November 1 marked the centennial of the enthronement of Romania’s first Patriarch, Miron Cristea – a landmark moment in the history of the Romanian Orthodox Church and in the spiritual life of the Romanian people.
The event of 1 November 1925 confirmed the elevation of the Church to the rank of Patriarchate, thereby recognising its ecclesial maturity and its role in the nation’s unity.
The establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate took place on 4 February 1925, was legislated through royal decree on 23 February, and was recognised by the Ecumenical Patriarchate in July that same year.
The need for the creation of the Romanian Patriarchate was an expression of the union of the Romanian provinces in 1918, decided at Alba Iulia, a National Assembly in which Miron Cristea also took part as Bishop of Caransebeș.
The enthronement ceremony
The enthronement of Romania’s first Patriarch took place at the Royal Palace and at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, in the presence of King Ferdinand I, Queen Marie, members of the Holy Synod, and numerous faithful.
The procession from the Royal Palace to the Patriarchal Cathedral. Photo: Romanian Patriarchate
The patriarchal staff was handed to Patriarch Miron Cristea by King Ferdinand, after the Minister of Religious Affairs, Alexandru Lapedatu, read the act of investiture. After this solemn moment, Patriarch Miron Cristea and those accompanying him walked to the Patriarchate, where the ceremony of enthronement was to continue.
Speeches were then given by Metropolitan Pimen of Moldavia on behalf of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, as well as by representatives of sister Orthodox Churches.
The day continued with a luncheon offered by the Ministry of Religious Affairs at the Chamber of Deputies, a music concert at the Athenaeum organised in honour of the Patriarch by the choral society “Carmen”, and a dinner at the Royal Palace.
Patriarch Miron Cristea
Born in Toplița, Harghita (18 July 1868), Patriarch Miron Cristea was Bishop of Caransebeș for 20 years. Then, from 1920 to 1925, he served as primate metropolitan, and from 1925 to 1939 as Patriarch of Romania.
Shortly after his investiture, Patriarch Miron made great efforts toward the construction of the National Cathedral—an ideal fulfilled nearly a century later.
The first Patriarch of Romania supported the intensification of religious education in secondary schools, re-established seminaries, and founded new ones.
Patriarch Miron Cristea was also a member of the Romanian Academy. He is the author of the expression “the Morning Star of Romanian poetry”, referring to Mihai Eminescu – a metaphor he used in 1895 in his doctoral thesis in Budapest.
He reposed in the Lord on 6 March 1939 and was buried in the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest.
To mark the 100th anniversary of the enthronement of Patriarch Miron Cristea, a Te Deum was officiated at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest on Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at noon.
This year also marks 140 years since the Romanian Orthodox Church received recognition of its autocephalous status, and 100 years since it was elevated to the rank of Patriarchate.
Source: Basilica.ro, Photo: Romanian Patriarchate archive
