His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church welcomed on Friday His Eminence Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veria, Naoussa, and Kampania of the Church of Greece at the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest.
Metropolitan Panteleimon is in Bucharest to take part in the Romanian Tourism Fair and in the launch of the documentary “The Nectar of Forgiveness – Saint Nectarios of Aegina”, produced by Trinitas TV.
“This is a very important moment in which we can promote our region and the area where our metropolis is located, both from a historical and touristic point of view, and from a religious perspective. The most important objective is the Altar of Saint Paul, which Your Beatitude also knows,” Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veria, Naoussa and Kampania said.
On this occasion, the good relations between the Romanian Patriarchate and the Church of Greece were highlighted, relations also reflected in the large number of Romanian pilgrims who visit Greece every year.
Pilgrimage in communion
Patriarch Daniel underscored the role of Basilica Travel Agency, which organises pilgrimages in Greece and at other holy sites.
“We see that in our country, there are parishes that form groups of pilgrims, and some of them have gone on pilgrimage to the same country five or six times. Many pensioners did not have the opportunity in their youth to travel to the Holy Land or Greece; now, with prices affordable, they can enjoy these journeys. It can also be seen in parish life that these pilgrims become more active and more supportive of one another, because they spend a week or ten days together on pilgrimage and a sense of communion is created,” the Patriarch said.
His Beatitude added that when travellers make the sign of the Cross, they are no longer merely tourists, but pilgrims.
“This is very important for parishes and monasteries, because it is a new experience and friendships are formed. Pilgrimages are a way of bringing Churches closer together, but also of strengthening bonds between hierarchs, clergy and lay faithful,” Patriarch Daniel said.
He also recalled that the Holy Synod has designated 2027 as the year of cooperation between clergy and laypeople in the life of the Church.
Metropolitan Panteleimon thanked the Patriarch of Romania for the warm reception and for the constant participation in the International Scientific Congress Pavleia, held in Greece.
Before meeting with Patriarch Daniel, the Metropolitan of Veria, Naoussa, and Kampania also met with Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești.
Galerie foto: Basilica.ro / Raluca Ene; Deschidere articol: Ziarul Lumina / Luigi Ivanciu
