Today, 1 October 2014, the funeral service was celebrated by His Beatitude Daniel, Archbishop of Bucharest, Metropolitan of Muntenia and Dobrudgea, Metropolitan locum tenens of Banat and locum tenens of the throne of Caesarea of Cappadocchia and Patriarch of Romania, in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Rimisoara.
The hierarchic Divine Liturgy was celebrated before the funeral service, according to the rite of burying the bishops in the Orthodox Church. It was celebrated by a group of hierarchs headed by His Eminence Laurentiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania, made up of: His Eminence Serafim, Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of Germany, Austria and Luxemburg and Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of Germany, Central and Northern Europe, His Eminence Timotei, Archbishop of Arad, His Grace Lukian, Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Hungary and administrator of the Serbian Orthodox Vicarage in Timisoara, His Grace Lucian, Bishop of Caransebes, His Grace Sofronie, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Oradea, His Grace Daniil, Bishop locum tenens of Dacia Felix Diocese, Siluan, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Hungary.
After the Divine Liturgy, the funeral religious service was celebrated by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel together with the following hierarchs: His Eminence Teofan, Archbishop of Iasi and Metropolitan of Moldova and Bucovina, His Eminence Laurentiu, Archbishop of Sibiu and Metropolitan of Transylvania, His Eminence Andrei, Archbishop of Vad, Feleac and Cluj and Metropolitan of Cluj, Maramures and Salaj, His Eminence Serafim, Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of Germany, Austria and Luxemburg and Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of Germany, Central and Northern Europe, His Eminence Calinic, Archbishop of Arges and Muscel, His Eminence Timotei, Archbishop of Arad, His Eminence Ioan, Honorary Archbishop, Bishop of Covasna and Harghita, His Grace Lukian, Serbian Orthodox Bishop of Hungary and administrator of the Serbian Orthodox Vicarage of Timisoara, His Grace Lucian, Bishop of Caransebes, His Grace Sofronie, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Oradea, His Grace Nicodim, Bishop of Severin and Strehaia, His Grace Gurie, Bishop of Deva and Hunedoara, His Grace Daniil, Bishop locum tenens of Dacia Felix Diocese, His Grace Siluan, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Hungary, His Grace Macarie, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Northern Europe, His Grace Paisie Lugojeanu, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Timisoara.
To end with the service, the Patriarch of Romania said in his speech that His Eminence Nicolae was an erudite hierarch and promoter of dialogue: “Venerable hierarch of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, distinguished man of culture, promoter of the everlasting values of faith in the dialogue with other Churches, cultures and peoples and supporter of the efforts of rapprochement among Christians, His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae Corneanu received many gifts from God which he cultivated with the sense of responsibility offering other people too with joy and generosity the joy of the spirit, fruits of the golden coins multiplied in the glory of God and for the welfare of the Church”.
There followed the speech of Rev Ionel popescu, Eparchial vicar of the Archdiocese of Timisoara, who said: “Having the hearts overwhelmed by sorrow, we are trying now, in the name of the family, of the members of the Eparchial Assembly, of the clergy and of the laics of the Eparchial Administration, of the archpriests and abbots, to bring a solemn homage to our late Arch-shepherd, one of the best known and most appreciated hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church, an eminent theologian, translator of patristic works, man of culture and charismatic personality, practical and encyclopaedic spirit, ecumenist known in the country and abroad.”
Priests from the Archdiocese of Timisoara, thousands of faithful, people of culture, local authorities and close friends of Metropolitan Nicolae attended the religious service to say good bye to and pray for the one who was their spiritual father for 52 years.
His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae Corneanu was buried in the underground of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Timisoara. The hierarch passed away on 28 September 2014, in the evening.
