His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, on Thursday, blessed a reliquary crafted as a miniature replica of Romania’s National Cathedral, designed to hold fragments of the holy relics of Saint Andrew the Apostle, the Protector of Romania and of the Cathedral itself. The service took place in the historic Chapel of “Saint George the Great Martyr” at the Patriarchal Residence.
The reliquary was crafted at the Workshops of the Romanian Patriarchate and adorned with icons of the saint and other decorations.
It contains the fibula and patella from the right leg of Saint Andrew the Apostle, gifted to the Romanian Patriarchate by His Grace Bishop Siluan of Italy and Archbishop Orazio Soricelli of the Catholic Archdiocese of Amalfi–Cava de’ Tirreni.
Apostolic Faith
At the conclusion of the blessing service, the Patriarch of Romania explained why the National Cathedral was placed under the protection of Saint Andrew the Apostle:
“This saint was the first called to apostleship by our Saviour Jesus Christ, as the Holy Gospel tells us, and he is the Apostle of the Daco-Roman forefathers because, together with the Apostle Philip of Bethsaida, he preached the Gospel of Christ in Scythia Minor—today’s Dobruja, in the first century of the Christian era.”
“Therefore, Saint Andrew is the Apostle of the Romanian people and the Protector of Romania. For this reason, we considered it fitting that the new cathedral—the National Cathedral—be placed under the protection both of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who ascended into heaven—the Feast of the Ascension also being Heroes’ Day, as the Cathedral is dedicated to the commemoration of all Romanian heroes—and of Saint Andrew the Apostle,” Patriarch Daniel added.
Reliquary as a Miniature of the National Cathedral
His Beatitude explained that the reliquary will be permanently kept for veneration in the National Cathedral:
“This reliquary is shaped like the Cathedral itself and will be permanently present in the holy place,” he said.
“The reliquary reproduces the National Cathedral up to the cornices, and above them, in place of domes, is its lid. On the lid is the image of Saint Andrew the Apostle, and inside the lid is an icon showing Saint Andrew holding the National Cathedral in his arms, as its protector.”
Patriarch Daniel also recalled the deep connection between Saint Andrew the Apostle and the building of the National Cathedral:
“It is very significant how Saint Andrew helped us to build the National Cathedral,” His Beatitude said.
“When construction began—after the foundation was dug and the support walls were prepared—the head of Saint Andrew the Apostle was brought by His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Patras, Greece, and carried in procession around the site where the Cathedral of the Salvation of the Nation, or National Cathedral, was to be built. Later, at the consecration of the altar in 2018, the same hierarch brought the right hand of Saint Andrew the Apostle.”
“Saint Andrew, the Apostle of the Romanian people and Protector of Romania, will remain present in this Cathedral, which he protects. He calls us to keep the apostolic faith, to pass it on, and to rejoice in the communion of the saints,” the Patriarch of Romania added.
His Beatitude also expressed gratitude to those who made the reliquary and helped bring the holy relics:
“We congratulate all who worked on this reliquary, especially Archimandrite Dionisie Constantin and the team at the Workshops of the Romanian Patriarchate, as well as all those who offered these holy relics with great hope that they will strengthen the faith and nurture fraternal communion.”
The painting of the National Cathedral will be consecrated on October 26 by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Photo: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu
