His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople landed in Bucharest on Friday, around 1 p.m. at Otopeni Airport.
He was welcomed by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania, accompanied by Archbishop Nifon of Târgoviște, honorary metropolitan and patriarchal exarch, Bishop Visarion of Tulcea, Bishop Siluan of Hungary, and Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești.
Also present at the airport were Ciprian Olinici, Secretary of State for Religious Affairs, Evangelia (Lili) Grammatika, Ambassador of Greece to Romania, and Father Michael Tița, Vicar of the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
After giving a short press statement at the Presidential Lounge of the airport, His Holiness, together with Patriarch Daniel, travelled to the Patriarchal Cathedral, where a Te Deum service was celebrated.
A Moment of Great Blessing
In his welcoming address, Patriarch Daniel emphasised that the presence of the Ecumenical Patriarch is “a moment of great blessing, spiritual joy, and strengthening of communion between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Romanian Patriarchate.”
He recalled that the last visit of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to Romania took place in 2018, on the occasion of the Consecration of the Altar of the National Cathedral.
“The series of solemn events organised in Bucharest during the Centennial Year of the Romanian Patriarchate culminates providentially with the Consecration of the National Cathedral’s mosaic icons, on Sunday, October 26, 2025, in the presence of Your Holiness,” Patriarch Daniel said.
“We pray to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest, to bless Your Holiness’s visit to Romania and to increase the brotherly love and ecclesial communion between the Ecumenical Patriarchate and the Romanian Patriarchate, to the glory of the Most Holy Trinity and the joy of clergy and faithful alike,” he concluded.
“We Come with Hearts Full of Joy”
In his response, Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his joy at being in Romania once again, emphasising that Patriarch Daniel’s invitation was most welcome.
“We come with hearts full of joy and with the love of the Mother Church of Constantinople to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the granting of the Tomos of Autocephaly to the Romanian Orthodox Church and the 100th anniversary of its elevation to Patriarchate status by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.”
He also referred to the recent canonisations of Romanian saints recognised by the Ecumenical Patriarchate:
“Romania is filled with saints and devout ascetic traditions unique in the Orthodox world. The Romanian Orthodox Church has a deep history dating back to the 3rd century, and it is a source of Martyrs, Ascetics, and Saints—men and women of God—as reflected in the recent canonisation by the Mother Church of Constantinople of four Romanian Athonite saints.”
The Ecumenical Patriarch is visiting Romania to participate in the Consecration of the National Cathedral on October 26, marking his 11th visit to the country.
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Photo: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu
