On 29 June 2016, the feast of Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest. His Grace Timotei, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest, concelebrated.
His Beatitude delivered the sermon in which he emphasised the common virtues of the two great Apostles.
Although different as birth place, culture, profession and temper, Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles have many common virtues. First of all they have strong faith in the divinity of Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son of God, Who was made man out of love for humans and their salvation.
Secondly, these two Saints leaders of the Apostles have repentance in common. Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles also have the same ardent love for Christ and His Church. Fourthly, both of them are great missionaries who preached the Gospel of the merciful love of Christ not only to the Jewish people, but also to all nations, especially Saint Paul the Apostle, the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church said.
The two great Apostles are models of preaching the Gospel, the Patriarch of Romania underlined.
These two great Apostles who faced all the evil and opposition of the Greek-Roman pagan world have become teachers of faith, repentance and mission for us. Their missionary work is a model for all the servants of the Church, for all Christian missionaries, for all Christians who witness to the love of God for us. Saints Peter and Paul are teachers for us, as well as greatly prayerful in Heaven. This is why we ask them today to pray for us to keep the true faith, to confess it, love Christ and His Church, work for transmitting the Gospel of the merciful love of Christ to the new generations and feel the presence of Christ as foretaste of the joy, peace, light and holiness of the Kingdom of the Most Holy Trinity, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel explained.
The liturgical answers at the Divine Liturgy were given by Nicolae Lungu choir of the Romanian Patriarchate, and by Tronos psaltic group of the Patriarchal Cathedral at the Matins service.
After the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude awarded Archdeacon Mihail Buca Saint John Chrysostom Order for clergy for the activity unfolded during the Holy and Great Council. The protopsalt of the Patriarchal Cathedral and a few of the members of Tronos psaltic Group gave the answers at the Divine Liturgy celebrated Thursday, 23 June 2016, at Gonia Monastery in Crete. They also gave a concert Saturday, 25 June 2016, in Chania.
The Patriarch of Romania has also ordained Deacon Mihai Muşat archdeacon for Saint Mary–Patriarch Miron parish, Bucharest district 1 deanery. This church rank was awarded as reward for the activity unfolded during some international meetings, especially during the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church.
Then, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel addressed a message of compassion for the victims of the attack committed at Istanbul International Airport.
We pray the God of peace to bring peace wherever it is turmoil and protect us against all evil dangers and to be with those in sorrow and mourning. May God help and protect us through prayers whenever we travel together because very often one leaves home hoping to come back, but one does not know if he or she really will come back or not, His Beatitude said.
In the end, the Patriarch of Romania spoke about the Holy and Great Council pointing out the significant moments occurred during this important event of the Orthodox Church. His Beatitude emphasised the fact that during the 10 days of the Council more than 250 bishops and 60 special counsellors in theology worked. During the Sinod, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated every day.
We also enjoyed the fact that the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in turns by every Orthodox Church present, the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church underlined.
The faithful present received small icons of Saints Peter and Paul the Apostles on behalf of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
Saints Peter and Paul are celebrated together because both of them died martyrs’ death in 67, in Rome. Saint Paul was beheaded and Saint Peter was crucified his head down on the cross.
