The Patriarch of Romania Consecrated the New Seat of the National Library

On 22 April 2012, Sunday of Saint Thomas, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church consecrated the new seat of the National Library of Romania, in 22 Unirii Ave., Bucharest.

After the consecration service, the Patriarch of Romania delivered a blessing message entitled The National Library – a means of conserving and communicating the intellectual legacy of a people in the course of time, in which he emphasised the role and importance of the presence of the Library in a modern space.

“The National Library of Romania has always been a must, because it facilitates conservation, development and emphasising of the national documentary patrimony, namely the national intellectual legacy expressed today in almost 12 million L.U. (library units): manuscripts, printed books, albums, periodical, cartographies, collections of graphics, engravings, stamps, records, CD-s, DVD-s, etc. This huge intellectual legacy had to be kept in a suitable building, spacious, well organised and modern.

The Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church offered the director of the National Library an icon of Saint Great Martyr George, protector of the librarians, a Holy Bible and several books published by the Romanian Patriarchate. The librarians received the Easter Pastoral Letter of His Beatitude for 2012, and all those present small icons of Saint Great Martyr George.

Elena Tarziman, director of the National Library has also addressed a speech for the Church, confirming her role of beginner of the printing and editorial activity in our country, as Trinitas Radio informs us.

“We owe the Church the book and education in the Romanian space. As we know very well the first books were books of teaching, besides their sacred character. The first libraries of the Romanian culture were within the monasteries. Collections that survived till nowadays have been constituted and printed within monasteries. Your Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, today a good beginning was done to the National Library of Romania in another stage of its existence, through the blessing that you gave to this place and to the people over here”.

The Library Director took turns in offering books to the Patriarch of Romania.

Further on, the inaugural document of the new seat was read and signed by the Patriarch of Romania and Elena Tarziman.

On the occasion of today’s event, the following exhibitions were opened: Brands of the religious art: art in canonical and personal expression (canonical icon, painting, photograph – works of Romanian contemporary artists), Picu Patrut Manuscripts (1818 – 1872) in the Special Collections of the National Library of Romania – 140 years since his death (virtual exhibition) and the Patriarchs of Romania: photographs of the Special Collections of the National Library of Romania (Miron Cristea, Nicodim, Teoctist) (virtual exhibition). The exhibitions were visited by the Patriarch of Romania and by all those present.

Personalities, people of culture and many book lovers attended the event.

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