The Patriarch of Romania on Sunday officiated the re-consecration of a church in the Aparatorii Patriei neighbourhood in Bucharest, saying that in that place ‘the village and the city gather in the joy of communion.’
Romanian village, a blessed place
In his sermon, Patriarch Daniel referred to the Romanian village as a ‘blessed place’ that offered many educated personalities to our country.
“More than half of the members of the Romanian Academy are born in villages. More than half of our priests are born in villages, and all six patriarchs of Romania were born in villages,” the Patriarch said Sept. 22.
The patriarch recalled that the re-consecrated church was founded by the veterans of the First World War and their descendants who settled in the area, hence the name of the neighbourhood Aparatorii Patriei (Defenders of the Motherland).
The church is ‘a ship of salvation,’ the Patriarch said, ‘where we have the most intense place of God’s presence and work in the world.’
‘All institutions in this world are important, but the only institution that offers forgiveness of sins and not just pardons them is the Church. Only here we receive remission of sins,’ Patriarch Daniel stressed.
New social centre
The Patriarch expressed his appreciation for the activity carried by the parish and announced the establishment of a new pastoral and missionary centre ‘that will be very helpful for cultural and social activities.’
The new social centre will be named after Saint Theodosius of Brazi, commemorated on September 22.
‘It is not enough to meet in prayer, but also in action,’ the Patriarch underscored.
The Patriarch explained why such social centres are needed in today’s Romanian society.
‘There is much loneliness in the individualist-capitalist society, and that is why we must strengthen communion, meet more often, advise one another, bring up our children in faith, respect the elderly, care for the sick and lonely.’
‘All these are means by which we feel the love of Christ poured out upon us through the work of those who love the Lord and become the hands of His merciful love,’ the Patriarch said ending his speech.
Patriarch Daniel honoured the parish priest Fr. Iulian Scoipan with Sanctus Stephanus Magnus order of the Romanian Patriarchate for clergy.
Fr Iulian presented the Romanian Patriarch with an icon of the Hieromartyr Theodosius of Brazi.
