His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has arrived in Bucharest to lead the historic consecration ceremony of Romania’s National Cathedral, a memorial church built in honor of all the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence.
Born Demetrios Archondonis in 1940 on the island of Imvros (today, Gökçeada, Turkey), His All-Holiness Bartholomew was elected in October 1991 as the 270th Archbishop of the 2000-year-old Church founded by St. Andrew, serving as Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch.
At 12.45 p.m., His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel will welcome His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, accompanied by a delegation of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, as well as a delegation of the Greek Orthodox Church, led by His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patra, at the Patriarchal Cathedral.
On this occasion, the Greek Orthodox delegation will bring a reliquary containing the Honourable Hand of Saint Andrew, the Protector of Romania.
The reliquary will be enshrined at the Sts Constantine and Helen Patriarchal Cathedral until Saturday, at 16.00 p.m.
Photo credit: Mihnea Păduraru
