During a ceremony at the patriarchal residence on Christmas Eve, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel bestowed the second highest distinction in the Romanian Patriarchate upon Archdeacon Mihail Bucă, protopsaltes of the Patriarchal Cathedral and conductor of the Tronos Byzantine Choir.
The Order of the Praying Theotokos (Virgin Orans) was conferred as a token of gratitude for the ministry carried out by the founder and conductor of the Tronos Byzantine Choir.
The ceremony took place at the Romanian Saints’ Hall of the Patriarchal Residence after the Patriarchal Cathedral’s priests visited Patriarch Daniel to proclaim the Nativity of the Lord, according to Romanian tradition.
The Praying Theotokos Order was established at the initiative of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel in the context of the 2022 Solemn Year of Prayer in the Romanian Patriarchate.
The OrderSynod established the Order during its working session on September 29, 2022, when Patriarch Daniel explained the need for such a distinction:
“This Order is necessary to emphasise the importance of prayer this year. The Mother of God is generally represented with the Child on her left arm, near the heart, and with her right hand indicating Christ to the world and receiving His blessing,” His Beatitude explained.
2023 was dedicated by the Holy Synod to the commemoration of hymnographers and church chanters in the Romanian Patriarchate.
Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu
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