Only three years after the laying of the foundation stone, the first ever Divine Liturgy was celebrated Saturday, May 19, 2018, within the walls of Warsaw’s new Agia Sophia Orthodox Cathedral, marking the centennial of the regaining of Polish independence in 1918.
As reported by the website of the Polish Orthodox Church, the Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Beatitude Metropolitan Sava of Warsaw and All Poland, with the concelebration of several hierarchs.
Divine Providence governs the world
In his homily, Metropolitan Sava said that ‘standing within the walls of the building of the Holy Church of Agia Sophia—God’s Wisdom—in Warsaw, we realize the truth that Divine Providence governs the world, the Church, and every one of us.’
‘Only it undertakes great works regarding the life of the Church and of every man, at a proper time and in proper circumstances.’
‘Through the Agia Sophia Cathedral,’ the Polish Metropolitan said, ‘we are united and free unto the glory of God and the remembrance of our fathers, of the city of Warsaw and of Podlasia.’
The new Cathedral, whose construction is nearing completion, ‘will be a beautiful architectural monument of Warsaw.’
‘We will bring our joys and sorrows to the new cathedral, finding in it consolation, strength and a quiet harbor,’ Metropolitan Sava added May 19, 2018.
In his speech, the Primate of the Polish Orthodox Church thanked the workers, donators and supporters of this project.
Official messages
Archbishop Job of Telmessos read out the message of His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew referring to the history of Constantinople’s Great Church of Agia Sophia and to its contribution to the development of Christianity among the Slavs.
Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev conveyed greetings on behalf of Patriarch Kirill of Moscow.
‘As a good friend and zealous archpastor, you set your powers in the service of Christ the Saviour, giving others the warmth of faith that Your Beatitude’s heart experiences, inspiring the episcopate and the clergy to work diligently the land of God to spread the Word of God (2 Thess. 3:1),’ the Russian Patriarch wrote in his message.
Blessing of the cross on main dome
Following the Divine Liturgy, all the participating clergy gathered at the front of the church for the blessing of the cross that was then elevated to the top of the church’s main dome, thus marking a triumphal conclusion to an important day for the clergy and faithful of the Polish Orthodox Church.
Agia Sophia – symbol of Polish independence centennial
The Cathedral of Agia Sophia – Wisdom of God in Warsaw is a monument built by the Polish Orthodox Church in honour of Orthodox refugees and martyrs in 1915.
The foundation stone was blessed by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople in 2015.
In an invitation sent two months ago to hierarchs, clergy, and faithful to attend the first Divine Liturgy and the placing of the holy cross on the cathedral’s main dome, Metropolitan Sava noted that the event represented ‘an eloquent moment on the 100th anniversary of the regaining of Poland’s independence.’
It is noteworthy that in a country with a majority Roman-Catholic population, the centennial of regaining independence is marked by the construction of an Orthodox Cathedral.
Romanian People’s Salvation Cathedral – Symbol of Romania’s independence
Similarly, the Cathedral of the People’s Salvation is being built in Romania, a project dating from the Independence War (1877-1878), a spiritual symbol dedicated to all national heroes who have sacrificed themselves for the defense of the homeland and the ancestral faith.
The Cathedral of the Romanian people’s ‘salvation’ or liberation from foreign domination will be consecrated this year by His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew marking the 1918 Great Union Centennial.
Photography courtesy of Jarosław Charkiewicz /POC
