{"id":194307,"date":"2018-05-18T13:19:22","date_gmt":"2018-05-18T10:19:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=194307"},"modified":"2018-05-18T13:19:22","modified_gmt":"2018-05-18T10:19:22","slug":"patriarch-daniel-celebrate-in-advance-national-cathedrals-main-patronal-feast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arhiva.basilica.ro\/en\/patriarch-daniel-celebrate-in-advance-national-cathedrals-main-patronal-feast\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriarch Daniel: Today we celebrate in advance the National Cathedral\u2019s main patronal feast"},"content":{"rendered":"

Six months before its consecration, the main patronal feast of Romania\u2019s National Cathedral was celebrated Thursday in advance at the Cathedral\u2019s Chapel.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel presided over the festive Divine Liturgy expressing his hope that next year the Cathedral\u2019s main patronal feast will be celebrated at the Romanian People\u2019s Salvation Cathedral.<\/p>\n

Jesus\u2019 post-Resurrection appearances<\/h4>\n

In his homily, the patriarch referred to Christ\u2019s activity in the 40-day period between his resurrection and ascension to heaven.<\/p>\n

Patriarch Daniel noted that Jesus\u2019 post-resurrection appearances were meant to strengthen the faith of the apostles and to prepare them for eternal life.<\/p>\n

\u2018After the resurrection, Christ the Saviour appeared for ten times in different moments to prove He is alive and that death has no dominion over him. He showed himself from time to time to strengthen his disciples\u2019 faith in his resurrection.\u2019<\/p>\n

By disappearing after every appearance, Jesus proves \u2018He was preparing his disciples for the heavenly life, convincing them to desire this heavenly life,\u2019 the patriarch said May 17, 2018.<\/p>\n

In the 40-day period, Jesus Christ spoke to his disciples about the Kingdom of Heaven so that they would wish \u2018to join him forever in the glory of the All Holy Trinity.\u2019<\/p>\n

The cloud is the throne<\/h4>\n

The Romanian Patriarch reflected on the luminous cloud in which Christ went up into heaven.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Heavenly Father rides on a swift cloud, and that is why He sent the cloud to his Son.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018The cloud in which Jesus Christ went up into heaven is the Fatherly divine throne,\u2019 the patriarch explained.<\/p>\n

Why did the angels appear?<\/h4>\n

The luminous cloud was accompanied by two angels who, as His Beatitude noted, were sent by God to comfort the disciples who were saddened by the separation. However, the disciples received hope and joy through the encouragement that Jesus would return.<\/p>\n

The angels were also sent \u2018to emphasise the truth of the ascension into heaven as a saving work,\u2019 the Patriarch of Romania said.<\/p>\n

As he went up into heaven, Christ blessed his Mother and disciples.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Mother of God represents the living icon of the Church, and the Apostles are Christ\u2019s servants who show forth into the world the mystery of the saving Church.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Church lives by Christ’s blessing<\/h4>\n

Patriarch Daniel went on to explain that \u2018the Church does not live due to earthly human benevolence, but from Christ\u2019s blessing.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Jesus Christ went up into heaven blessing the disciples who were bowing down before him.\u2019<\/p>\n

The same way, \u2018when we receive Christ\u2019s blessing through the hand of a priest, we bow down as a sign of love for Christ, because Christ\u2019s blessing means the love of the Holy Trinity for the Church.\u2019<\/p>\n

Blessing means spiritual joy and peace<\/h4>\n

The patriarch said that \u2018people seek for God\u2019s blessing because they feel spiritual joy and peace.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018Peace and joy come into the human soul through God\u2019s blessing,\u2019 and that is why we must ask for God\u2019s blessing.<\/p>\n

Without the divine blessing \u2018we feel troubled and lonely.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018When we receive God\u2019s blessing as a sign of His loving, supportive and sanctifying presence, we understand that even though ascended into heaven Christ is with us until the completion of the age.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Holy Spirit makes Christ present<\/h4>\n

Patriarch Daniel noted the link between the ascension of the Lord and the descent of the Holy Spirit.<\/p>\n

\u2018Christ goes up into heaven and sends the Holy Spirit\u2019 so that he would live in us by the Spirit.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Holy Spirit makes Christ present within us through the sacred prayers and especially through the Holy Eucharist. That is why, Christ wants to be the life and light of our life,\u2019 His Beatitude said ending his sermon.<\/p>\n

Concelebrants for the Divine Liturgy included the V. Rev. Archimandrites Paisie Teodorescu, Dionisie Constantin, Ciprian Gradinaru, Fr Ioan Dragomir, and several deacons.<\/p>\n

The liturgical responses were offered by the Chapel\u2019s Byzantine Music Choir Anastasis.<\/p>\n

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Patriarch Daniel officiated a memorial service for the Romanian heroes of all times in the honour of whom the new Orthodox Cathedral in Bucharest is being built.<\/p>\n

The Romanian People\u2019s Salvation Cathedral aka the National Cathedral will be consecrated this autumn during a ceremony led by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople.<\/p>\n

The Cathedral is erected as a memorial for all Romanian heroes who sacrificed their lives for the state independence and for the benefit of the Orthodox Church.<\/p>\n