The message of Patriarch Daniel of Romania addressed on the occasion of the launch of the Romanian edition of the volume The Church of Hagia Sophia: Churches of the «Wisdom of God» in the world, Palace of the Parliament, 8 December 2022.
Distinguished audience,
We welcome the initiative of the Chamber of Deputies, for organising, together with the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (A.I.O.), on December 2022, at the Palace of the Parliament, of the launch of the Romanian edition of the volume The Church of Hagia Sophia: Churches of the «Wisdom of God» in the world.
In the contents of the album, representative places of worship dedicated to the Wisdom of God are presented, in images and words, starting with Hagia Sophia in Constantinople and continuing with thirty-seven other churches from around the world, as an important part of the universal spiritual and material heritage, of great historical and cultural value, but also of great architectural and artistic value.
As Holy Apostle Paul assures us, “We preach the crucified Christ […], the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24). Therefore, every place of God’s Wisdom is a consecrated space dedicated to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
The launch of the album The Church of Hagia Sophia: Churches of the «Wisdom of God» in the world gives us the opportunity to study more carefully and appreciate the history and value of the sacred space, because the consecration of a place of worship transforms a gift of people to God, into a gift offered by the Most Holy Trinity to people. When a church is consecrated, people offer to God material earthly goods, and God offers people spiritual heavenly goods.
We wish all the participants in this event good health and happiness, as well as abundant help from God in preserving the Christian Orthodox faith and in cultivating friendship and cooperation between the Orthodox peoples.
With patriarchal blessing,
† DANIEL
Patriarch of Romania
Photo courtesy of Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu
Source: basilica.ro
