Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church awarded the “Faith and Communion” Order on Thursday to individuals and institutions involved in organizing the Consecration of the National Cathedral’s frescoes.
In his address, the Patriarch emphasized that the order bears the image of the Holy Trinity, which represents the source of life and unity within the Church.
“We congratulate all those who have been honored with this new patriarchal order, Faith and Communion. This order bears the image of the Holy Trinity. The engolpion received by the hierarchs, the pectoral cross given to the clergy, and the insignia cross presented to the laity all reflect that the Holy Trinity is the source of life and unity in the Church,” said the Patriarch of Romania.
He noted that the events marking the consecration revealed the Romanian people’s deep desire to witness the beauty of the new Patriarchal Cathedral.
“The events we experienced so intensely, beginning on October 26 and 27, were amplified by an unexpectedly large pilgrimage of believers from all over Romania and even from the Romanian diaspora. Over the 11 days of pilgrimage, with veneration in the Holy Altar, more than 315,000 pilgrims came to Bucharest. This shows how much people wanted to see the new cathedral, whose frescoes were consecrated on October 26,” Patriarch Daniel continued.
Work continues on the Cathedral
However, the Patriarch noted that work on the Cathedral is ongoing, as final details are still being completed.
“We must continue our efforts—to finish the frescoes in the Cathedral at ground level, to prepare the chapel in the lower level of the Cathedral, and, of course, to complete the urban grotto of Saint Andrew the Apostle, located beneath the Cathedral esplanade. This space will serve as a multifunctional and cultural area, even suitable for culinary events, since culinary art is part of our traditional culture,” he said.
In conclusion, the Patriarch announced that further distinctions will be awarded to those who contributed to the consecration, including artists and volunteers.
“On November 18, in the Aula Magna ‘Patriarch Teoctist,’ we will offer a sign of blessing and gratitude to the 650 volunteers from the ‘Youth in Action’ initiative and to the 230 volunteers from the Chapel of the National Cathedral of Salvation. Since gratitude is a rare flower, it must be cultivated more often,” concluded the Patriarch.
Source and photos: Basilica.ro
