The underground chapel of Romania’s National Cathedral will feature numerous Romanian monastic saints, including hermits who lived and prayed in caves. On Wednesday, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Paisie of Sinaia said the chapel “will create the atmosphere of a monastic cell.”
Speaking at the National Cathedral Chapel on the feast of St. John Jacob the New Chozebite, His Grace explained that the choice of the chapel’s patron saints was deliberate.
“His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel decided that this chapel should be placed under the patronage of St. John Jacob the New Chozebite and St. Daniel the Hesychast, because both saints lived ascetic lives in caves, and the entire concept of this chapel is meant to evoke the atmosphere of prayer, silence, and ascetic life.”
“The iconographic program is inspired by the theme of the cave as the place where man encounters God through prayer and ascetic struggle. The two patron saints of the chapel both lived in caves: St. John Jacob in St. Anne’s Cave in the Choziba Desert, and St. Daniel the Hesychast in the caves near Putna and Voroneț,” the bishop added.
Numerous Romanian saints will be depicted
Bishop Paisie said the chapel will highlight Romania’s rich monastic tradition.
“If the interior of the cathedral, adorned with mosaics, expresses the solemnity and grandeur of Byzantine liturgical worship, the underground chapel will create the atmosphere of a monastic cell, recalling the caves and rock-hewn cells where the great hermits of the Church pursued the ascetic life.”
In keeping with Orthodox iconographic tradition, the altar will depict holy hierarchs from throughout the Orthodox Church, alongside Romanian hierarchs known for their hesychastic spirituality.
The nave will feature numerous Romanian monastic saints, including recently canonised figures such as Saints Niphon and Petronius of Prodromos Skete, Nectarios the Protopsaltis, Dionysius of Colciu, Sofian of Antim, Paisius and Cleopas of Sihăstria, as well as Saints Platonida of Argeș, Philothea of Pasărea, Antonina of Tismana, Nazaria of Văratec, Philothea of Râmeț, and Matrona of Hurezi.
Other Romanian saints who embraced the eremitic life in caves will also be represented, including St. Nicodemus of Tismana, St. Anthony of Iezer, Saints Misael and Daniel of Turnu, St. John of Prislop, St. Theophana Basarab, St. Theodora of Sihla, St. Mavra of Ceahlău, and St. Elizabeth of Pasărea.
Wall paintings in the a secco technique
Bishop Paisie also announced that a tender for the chapel’s mural paintings was organised in April. The artwork, executed in the secco technique, will cover approximately 3,470 square meters.
“This technique was chosen because it allows for a shorter execution time and a more affordable cost while being carried out by experienced church painters,” the bishop explained.
Concluding his remarks, the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop expressed hope that the work would be completed successfully.
“May we have the joy of praying together in this new and beautiful place of worship, to the glory of God and for the spiritual benefit of all.”
Support the National Cathedral paintings
The Romanian Patriarchate invites the faithful to support the completion of the National Cathedral’s iconographic program by making donations online, at Orthodox parishes, via SMS, or by bank transfer. Additional information is available through the National Cathedral painting campaign.
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USD: RO26RNCB0075004895030110
Photo: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu
