On World Blood Donor Day 2019, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel sent a message to all blood donors conveying his gratitude, encouragement and blessing.
In his message, the Patriarch of Romania refers to the social actions of the volunteers of the Chapel of the National Cathedral, particularly thanking them for supporting the Patriarchate’s campaign ‘Donate Blood. Save life’.
Patriarch Daniel’s Message on World Blood Donor Day 2019: full text
June 14 is celebrated worldwide as the World Blood Donor Day, being one of the eight official public health campaigns, marked by the World Health Organization.
On this occasion, the Romanian Patriarchate thanks all the blood donors who respond to the call of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ to become the hands of His merciful love, combining prayer and concrete deeds in helping those in distress.
The Romanian Patriarchate renews its appeal to the clergy and faithful of the Romanian Orthodox Church to give blood.
The need for blood is acute in many medical units because in hospitals some surgical interventions are postponed due to lack of blood.
Therefore, those who want to help resolve this crisis are urged to go and donate blood to the closest blood transfusion centres. Healthy men, aged 18-60, can donate blood five times a year, and women three times a year.
Today, we particularly address a word of appreciation to the volunteers of the Chapel of the Romanian People’s Salvation Cathedral who organized 16 blood collection campaigns from 2013 to April 2019, especially at the Bucharest and Ploiesti blood transfusion centres.
In addition, with the support of the Chapel’s volunteers, several sponsors donated medical equipment for the transfusion centres in Bucharest, Ploiesti and Constanta, worth approximately 80,000 euros.
Through their activities, these volunteers show that a healthy and solidary society cannot develop without acts of generosity or the help of others.
The ‘Donate Blood. Save Life’ campaign, initiated in 2013 by the Romanian Patriarchate and approved by the Holy Synod of our Church, has so far mobilized over 300,000 donors, with about 16,000 litres of blood being harvested.
We pray to God to grant recovery to the sick and abundant blessing to those who donate blood!
†Daniel
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Photography courtesy of Lumina Newspaper
