On Wednesday, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, welcomed at his patriarchal residence three musical groups who interpreted folk Romanian Christmas carols. The Patriarch pointed to the peace and joy carolers transmit through their missionary act of proclaiming the Nativity of the Lord.
‘Call of the Ancestors’ musical ensemble from Jijila, Tulcea county
The patriarch said that this ensemble shares the beauty of ancient traditions from an area with a particular spiritual wealth.
Patriarch Daniel appreciated the ministry of His Grace Bishop Visarion of Tulcea and the harmony existing between different ethnic communities in the Danube Delta.
His Beatitude presented the carol singers with gifts and wished them joyous holidays, with peace in their souls and help form God.
Folk artists from the Chapel of the National Cathedral
Noting the folk costumes and carols interpreted, His Beatitude stressed that the artists ensemble performs ‘a wide range of artistic expressions from several areas of Romania: Maramures, Bukovina, Muntenia’, which ‘are united through the same faith and Romanian tradition.’
The patriarch appreciated the activity carried out by the artists both at the Trinitas TV Folk Show and at concerts constantly held at the Chapel of the Romanian People’s Salvation Cathedral.
‘We believe that you share peace and a special joy through your singing, therefore we wish you many years with good health and joy. Continue your work like the angels of Bethlehem who have joyfully proclaimed the Nativity of the Lord!’ the patriarch said.
Members of the Union of Folk Artists in Romania (UAIFMR)
This was the first time that the UAIFMR members visited the Patriarchal Residence, the Patriarch noted.
He said that the Christmas carols sung by them ‘are spiritually deep.’
The patriarch congratulated the young carolers and offered them gifts.
‘You brought to us the rich beauty of the Christmas traditions. We wish you to spend the feasts of the Nativity of the Lord, the New Year and the Theophany of the Lord with great joy in your family and in your activity of professing the faith in an artistic way, which is very accessible for everyone,’ Patriarch Daniel said Dec. 20.
Carolers from all across Romania are visiting these days the Romanian Patriarchate to proclaim the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ to His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
Photo courtesy of Robert Nicolae / Basilica.ro
