His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel Blesses Residents at Christiana Monastery Home for the Elderly

Basilica News – 21/10/2023

Bucharest-Romania: His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel visited Christiana Monastery in Bucharest and the home of the elderly within the monastic settlement on 21 October 2023.

The visit of the Patriarch of Romania began at the “Descent of the Holy Spirit” church of the monastery, where he said, “we visit this monastery especially to meet the elderly who are here cared for, protected and encouraged in this period of their lives.”

His Beatitude presented the abbess with several gifts, including liturgical books, the 12 volumes of the Romanian Philokalia and incense from Oman. Abbess Benedicta Chirobocea offered an icon to the Patriarch of Romania. Patriarch Daniel offered each resident an icon, a prayer rope, and a prayer book during a visit to their chambers.

“In this special year of the pastoral care of the elderly, the Church wishes to show a lot of honour and appreciation to all parents, grandparents and elderly people because they have worked all their lives and they have the gift of God to preserve the Orthodox faith.”

Abbess Benedicta Chirobocea was awarded the Diploma and Medal of the Solemn Year 2023 as a sign of appreciation for her work.

His Beatitude offered 47,461 euros (236,230 lei) from the Archdiocese of Bucharest and the Romanian Patriarchate for the work needed to repair the roof of the settlement. The assistance is necessary because the monastery requires additional funds for its extensive renovations.

Doctor Pavel Chirilă, supported by a group of priests and doctors from Bucharest, requested the blessing of Patriarch Teoctist of blessed memory in 1992 for the construction of a medical ecclesiastical institution that would include a polyclinic, four specialty clinics, and a monastery.

The elderly services residence at Christiana Monastery was inaugurated on October 2, 2005. The home is designed for elderly women who wish to spend their final years near God, church services, and the unique tranquillity of a monastic environment.

Source: Basilica News