Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church ended his canonical visit to the Metropolitan See of Moldova and Bucovina

The canonical visit of the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church to the Metropolitan See of Moldova and Bucovina ended on 17th October. His Beatitude was accompanied to the airport of Iaşi by a part of the servant hierarchs, by the representatives of the local authorities, and by the Rev. counsellors of the Eparchial Centre of Iaşi.

His Eminence Teofan, Metropolitan of Moldova and Bucovina, offered the Patriarch of Romania an album of photos of the most important events of the canonical visit of His Beatitude to the Metropolitan See of Moldova, from 12 – 17 October 2010, on the occasion of the feast of Saint Parascheva.

We render below the most important moments of the canonical visit of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel to the Metropolitan See of Moldova and Bucovina.

The official reception of His Beatitude took place on Wednesday, 13 October 2010, with a Te Deum service celebrated. The Patriarch of Romania spoke in his sermon about the social, pastoral, charitable, and missionary activity of the Metropolitan See of Moldova and Bucovina.

On Wednesday night, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel delivered a sermon to end with the National Contest of Choral Ecclesiastic Music entitled “Praise the Lord”, the stage for the Metropolitan See of Moldova and Bucovina. The event took place at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Iaşi.

On the second day of the visit to the Metropolitan See of Moldova and Bucovina, the feast of Saint Pious Parascheva, His Beatitude celebrated the Divine Liturgy together with a group of 22 hierarchs.

To end with the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence Teofan, Metropolitan of Moldova thanked the Patriarch of Romania for his participation in the feast of Moldova and offered him an icon of Saint Parascheva and of Saint Maxim the Confessor. His Beatitude offered His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan, in his turn, an icon of Saint Dimitrie the New, Protector of Bucharest, reminding all those present that in October, the Romanian Orthodox faithful participate in two great feasts, the former one in Iaşi, and the latter one in Bucharest, the feast of Saint Dimitrie the New.

The same day, the mayor of Iaşi, Mr. Gheorghe Nichita offered the Primate of our Church the distinction “Ad Honorem” recently set up, within the traditional cultural event entitled the “Scene of Values”.

Friday, 15 October 2010, the third day of the visit, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church was awarded the title of “Doctor Honoris Causa” by the University of “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” of Iaşi. The award ceremony took place in “Mihai Eminescu” rotunda of the academic institution. His Eminence Teofan, Metropolitan of Moldova and Bucovina read “Laudatio” during the ceremony. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel delivered the lecture entitled “The Church Autocephaly: Unity of Faith and Freedom of Leadership”.

Friday, 15 October 2010, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel participated, in “Dr. Iustin Moisescu” room of the Eparchial Centre, in the opening festivity of the new academic year 2010 – 2011, of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of “Dumitru Stăniloae” of Iaşi, an event held every year close to the feast of Saint Parascheva. During the ceremony, the international symposium entitled “Year of the Orthodox Creed and of the Autocephaly of the Romanian Orthodox Church” was also opened.

Friday evening, the Primate of our Church also visited the “Antibiotice Iaşi” company, one of the most important Romanian producers of general medicines. On this occasion, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel awarded the general director of the institution, Mr. Ioan Nani, the “Sanctus Stephanus Magnus” order. The Director of “Antibiotice Iaşi” company announced, as a proof of appreciation and gratitude, that from now on, the Centre for Research and Studies of Bio-Equivalency will have the name of Saint Pious Parascheva.

Saturday, 16 October, the fourth day of the canonical visit, His Beatitude was amid the monastic community of Sihăstria Monastery. His Beatitude celebrated the remembrance service for hieroschimonk Paisie Olaru, assisted by 8 hierarchs, deacons and priests, on the occasion of the anniversary of 20 years since his passing away. To end with the remembrance service, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel evoked the personality of the great father confessor Paisie Olaru, and celebrated the remembrance service, together with the other hieararchs present at the grave of the well-known father confessor.

Further on, the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church participated in a symposium dedicated to the great father confessor Paisie Olaru, held at the chapel of “Saint Victorin” of Sihăstria Monastery. To start with the proceedings, the participants watched the documentary entitled “Rev. Paisie the Father Confessor”, made by Trinitas Tv station. The hierarchs present at the event evoked the personality of the great father confessor through personal opinions.

On the fourth day of the canonical visit, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church was in the middle of the faithful of Roman city. He was met by His Grace Ioachim Băcăuanul, Assistant Bishop to the Eparchy of Roman and Bacău. The Primate of our Church also visited the local hierarch, His Eminence Archbishop Eftimie.

On the last day of the canonical visit, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, celebrated, on the 21st Sunday after the Pentecost, the re-consecration service of the church monastery of Golia of Iaşi. Besides the historical dedication day, “The Resurrection of the Lord”, the place of worship received, on this occasion, the second dedication day, that of the “Protection of the Mother of God”.

After the consecration service, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the scene specially arranged in front of the Golia Monastery. In the afternoon, His Beatitude visited the “Providence” Medical Centre of Iaşi. This centre was set up at the initiative of the Primate of our Church, during his service as Metropolitan of Moldova and Bucovina. On the last day of the canonical visit to the Metropolitan See of Moldova and Bucovina, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel celebrated the consecration service of the place where the church of “Saint Maxim the Confessor and Saint Gregory Palama” of the parish of Munteni-Copou will be built in Iaşi. The parish is included in the deanery “Iaşi 1”, set up in 2007.

Sunday afternoon, the Primate of our Church, and the delegation accompanying him, arrived at the Theological Seminary of “Saint Basil the Great” of Iaşi. Here, His Beatitude celebrated the consecration service of the painting of the chapel dedicated to “Saints Constantine and Helen”.

The canonical visit to Moldova and Bucovina was sixth that His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel paid this year in the country, besides to one to the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Spain and Portugal in April.

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