Numerous state authorities congratulated His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on his 73rd birthday on Monday at the Patriarchal Palace. His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, secretary of the Holy Synod, moderated the anniversary event, which was organized at the “Europa Christiana” Hall of the Patriarchal Palace.

The state authorities that delivered congratulatory messages included Nicolae Ionel Ciucă, President of the Romanian Senate, Marcel Ciolacu, Prime Minister of Romania, Ciprian Olinici, Secretary of State for Religious Affairs in the Romanian Government, Alfred-Robert Simonis, Acting President of the Chamber of Deputies, Marian Enache, President of the Constitutional Court of Romania, Corina Alina Corbu, President of the High Court of Cassation and Justice, Mihai Busuioc, President of the Court of Accounts of Romania, Academician Ioan Aurel Pop, President of the Romanian Academy, Professor Marian Preda, Rector of the University of Bucharest, and Nicușor Dan, Mayor of Bucharest.

“A Day of Gratitude”

The first speech was given by the President of the Romanian Senate, Nicolae Ionel Ciucă, who stated that His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel’s birthday is a “day of gratitude” and “joy for all of us.”

“It is a day of joy for all of us; it is a day of gratitude, as we could see and hear today at the Te Deum dedicated to this day. I also wish to take this opportunity to congratulate the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Patriarch, for his daily efforts, for strengthening the faith of the Romanian people, for serving God, and for all that he has accomplished through prayer and deeds over all these years,” he said.

At the same time, the Prime Minister of Romania, Marcel Ciolacu, spoke about the “energy and determination” of Patriarch Daniel in building the National Cathedral, a goal he described as “a 140-year-old dream being realized today before our eyes.”

“Your Beatitude’s energy and determination constantly update the centuries-old aspirations of the Romanian people. Perhaps the most important project is the construction of the National Cathedral or the Romanian People’s Salvation Cathedral, a dream of over 140 years that is being realized today before our eyes, symbolizing Your Beatitude’s vision and devotion to the unity and spiritual identity of the Romanian people. Its consecration in 2025, on the occasion of the centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate, will be a moment of great joy and fulfilment for the entire Orthodox community and all Romanians.”

The Romanian Orthodox Church, a Pillar of Christian Heritage and Identity in Europe

Ciprian Olinici, the Secretary of State for Religious Affairs in the Romanian Government, mentioned the efforts of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, which are reflected in the current prestige of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

“The current prestige of the Church would not have been possible without the involvement and activity of its Patriarch. Your Beatitude’s balance and wisdom, realism and pragmatism nourished by the sap of living Christianity, fidelity to Scripture and the patristic-philokalic tradition always current through its translation into the terms of present thinking, theological refinement, and adequacy to reality elevate the Romanian Orthodox Church to the dignity of being a landmark in cultivating the Christian heritage and identity of contemporary Europe.”

At the end of the speeches, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel thanked all those present and emphasized the role of the Church in society and the formative importance of religious education in schools.

“I thank all those who have expressed congratulations, good wishes, and encouragement. There were many appreciations that we consider more to be immense responsibilities for continuing the pastoral work together with the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church.”

“We especially thank the state authorities who constantly and consistently help the Church at various levels, nationally, regionally, county-wise, or locally. This cooperation, which is not always sufficiently highlighted, is based on the conviction that each of us, only together with others, can effectively help the Romanian people in this period.”

“Therefore, the denominations are autonomous but not isolated from society; they work for the well-being of society. Autonomy means respecting the specific nature of denominations as religious entities, with their own, specific, canonical, statutory rules that originate from divine revelation and are instituted by the Holy Apostles and Holy Fathers of the Church.”

His Beatitude explained that the fruits of cooperation between the Church and the state are seen in the newly built churches, in the restored historical monument churches, and in the collaboration between family, Church, and school.

Furthermore, the Patriarch of Romania spoke about the benefits of the Religious Education class, which teaches young people that they are loved by God.

“Schoolchildren, especially those who have benefited from the religious education class, have a special joy in participating, increasingly every year, in the Religion Olympiad because Religious Education is distinct from other school subjects, offering a vision for life, especially through the fact that every young person learns that they are loved by God.”

At the end, members of the Standing National Church Council and the diocesan council of the Bucharest Archdiocese presented the Patriarch of Romania with a beautiful floral arrangement.

Photo: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu

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