On 30 September 2007, the sixth Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church was enthroned in the person of His Beatitude Daniel. The Patriarch of Romania was born on 22 July 1951, to parents Alexe and Stela Ciobotea, in Dobresti locality, commune, county of Timis. He was baptised Dan-Ilie.
He studied at the University Orthodox Theological Institute of Sibiu (1970 – 1974), attended the post graduate courses for a doctor’s degree at the University Orthodox Theological Institute of Bucharest, systematic section; studied at the Protestant Theological Faculty of the University of Humanistic Sciences of Strasbourg – France (1976 – 1978), then at the Catholic Theological Faculty of “Albert Ludwig”, University of Freiburg im Breisgau – Germany 91978 – 1980). On 15 June 1979 he delivered his doctorate thesis at the University of Strasbourg entitled: Réflexion et vie chrétiennes aujourd’hui. Essai sur le rapport entre la théologie et la spiritualité (424 pages).
On 6 August 1987, he joins the monastic life at Sihastria Monastery, county of Neamt, of the name Daniel, with Father Archimandrite Cleopa Ilie as monastic godfather; on 1 July 1990, he is enthroned as Archbishop of Iasi and Metropolitan of Moldova and Bucovina; on 12 September 2007 he is elected as Archbishop of Bucharest, Metropolitan of Muntenia and Dobrudgea and Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church; on 30 September 2007 he is enthroned as Patriarch in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Bucharest.
The Divine Liturgy in the Patriarchal Cathedral
Today, 30 September 2013, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania celebrated the Divine Liturgy at his anniversary time. The hierarchs concelebrating were the following: His Eminence Teofan, Metropolitan of Moldova and Bucovina, His Eminence Laurentiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania, His Eminence Andrei, Metropolitan of Cluj, Maramures and Salaj, His Eminence Ciprian, Archbishop of Buzau and Vrancea, His Eminence Calinic, Archbishop of Arges and Muscel, His Eminence Casian, Archbishop of Lower Danube, His Eminence Timotei, Archbishop of Arad, His Grace Lucian, Bishop of Caransebes, His Grace Sofronie, Bishop of Oradea, His Grace Nicodim, Bishop of Severin and Strehaia, His Grace Vincentiu, Bishop of Slobozia and Calarasi, His Grace Galaction, Bishop of Alexandria and Teleorman, His Grace Ambrozie, Bishop of Giurgiu, His Grace Visarion, Bishop of Tulcea, His Grace Gurie, Bishop of Deva and Hunedoara, His Grace Daniil, Bishop Locum tenens of Dacia Felix, His Grace Siluan, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Hungary, His Grace Macarie, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Northern Europe, His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch, His Grace Paisie Lugojeanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Timisoara, His Grace Emilian Lovisteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Ramnic, assisted by a group of priests and deacons.
During the Divine Liturgy, Rev Archimandrite Timotei Aioanei, Great Ecclesiarch of the Patriarchal Cathedral and Cultural Exarch of the Archdiocese of Bucharest celebrated the thanksgiving prayer to God for the boons bestowed over His Beatitude Daniel during his sixth year of patriarchal service.
Te Deum Celebrating 6 Years of Patriarchal Service
After the Divine Liturgy, a Te Deum was celebrated in the Patriarchal Cathedral, in the presence of the Patriarch of Romania and of the hierarchs present, as thanksgiving to God for the boons bestowed over the Romanian Orthodox Church, over the Romanian people and over His Beatitude during the six years of patriarchal service.
To end with the Te Deum service, His Eminence Teofan, Metropolitan of Moldova and Bucovina delivered a homage speech in which he presented a few elements of the activity of His Beatitude Daniel as Patriarch of Romania. Then, the Metropolitan of Moldova offered the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church an icon of the Mother of God, on behalf of the Holy Synod members. His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanul has also offered His Beatitude two icon lamps made at the Workshops of the Romanian Patriarchate on behalf of the employees of the Patriarchal Administration. On the occasion of this anniversary, His Beatitude has also received a basket of flowers on behalf of the servant priests of the Patriarchal Cathedral.
Anniversary time after six years of patriarchal service
At 12.00 o’clock, an anniversary festivity took place in Europa Christiana hall of the Patriarchate Palace, when several congratulatory messages were read. The President of the Senate Chamber, Mr. President of the Deputies’ Chamber, presidential counselor, ministers, ambassadors, President of the Romanian Academy, Rector of the University of Bucharest, members of the Holy Synod, members of the Standing Meetings of the Church National Council and of the Eparchial Council of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, professors of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of Bucharest, professors of the Theological Seminary of Bucharest attended the event.
To end with, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel thanked all those present and spoke about the responsibility of every person at times of trial.
“We badly need to unite freedom with the responsibility for the good deeds. We badly need to pass from the spoken language to the language of the visible deeds, as Saint Isaac the Syrian said in the 8th century: “Say nothing and let your deeds speak”. This is why we do need cooperation. It is a period of economical crisis, but it was noticed that if common work is done with little money, yet the profit is great. That thing can be seen, for example, in the case of a canteen for the poor people of a parish, at a free counseling room of the parish, or at a medical unit. If the enthusiasm and cooperation is great many things can be done with little money. This is why the period of crisis is a period of judgment, as well as a chance of a new beginning, a chance to think how to use the money, to think over the way of using the freedom, chances of cooperation, and of creativity”, His Beatitude explained.
