Title of Doctor Honoris Causa to His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel in Cluj

On 7 December 2011, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of Babes Bolyai University of Cluj. The award ceremony took place in Aula Magna of the University. “Laudatio” was read by His Eminence Andrei, Metropolitan of Cluj, Alba, Crisana and Maramures.

The distinction was awarded to His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel in the context of the festivities occasioned by the anniversary of 90 years since the re-establishment of the eparchy of Vad, Feleac and Cluj. As Prof. Andrei Marga, rector of the Babes Bolyai University said, the award was based on the contribution of the Patriarch of Romania to the theological research, on his activity within the ecumenical dialogue and on his contribution to the reorganisation of the Orthodox theological education in Romania: “Today we award the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the Babes Bolyai University, with the support of the 21 faculties, to His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church for having supported and developed the spiritual theological research, for the ecumenism internationally recognised, for the reorganisation of the Orthodox theological education in Romania after 1989 and for the active involvement of the Church in society, in the conditions of the democratised Europe”.

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel thanked, in his turn, the representatives of Babes Bolyai University for the title awarded: “We can convey richness and wisdom to the future generations if our thought creates values and our will promotes co-responsibility and practical co-operation at national and planetary level”.

After receiving the title, the Patriarch of Romania delivered the lecture entitled The Romanian Village – between tradition, survival and hope.

Present at yesterday’s event were: His Eminence Laurentiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania, His Eminence Irineu, Archbishop of Alba Iulia, His Grace Macarie, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Northern Europe and His Grace Vasile Somesanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Cluj, members of the University Senate of Cluj, professors, personalities of the Romanian cultural spiritual life.

“Doctor Honoris Causa” is an honourable title awarded by a university or institution to some eminent persons. This title is awarded especially to those who distinguished themselves in certain professional, cultural, social or political fields of activity.

“Honoris Causa” is a Latin locution meaning “due to the merits” and refers both to the professional merits, and to the good reputation.

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