Anniversary of the Romanian Orthodox Basilica Press Centre at Samurcasesti Monastery

June 2015

The Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of the Holy Trinity on 1 June, this year. On this day too, the Press Centre of the Romanian Patriarchate celebrates its dedication day. The employees of the Press Centre of the Romanian Patriarchate prayed together during the Divine Liturgy and Te Deum service celebrated in Samurcasesti church monastery, a monastic settlement that celebrated its dedication day.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated, with the blessing of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, by his delegate, His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch and Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, assisted by a group of priests and deacons from Basilica Press Centre.

Thanksgiving service to God

After the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanul, celebrated the Te Deum service as thanksgiving to God for all the boons bestowed over the coordinators, employees and benefactors of Basilica Press Service. Several clergy of the Press Service of the Romanian Patriarchate celebrated together with His Grace. Besides the faithful present, several employees of the Press Centre of the Romanian Orthodox Church attended the celebration in the church monastery too.

To end with the celebration, Rev Nicolae Dascalu, Patriarchal Counsellor and Coordinator of Basilica Press Centre read the message of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church on the occasion of the anniversary of Basilica Press Centre of the Romanian Patriarchate entitled Basilica Press Service – media support in the parish and mission today.

“In the Christian Latin language Basilica means a big church and it underlines the media missionary role of the Press Centre of the Romanian Patriarchate in the pastoral, missionary, educational and cultural work of the Church in society, while Trinitas refers to the Holy Trinity, Communion of eternal divine love and perfect model of communion in the life of the Church (cf. John 17:21-22). This is why, the feast of the Most Holy Trinity is a remarkable spiritual time for the media institutions of the Romanian Patriarchate which promote, through their activity, the Christian Orthodox faith and spirituality, and set up bridges of communication between generations, as well as between the Romanians from the country and those abroad, especially at this time of globalisation and pronounced secularisation” the message of the Patriarch of Romania reads.

Certainly, Basilica Press Centre unfolds a very important and necessary mission

Then, His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanul delivered a speech for those present in which he emphasised the importance of the press in the missionary activity of the Church.

“On the occasion of the proclamation of the year 2015 as solemn year of the great shepherds of souls – among whom a remarkable position is held by Saint John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople – and of today’s mission of the monastery and parish in society, Basilica Press Centre unfolds a very important and necessary mission through all its branches. We thank abbess Savrofora Lucia and the community of the monastery for having received us at the dedication day of the holy monastery, so that we, those who work in this field, should celebrate together with you, the faithful and pilgrims of the Holy Monastery, the bright feast of the Most Holy Trinity. After finishing the Divine Liturgy, we have also celebrated a Te Deum service to thank the Most Holy Trinity for all the gifts received within this media work of our Holy Church useful to so many faithful”, His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch also said.

Samurcasesti Monastery – an oasis of joy and peace and quiet

His Grace has also thanked the faithful present at the celebration and emphasised the beauty of this monastic settlement – an oasis of joy and peace and quiet for those who live in Bucharest and not only for them.

Gratitude for special merits in keeping the right faith and promotion of the Christian culture

His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch has also awarded the solemn diploma of “Saint John Chrysostom” to the following persons – several employees of Basilica Press Centre – on behalf of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, as a sign of appreciation and gratitude for special merits in keeping the right faith and prompting the Christian culture: Deacon George Aniculoaie, editor at “Lumina” newspaper; Daniela Sontica, deputy editor-in-chief at “Lumina” newspaper; Dumitru Manolache, editor to “Lumina” newspaper; Raffael Theodor Popa, designer at “Lumina” newspaper; Gheorghe Anghel, news editor and secretary at Basilica News Agency; Iulian Dumitrascu, news editor at Basilica News Agency; Robert Nicolae, news editor at Basilica News Agency and press photographer at “Lumina” newspaper; Elena Voicu, bookkeeper at “Lumina” newspaper; Alexandru Trusca, editor-in-chief at Trinitas TV; Calin Stanescu, producer at Trinitas TV; Iulian Bobirnea, producer at Trinitas TV; Raluca Mihalache, producer at Trinitas TV; Ciprian Bohotici, cameraman collaborator to Trinitas TV; Petru Mihalea, editor-in chief at Trinitas TV; Rev. Dumitru Paduraru, editor at Trinitas Radio station; deacon Daniel Moraras, chief in the technical department of Trinitas Radio station.

Remembrance service for founders

After this festive time, His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanul celebrated a remembrance service for the late founders of the place of worship. After celebrating the remembrance service the church was surrounded, saying prayers at the graves of the founders. To end with, His Grace congratulated the children on the occasion of the International Children’s Day and all those of the name of Saint Martyr and Philosopher Iustin, celebrated today in the Romanian Orthodox Church. On this occasion, His Grace has also underlined the importance of the religion class in the children’s life and congratulated the parents for the exemplary way in which they supported the religion class.
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