The delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate departed Monday morning, November 26, from the Henri Coanda International Airport to Istanbul, concluding the visit of His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Romania.
Be of the same mind!
The last words addressed by the Ecumenical Patriarch to Romanians were cited from St Paul’s second epistle to Corinthians, ‘Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice. Become mature, be encouraged, be of the same mind, be at peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.’
During his three-day visit to Romania, His Holiness stressed the importance of the unity of faith and nation of Romanians materialized in the National Cathedral dedicated to the national heroes.
This is what the visit included
His Holiness appreciated ‘the untiring efforts to build the Romanian People’s Salvation Cathedral,’ which was ‘the century-long dream, the high aspiration of the entire well-believing Romanian people, the fervent desire of Kings Carol I and Ferdinand, of the country’s recent presidents, as well as of all the Primates of the Church of Romania in this period.’
During his stay in Bucharest, the Ecumenical Patriarch visited the Patriarchal architectural ensemble on the Hill of Joy, the Embassies of Turkey and Greece, Cotroceni Palace, and the Basilica Media Centre of the Romanian Patriarchate.
The main event during his visit was the consecration of the National Cathedral.
A pure and tested friendship with Patriarch Daniel
His Holiness expressed his ‘feelings of love and fellowship’ to the Patriarch of Romania.
‘We are connected to His Beatitude with our old personal, pure and sincerely tested friendship, but also with the unshaken, brotherly love in Christ and good understanding,’ he said.
Photography courtesy of Mircea Florescu / Basilica.ro
