The Patriarch of Romania at Cernica Monastery
26/3/14
On 23 March 2014, the Orthodox Church was on the 3rd Sunday of the Lent, day dedicated to the Holy Cross. Lots of inhabitants of Bucharest attended the Divine Liturgy at Cernica Monastery where His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania was present, who delivered a sermon in which he explained the spiritual significance of the Gospel the Church scheduled to be read on this Sunday. His Beatitude underlined the fact that the mystery of the Cross is a source of spiritual renewal, as well as of the crucifixion of the sin and selfishness inside us, in order to cultivate the merciful devoted love which prepares us for receiving the light and joy of the Resurrection. Jesus Christ, our Saviour, showed the Patriarch of Romania, teaches us that in order to foretaste the glory of the Kingdom of God ever since this life, we must accomplish three conditions: self denial, carrying or assuming the cross, and following Christ.
The visit of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on this Sunday was an occasion of great joy for all those present.
To end with, the Patriarch of Romania appreciated the beauty of these places and showed that they must lead us to the heavenly beauty: “This monastery is very close to Bucharest and also situated in a very beautiful place. Here, at the resurrection meadow, it is one of the most important cemeteries of our country. People come to this monastery to attend the religious services, to pray, burn a candle at the graves of the passed away and to enjoy the beauty of nature, which must lead us to the heavenly beauty”, His Beatitude said.
The abbot of Cernica Monastery, Archimandrite Maxim Badoiu thanked the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church for his presence in the middle of the monastic community and for the sermon delivered.
“Thank you very much, Your Beatitude, for the teaching you always address us. Today too I consider that Your Beatitude’s visit is an encouragement for us especially for this period of the Lent of which first half has already passed. Certainly, like any other Christian, we also have periods when our spiritual side is weakened, so that this sermon you addressed to all of us comes to our aid, to encourage us to continue the fasting and prayer as the Holy Fathers, Saint Hierarch Calinic and all the saints who lived in this monastery taught us” Archimandrite Maxim Badoiu said.
New projects at Cernica Monastery
The Patriarch of Romania has also spoken about the new projects of the monastery.
“We must make an iconostasis, a new altar screen to the church of “Saint Nicholas” because the one in the big church does not belong to Cernica Monastery. The iconostasis belongs to the church of “Saint Friday Hereasca” demolished in broad day light by the dictator and reconstructed now. Its iconostasis was secretly preserved here. We also have a few houses which must be repaired and renewed.
Cernica Monastery near Bucharest is one of the most beautiful and most visited monastic settlements of our country. Situated in quite special natural scenery, near Cernica Lake, the monastery is a place full of history too.
