“A monument of our Romanian Orthodox unity and identity, of national dignity and the crowning of our people’s centuries-long efforts – the National Cathedral will be for our people a symbol and an anchor,” emphasised Assistant Bishop Sofian of Brașov of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg in a post on his personal Facebook page.
His Grace participated on the last Sunday of October in the consecration of the mosaic iconography of the National Cathedral, officiated by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
The event was attended by thousands of people, representatives of the Romanian state and of the Republic of Moldova – things which, he said, “bear witness that the people understand the importance of this Cathedral and the significance of its consecration.”
“An exceptional expression of this understanding, and of the desire to make both our forebears and our descendants partakers of this fulfilment and joy, was offered to me by a faithful woman from our community. She confessed to me that she took part in this celebration dressed in the traditional folk costume she inherited from her grandmother, and that she prayed, among other things, for the good of her children,” said Assistant Bishop Sofian of Brașov.
A great gift
“We thank God for this great gift. We thank all those who conceived it and who devoted themselves, in various ways, for the good of the people and for the fulfilment of this ideal,” the hierarch wrote.
His Grace also expressed thanks to the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church for “his self-sacrificing labour toward the realisation of the Cathedral.”
“We thank all those who supported its realisation through prayer and through deeds. We thank all those who participated in the festivities and all the pilgrims who these days are coming to rejoice and receive blessings. The joy of this accomplishment will nourish and encourage us for a long time. May our souls also become cathedrals,” concluded the Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg.
Photo: Facebook / Episcop Sofian Brașoveanul
