{"id":203799,"date":"2018-08-25T15:42:54","date_gmt":"2018-08-25T12:42:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=203799"},"modified":"2018-08-25T15:50:16","modified_gmt":"2018-08-25T12:50:16","slug":"patriarch-of-jerusalem-to-lead-celebrations-on-national-cathedrals-first-patronal-feast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arhiva.basilica.ro\/en\/patriarch-of-jerusalem-to-lead-celebrations-on-national-cathedrals-first-patronal-feast\/","title":{"rendered":"Patriarch of Jerusalem to lead celebrations on National Cathedral\u2019s first patronal feast"},"content":{"rendered":"

The first patronal feast of the Romanian People\u2019s Salvation Cathedral will be celebrated on November 30, 2018, on the feast day of Saint Andrew the First Called, who is also the Cathedral\u2019s patron saint and the protector of Romania.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The celebrations, including the Divine Liturgy, will be led by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem and All Palestine.<\/p>\n

The National Cathedral\u2019s project dates back to 1884, when Romania\u2019s first King Carol I promulgated the Law of the Cathedral Church, which has never been abrogated ever since.<\/p>\n

In order to solemnly mark the consecration of the People\u2019s Salvation Cathedral, the Romanian Patriarchate has scheduled several spiritual, liturgical, and cultural manifestations that will take place on Nov. 25 \u2013 Nov. 30, 2018.<\/p>\n

As earlier announced, the consecration ceremony of the National Cathedral, built as a homage to all Romanian heroes from all times, will be presided over by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople. The ceremony will take place on November 25.<\/p>\n

His Holiness will be the only Orthodox Primate to attend the National Cathedral\u2019s consecration ceremony besides His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.<\/p>\n

Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem will arrive to Romania on November 29 to preside over the National Cathedral\u2019s patronal feast celebrations.<\/p>\n

St Andrew\u2019s holy relics will be brought from Greece<\/h4>\n

The honourable hand of Saint Andrew the Apostle, the patron saint of the Romanian People\u2019s Salvation Cathedral, will be brought from Greece to Bucharest.<\/p>\n

His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostom of Patra will bring the holy relics that will be enshrined for veneration at the National Cathedral.<\/p>\n

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The reliquary with Saint Andrew’s hand that will be brought to Bucharest. \u00a9Basilica.ro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Saint Andrew is highly venerated in Romania, being considered the Apostle to the Romanians or the Enlightener of the Romanian people.<\/p>\n

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church resolved in 1995 to mark the feast day of St Andrew with a red cross in the local church calendar. In 1997, the Synod declared Saint Andrew the Protector of Romania.<\/p>\n

St Andrew\u2019s feast day became a national church holiday, following the resolution of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Church on November 14, 2001. In 2012, the day became a national holiday by law.<\/p>\n

Building the National Cathedral in Bucharest<\/h4>\n

The construction of the Cathedral was assumed by the Romanian state as a project of national importance by Law 376\/2000. Approximatively 100 million euros costed the building process from 2010 to 2018.<\/p>\n

Hundreds of workers are involved in the building process. The next important step will be the installation of the six bells at the end of August.<\/p>\n

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The Romanian People’s Salvation Cathedral, August 22, 2018. \u00a9Raluca Ene \/ Basilica.ro<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although the building of the National Cathedral remains a priority of the Romanian Orthodox Church, social activities of over 150 million euros were carried out by the Church in the last 10 years.<\/p>\n

Patriarch Theophilos visited Bucharest in 2014<\/h4>\n

The last time when Patriarch Theophilos III visited Bucharest was in 2014 at the celebrations of Saint Demetrius the New, when he brought for veneration a particle of the Honourable Wood of the Holy Cross.<\/p>\n

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\"Vizita<\/a>
Patriarch Theophilos presenting Patriarch Daniel with an icon of the Lord’s Resurrection and the Church of the Holy Tomb in 2014. Photo: Basilica.ro<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/figure>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u2018I do not have enough words to express my thanks for your cordial spontaneous, very warm, and brotherly hospitality,\u2019 His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem said at his departure from Romania in October 2014.<\/p>\n