The Patriarch Of Romania Consecrated The Orthodox Cathedral Of Blaj

On 5 September, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel has celebrated, together with 15 hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the consecration service of the Orthodox Cathedral of Blaj, dedicated to the “Falling Asleep of the Mother of God”, in the presence of over twenty thousand faithful.

The Orthodox Church of Blaj was built from 1991 – 2010 through the perseverance of priest Vasile Benchea. The building is tre-foiled, in Byzantine traditional style. The relics laid in the Holy Table belong to Saints Martyrs from Niculitel, Zotic, Atal, Camasie and Filip, and have been offered by His Grace Visarion, Bishop of Tulcea.

His Beatitude underlined, in the speech addressed to the faithful after the consecration service, the importance of this special event, conveying the fact that the faithful must thank God for this work: “After any holy great work we must thank God. And whenever we thank God and show gratitude, it means that we understood the value of the gifts received from Him. And then, He gives more gifts and so we edify ourselves spiritually in communion, in our relationship with God, with His saints and with all those who confess the faith in the Holy Trinity and love the Church of Christ”, informs Trinitas Radio station.

After reading the Holy Gospel, the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church underlined the importance of the commandment the Saviour has given: “To the end of His work on the earth, our Saviour has given a new dimension to the love for our neighbour, namely to love every man just as Christ loves him. Or, we cannot do that unless we ask for the help of Christ. That is the love of Christ is in our heart through much prayer, in our soul and mind, and so we can love our fellow beings just as Christ loves them, namely with holy divine love that gathers people together, not divides them.

To end with the Divine Litrgy, His Beatitude awarded distinctions to the parish priest, to the mayor in the locality, and to the president of the County Council of Alba Iulia, and offered small crosses to the faithful.

At the same time, the mayor of Blaj city awarded the title of Citizen of Honour to the Patriarch of Romania, as a proof of appreciation for His Beatitude’s activity.

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