Anniversary of His Beatitude Daniel at “Saint Mary” – Techirghiol Monastery

On 22 July 2015, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, celebrates the anniversary of 64 years of life.

On this occasion, a Te Deum service was celebrated in the chapel at the semi-basement of the new church of “Saint Mary” – Techirghiol – patriarchal stavropighia – county of Constanta, as thanksgiving for the recent achievements in the life of the Romanian Orthodox Church, of the Romanian people, and of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.

The Te Deum service was celebrated by His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch, assisted by a group of priests and deacons.

Several hierarchs, members of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church attended: His Eminence Ciprian, Archbishop of Buzau and Vrncea; His Eminence Casiaan, Archbishop of Llower Danube; His Eminence Timotei, Archboshop of Arad; His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch; His Grace Ieronim Sinaitul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch; and His Grace Timotei Prahoveanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest.

Our Church is blessed because she is headed by an illuminated hierarch

The congratulatory message of the hierarchs of the Holy synod was delivered by His Eminence Ciprian, Archbishop of Buzau and Vrancea, who underlined that the anniversary of 64 years of life of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel represents a blessed time of spiritual joy, of meditation on the love of the Most Holy Trinity, as well as an occasion of saying prayers to God and thank Him for the gifts He bestowed over the Primate of our Church, in the person of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.

“The religious service that has been celebrated expressed just these feelings of gratitude that we raise, first of all, to God, because He gave us His Beatitude Daniel at the head of His Church in Romania. We, those who have known him very well, ever since he was a student, we could see how His Beatitude devoted to the Church, in time and no time, all his being, all the gifts he received from God, bestowed over his person. This is why we think that our Church is a blessed one, because she is headed by an illuminated hierarch, very well educated, dynamic, energetic, just up to the exigencies of the time we live in. (…) Your Beatitude had the inspiration to choose two special people as your supervisors: the greatest theologian of our Romanian Orthodox Church, “the patriarch of the Romanian theology”, Father Dumitru Staniloae, and one of the greatest father confessors of our Church, Father Cleopa Ilie. They helped you as two guiding lighthouses, guided and helped you to combine theology and spirituality, and then promote this organic unity between theology and spirituality in the Church of Christ in Romania”, His Eminence said.

Then, His Eminence underlined the fact that the Primate of our Church achieved several things within the Romanian Orthodox Church for the glory of God, and for the joy and spiritual benefit of the people.

People work in communion in the Church

To end with, His Beatitude Daniel thanked God for the benefits and gifts received, His Eminence Ciprian, Archbishop of Buzau and Vrancea, for the congratulatory message, as well as all the hierarchs, members of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the priests and nuns present. His Beatitude underlined the fact that people work in communion in the Church, just as the Divine Liturgy is celebrated in communion.

“This is a day of gratitude too for those through whom God worked in our life. We pray God to help us, but He chooses the people who accomplish His will, so that they become the hands of His merciful hands. We work in communion with the hierarchs of the Holy Synod, with the priests and deacons of the Patriarchal and Eparchial Administration so that today we thank God for them too, because the blessing of God is very often seen through the people He sends to help with the accomplishment of His work in the Church”, His Beatitude said.

The duty to continue raising places of worship is a need conveyed from generation to generation

“Now, we, those within the Romanian Orthodox Church are working to raise churches where they are needed, to make up for the time lost in hostile times, and 130 late since the law adopted by King Carol I concerning the Cathedral of Bucharest, a law that has never been abrogated. Thus, we are accomplishing this law after 130 years. There is always time to answer the call of God, and if we have not succeeded in answering the call of God at a certain time, we must resume the idea and accomplish the mission when time allows us for”, His Beatitude said.

His Beatitude has also emphasised the development of the settlement of Techirghiol in the course of time

“A new church was needed and so, His Beatitude Patriarch Teoctist began this church and we have finished its construction and, certainly, began its painting and making the furniture. We hope the church painting should be finished this autumn so that we may dedicate it to the anniversary of 130 years of autocephaly. Therefore, the community of the nuns of Techirghiol is a missionary one through the religious services celebrated here, as well as through the artistic work executed here. All these icons on the altar screen or on the big iconostasis in the semi-basement of the big church are painted by the nuns of the monastery, which means that they are willing to continue the Byzantine Orthodox tradition which is normative in our Church”, the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church said.

The sacrificial love is always a source of joy of the Resurrection

“It is a great joy to see that although we are passing through an economical crisis, yet God gives much endeavour and love to His faithful. The churches are full and the old ones must be restored, but we can also see that are too small. Thus, we think that this time has both difficulties and joys. God gives us much joy when we love Him. Sacrificial love is a source of joy of the Resurrection. Thank you very much for the presents offered, for the beautiful icon of Saint John Chrysostom, for the liturgical vestment and for these flowers which we consider that represent the bunch of the flowers of faith that symbolises the faithful gathered in the Church. We wish you all good health, help of God in every good thing you do, and many blessed years of life.

On the occasion of his birthday, His Beatitude received an icon of Saint John Chrysostom as a present on behalf of the hierarchs present, and a hierarchic vestment and a bunch of flowers on behalf of the Patriarchal Administration.

During the Divine Liturgy celebrated at the Patriarchal Cathedral, a prayer has also been celebrated on the occasion of the birthday of the Patriarch of Romania. The official celebration of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel is on 30 September, every year, the date of his enthronement as Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church (30 September 2007).

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