On Sunday, many faithful attended the blessing service of the restored iconography at St Nicholas and St Myron Church in Bucharest officiated by His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Addressing those present, Patriarch Daniel stressed the importance and the liturgical symbolism the iconography of a church has. His Beatitude recalled that during the consecration service, a church is called the New Jerusalem.
The Patriarch pointed to the fact that the iconography is not a simple adornment, but the liturgical vestment of a church. As a priest cannot celebrate the Divine Liturgy without wearing the liturgical vestments, in the same way, divine offices cannot be served in a church without icons.
During his Sept. 10 homily, His Beatitude said that icons represent a witness to the Orthodox faith. He added that Orthodoxy is expressed not only through writings but also through images since the content of an icon is identical with that of the Gospel.
After the service, the Patriarch visited the parish’s social settlement, which includes a medical cabinet, a museum, and a library.
The same day, His Grace Bishop Ieronim of Sinaia celebrated the Divine Liturgy.
Photo courtesy: Mircea Popa / ZL
