The feast of Saint Andrew is one of the saint patron days of the future Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation, so that His Beatitude showed in the speech delivered today, 30 November 2012, feast of the Protector of Romania, that this construction would also be a symbol of the national unity because the feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle, scheduled one day before the National Feast of 1 December, shows that the Romanian national unity was based first of all on the spiritual unity, on the unity of faith, mind and feeling, our Church bringing a huge contribution to the development of the Romanian language and culture.
The Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation is a symbol of the apostolic dignity and faith of the Romanian people.
“This feast has a special importance for us also because one of the dedication days of the future Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation or the New Patriarchal Cathedral is the feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle. The Ascension of the Lord is the first feast as saint patron because it is the day of the Romanian heroes of all times and places too, and the second is the celebration day of Saint Andrew the Apostle, the First Called, Romania’s Protector. Today, we wanted to point out especially the fact that this Cathedral has reached almost level 0 in a little more than a year time. It is a great hard to do construction, executed with much sacrifice and devotion so that the future Cathedral should be a symbol of our dignity and apostolic faith, as well as a symbol of national unity, because the feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle, scheduled one day before the National Feast of 1 December, shows that the Romanian national unity was based first of all on the spiritual unity, on the unity of faith, mind and feeling, our Church bringing a huge contribution to the development of the Romanian language and culture. So, this relation between the church national feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle of 30 November and the political National Feast of 1 December shows our vocation for spiritual, dignity and national unity”, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said.
Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation – the beginning of fulfilments
The Patriarch of Romania announced the launching of the book entitled “Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation – Beginning of the fulfilments” that would take place in Europa Christiana hall of the Patriarchate Palace: “The Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation which we can name shortly Basilica of Saint Andrew in Romania had a good beginning. This is why today we shall launch a book that Mr Noica has recently written, “Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation – Beginning of Fulfilments”, because we have one more book that he wrote entitled “Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation – History of one hundred years old ideal of fight till it begins. Well, once begun, it is continued. This is why there is a saying that with the Romanians one thing cannot be finished unless begun. Therefore, one more piece of evidence of today’s worship of Saint Andrew the Apostle is the beginning of the fulfilments, namely the 20 metres of underground construction meaning three floors, or the infrastructure of the Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation. May God help us all see the celebration of the feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle in the new cathedral in four years time! The painting will be executed later on after the walls are dried, and so, we may show that our appreciation is manifested all over the country, but especially in the capital city of Romania through this symbol cathedral, a liturgical need and spiritual symbol of our national dignity and unity.”
After the Divine Liturgy celebrated in the Patriarchal Cathedral by the Patriarch of Romania, a festive anniversary took place in Europa Christiana Hall of the Patriarchate Palace, in the presence of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, dedicated to the celebration of five years since the consecration of the place of the Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation.
The festive celebration began with the opening of the exhibition of photographs of the Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation in Europa Christiana Hall. The documentary entitled Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation – Basilica of Saint Andrew the Apostle made by Trinitas Television station was also watched.
Then, the book entitled <i>The Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation – Beginning of Fulfilments</i> was launched, presented by Mr. Constantin Noica, the author of the book.
