Patriarch Daniel marks on Tuesday the 18th anniversary of his enthronement as Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Patriarchate, gathered in Bucharest for a working session, will join His Beatitude in prayer at the Patriarchal Palace to mark the occasion.
One of the first acts Patriarch Daniel undertook after his enthronement on November 29, 2007, was laying the foundation stone for the National Cathedral. Soon, that milestone will also reach 18 years — and the anniversary finds the monumental building consecrated and functional, with liturgical services celebrated within it.
But Patriarch Daniel is a founder not only in the architectural field, but also in the social, institutional, cultural, and spiritual realms.
Works of faith
Gifted by God with vision and a remarkable capacity to plan and organise, His Beatitude has dedicated himself to the service of the Church, inspiring those around him with the knowledge and strength to build both tangible and intangible realities, including:
- strengthening the institutional framework of the Church through coordinating commissions that draft regulations and guidelines;
- founding the media institutions of the Romanian Orthodox Church (the Basilica Media Centre was among the first created under his patriarchate);
- establishing academic and medical-social institutions;
- reorganising the Romanian Orthodox diaspora by founding new parishes and dioceses;
- instituting commemorative and honorary theme years in the Romanian Patriarchate;
- signing cooperation protocols with state institutions for the benefit of the faithful and all Romanians;
- canonising 65 Romanian saints;
- adding to the liturgical calendar another 29 saints or commemorations, such as the Translation of the relics of Saint Demetrios the New to Bucharest.
A constructive attitude
At his enthronement, His Beatitude spoke of the mission of the archpastor in the Church and society: “The Good Shepherd is one who puts much heart into everything he does for the salvation of others’ souls,” Patriarch Daniel recalled.
“But this merciful heart of the shepherd of souls is formed above all through constant prayer to Christ the Good Shepherd and to all His saints, especially those who themselves were shepherds of souls, great teachers of the world and hierarchs.”
“We have both the desire and the duty to remain steadfast in the unity of the true faith,” Patriarch Daniel also affirmed at the time of his enthronement.
“At the same time, we consider that love for Orthodoxy must not be expressed only in defensive attitudes and excessive fears, but especially in concrete pastoral and missionary works, after the model of the Holy Apostles, whom Christ the Lord, crucified and risen, did not leave locked away in fear in a house in Jerusalem, but sent to preach and missionize throughout the pagan world of their time.”
Under God’s guidance
Patriarch Daniel is highly regarded in Romania and abroad for his academic achievements, having been appointed an honorary member of the Romanian Academy. Yet he remains above all the spiritual son of Saint Cleopas Ilie of Sihăstria, who was his monastic sponsor in 1987.
In his most recent homily, the Patriarch of Romania taught the faithful “to place our hope in God’s help, even if we are professionals or well-prepared.”
This exhortation to humility from such a capable man confirms that great achievements are possible only under God’s guidance. The faithful are urged to remember their Patriarch in prayer.
Source and photo: Basilica.ro
