, confirmed by the Ecumenical Patriarchate
Four decades after the recognition of the Autocephaly of the Romanian Orthodox Church in 1885, the Romanian Patriarchate was founded on February 4, 1925, in a historical context marked by the Great Union of 1918, which united all Romanian historical provinces into one single state. The national unity achieved by the Great Union of 1918 naturally demanded a reorganization of the Romanian Orthodox Church to reflect the new political and territorial reality of Greater Romania.
The Union was not only an administrative necessity but also an expression of the spiritual unity that existed among believers from all Romanian provinces. “With a view to strengthening our ecclesiastical unification, but also for increasing the prestige of the Romanian Orthodox Church in the entire Christian world, the question of elevating it to the dignity of a patriarchate was also discussed”.
On February 4, 1925, at the proposal of Metropolitan Pimen Georgescu of Moldavia (1909-1934), the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church decided to establish the Patriarchate, a proposal unanimously voted. In the same meeting, Bishop Vartolomeu Stănescu of Râmnic-Noul Severin (1921-1938) read the Act of Establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate, and the decision was communicated to the government for legislation. After the legislative bodies adopted the bill (February 12 and 17, 1925), the law was promulgated by King Ferdinand I on February 23, 1925, and published in the Official Gazette on February 25, 1925.
The Ecumenical Patriarchate, represented by Patriarch Basil III (1925-1929), considered “welcome and justified […] the elevation of the sister Church in Romania to patriarchal dignity” and sent the Tomos for the recognition of the Patriarchate on July 30, 1925. The investiture and enthronement of the first patriarch, Miron Cristea, on November 1, 1925, officially sealed the establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate.
The Role of the Romanian Patriarchate in the Orthodox World
The establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate was recognized internationally, especially through the Tomos of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The official recognition of the Romanian Patriarchate by other autocephalous Orthodox Churches strengthened the prestige of the Romanian Orthodox Church and contributed to consolidating its role in the symphony of worldwide Orthodoxy.
The Romanian Patriarchate was not just an administrative institution but also a symbol of national, spiritual, and cultural unity. Through its efforts, the Romanian Orthodox Church supported Balkan and Eastern Orthodoxy, aiding in the preservation of many church establishments and the maintenance of Orthodox faith in difficult times.
Romanian Orthodox Spiritual Fathers and Confessors of the 20th Century
On the occasion of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate, the Holy Synod decided to officially proclaim some Romanian Orthodox priests and confessors from the communist regime as saints. These saints were canonized for their manner of preserving faith and Christian dignity in the face of oppression. The Church honors them because they withstood persecution with dignity and confessed Christ’s truth, even under conditions of torture and death, thus providing a living example of authentic Christian living.
Their canonization is an act of recognition of the sanctification of their life and sacrifice, which transcends any political context, emphasizing that true Christian confession does not support transient worldly ideologies but the eternal values of faith and love of God.
Even though some of these new confessor saints of the Romanian Orthodox Church might have had certain political sympathies at some point or were influenced by the historical and social context in which they lived, their canonization is not linked to these aspects because, through profound repentance and the sanctification of their own lives, these confessors renounced such sympathies and worked tirelessly for the spiritual growth of their fellow men and for the good of the Church.
In this way, they became living examples of repentance, patience, sacrifice, and love for Christ, showing that true faith transcends any political ideology and is manifested through humble and merciful love of one’s neighbor and through living a holy life in Christ. The saints understood that perfection does not lie in the absence of sin, but especially in the constant effort to remain united with the Holy God, through repentance, prayer, and generous or merciful love (Hebrews 12:14).
Teachers of Faith and Intercessors in Heaven
The Romanian spiritual fathers and confessors of the 20th century, canonized by the Church, are wise teachers of Orthodox faith and Christian life. Through their lives, they teach us that no transient worldly power can overcome true faith. Being great intercessors, peaceful and patient, they guided believers on the path to salvation and thus helped the Romanian Orthodox Church to carry out constant pastoral and spiritual activity in the life of the Romanian people.
Their spiritual legacy inspires us today to maintain Orthodox faith and defend the virtues and values of Christian life in the face of current challenges. These confessor saints are living icons of our Church, teaching us that sacrificial love for Christ is the highest calling for every Christian.
The Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate is, at the same time, a moment of great joy and gratitude for all Romanian Orthodox.
This century of existence and rich activity of the Romanian Patriarchate has been marked by many blessings but also by some difficult trials, which the Romanian Orthodox Church, with God’s help, has overcome with patience, wisdom, and hope.
Looking back at these 100 years, we see both a rich history and a beautiful spiritual legacy left by our forerunners—whether we speak of the patriarchs who wisely shepherded the Church, or the hierarchs, priests, deacons, monks, and lay believers who prayed and confessed, defending and transmitting the Orthodox faith in hard times, uniting in their souls the suffering of the Cross with the hope of the Resurrection, the tears of repentance with the joy of meeting the Risen Christ.
Now, at the celebration of the Centennial, the Romanian Patriarchate gives thanks to the Most Holy Trinity, the Virgin Mary, and all the saints for the help received in preserving the apostolic faith, the spiritual unity of Romanians, and pan-Orthodox brotherhood. We also express our respect and gratitude to all those who contributed to the establishment, organization, and work of the Romanian Patriarchate as an institution serving Orthodox faith and the unity of the Romanian people.
May this Centennial be an occasion for strengthening in faith and a remembrance of those who, through their sacrificial love, have left us a holy confession and legacy for the glory of the Most Holy Trinity, the good of the Romanian people, and the joy of all Orthodoxy!
† Daniel
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Source: Basilica.ro / Photo: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu
