‘He is our example of ministry and preaching the salvific truth,’ said His Eminence Metropolitan Laurentiu congratulating Patriarch Daniel on his name day. On the feast of the Holy Prophet Daniel, December 19, 2017, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest with an assembly of concelebrating hierarchs, priests, and deacons.
At the end of the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurentiu of Transylvania addressed congratulations to His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on his name day and presented him with an icon depicting the Mother of God on behalf of the members of the Holy Synod. Several children offered flowers to His Beatitude.
In his speech, Metropolitan Laurentiu stressed that the patriarch is first a father who takes care of the clergy and the faithful he pastors.
When we call the patriarch Father, ‘we truly feel the closeness and the particular care he has for us all as a shepherd. It is a heavy burden, but His Beatitude honours it with much dignity and love’, Metropolitan Laurentiu added.
The Metropolitan went on to refer to Prophet Daniel, who through his wisdom and by the gift of God shut the mouths of the lions.
His Eminence also recalled that this year we celebrated the 10th enthronement anniversary of His Beatitude Daniel, who ‘has honoured the Church, fulfilling the threefold ministry received from Jesus Christ our Saviour.’
Referring to Patriarch Daniel’s archpastoral ministry, Metropolitan Laurentiu noted that ‘every time we concelebrate with the Patriarch we feel the love and communion coming from above and manifesting among us.’
‘He is our example of ministry and preaching the salvific truth,’ His Eminence stressed speaking about the Patriarch’s teachings.
Pointing to the Patriarch’s pastoral, missionary and philanthropic work, His Eminence said that ‘we, the hierarchs, hasten to imitate him and we cannot reach him.’
The Metropolitan of Transylvania remembered the Romanian People’s Salvation Cathedral, saying that it is a great dream of both His Beatitude and of ours.
Patriarch Daniel thanked for being congratulated and pointed out that the Church carries out its work in communion: ‘We work together in the Church for our salvation and of those entrusted to us. We always have the support of Christ our Saviour, the Eternal Chief Priest, the Archpastor, of the Mother of God and of all the Saints.’
The patriarch recalled that Elder Cleopas Ilie was the one who chose his name during his monastic tonsure.
His Beatitude spoke about the Holy Prophet Daniel and the Three Youths of Babylon, who are known particularly for their self-control.
‘We entreat our Patron Saints to protect us, to illumine us, and to be our guides together with our guardian angel on the path to salvation,’ Patriarch Daniel said ending his speech.
Photo courtesy of Robert Nicolae / Basilica.ro
