The Patriarch of Romania met the Ecumenical Patriarch at “Henri Coanda” Airport
27/10/2010
The Patriarch of Romania met the Ecumenical Patriarch at “Henri Coanda” Airport accompanied by a group of hierarchs made up of His Eminence Teofan, Metropolitan of Moldova and Bucovina, His Eminence Laurentiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania, His Eminence Serafim, Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of Germany, Central and Northern Europe, His Eminence Calinic, Archbishop of Arges and Muscel, His Eminence Casian, Archbishop of Lower Danube, His Eminence Nicolae, Archbishop of the two Americas, His Grace Sofronie, Bishop of Oradea, His Grace Ambrozie, Bishop of Giurgiu, His Grace Timotei, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Spain and Portugal, His Grace Macarie, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Northern Europe, His Grace Ciprian Campineanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch, His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch, His Grace Varsanufie Prahovveanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest, His Grace Iustin Sigheteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Diocese of Maramures and Satmar, and by local officials.
After His Holiness Bartholomew was received with military honour by the Honour Guard of the Romanian Gendarmerie, a short press conference took place in the Official Room of the International Airport of “Henri Coanda”. Here, the Patriarch of Romania welcomed the Ecumenical Patriarch in Bucharest, in the name of the hierarchs, clergy and faithful, during these days of celebration of Saint Great Martyr Dimitrie, the Myrrh Bearer, Protector of Bucharest.
“We receive you with great joy because the presence of Your Holiness here is an honour for us, for the Romanian people, and contributes, at the same time to the strengthening of the brotherly communion between our sister Orthodox Churches. It is a great joy for us the fact that Your Holiness participate in the celebration of 1685 years since the Ecumenical Synod I of Nicene where the first articles of the Nicene – Constantinople Creed were drafted. We also celebrate 125 years since the recognition of the Autocephaly of the Romanian Orthodox Church by the Mother Church, the Ecumenical Patriarchate and so, we have become sisters, so that we welcome you with great joy to this family festivity as well. Welcome!”, said His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The visit of His Holiness Bartholomew is an answer to the visit that His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel paid from 27 May – 2 June 2009 to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, together with a delegation of the Romanian Orthodox Church. His Holiness is also for the first time in our country since His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel has become the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
