Romanian People’s Salvation Cathedral in Bucharest consecrated
Consecration ceremony took place in front of tens of thousands of believers who came to Bucharest from all over the country, especially for this event.
Articol de Radiojurnal, 26 Noiembrie 2018, 15:38
Romanian People’s Salvation Cathedral in Bucharest, biggest cathedral in Romania, has been consecrated on Sunday, 25 November. First liturgy was officiated by Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, and Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel, accompanied by a hundred priests, in the presence of tens of thousands of believers who came to Bucharest from all over the country.
Consecration ceremony and first liturgy could be seen on special screens mounted on the esplanade in front of the Cathedral, according to Radio Romania Actualități (RRA) Special Correspondent, Remus Rădulescu, who attended the event.
People who participated at the ceremony had the possibility to pass through the Cathedral’s Altar, which has only been allowed on this occasion. Believers waited for the liturgy to end, in order to enter the Cathedral, pass through the newly sanctified Altar and worship the relics of St. Apostle Andrew the First-Called, Protector of Romania and of the National Cathedral, brought from Greece especially for this event.
Patriarch Daniel expressed his gratitude for those who attended the services, in spite of cold weather. He announced that all believers will be allowed to enter and venerate the Holy Altar until Thursday, November 29. People’s Salvation Cathedral is located near the Parliament’s Palace, the second-biggest administrative building in the world.
First patronal feast of the People’s Salvation Cathedral will be celebrated on 30 November, on the day of Saint Andrew the First-Called, and Liturgy will be officiated by his beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem. The new Cathedral will be dedicated to the Ascension of Christ and to Saint Andrew the Apostle, Protector of Romania.
Cathedral has a height of 120 m, being 34 m taller than the famous Palace of the Parliament (People’s House), and is designed to resist over 500 years. It is also the safest place in Romania in the event of a major earthquake. It has eight elevators and two multi-purpose halls equipped with altars, which will function as churches. In the basement, there are 42 crypts, four anti-atomic bunkers, a museum of Christianity and various spaces for media communication.
Construction of the Romanian People’s Salvation Cathedral began in 2010 and is scheduled to be completed in 2024.
Source:RRA, Basilica.ro.Translated by Miruna Matei
