Sunday, 28 February 2016, the church of the Romanian Orthodox Parish of Jönköping, Sweden, was consecrated. The consecration service was celebrated by His Eminence Andrei, Metropolitan of Cluj, Maramureş and Sălaj, together with His Eminence Serafim, Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of Germany, Central and Northern Europe, and His Grace Macarie, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Northern Europe.
The Message of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on the occasion was read by His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei.
“The Protection of the Mother of God” and “Saints Pious Daniil the Hermit and Paisie from Neamţ” parish of Jönköping was set up in 2009, continuing the mission more than four decades long that the Romanian priests unfolded in Stockholm. The religious services have been celebrated in various locations so far, but in 2014, the church consecrated today was acquired.
“We praise God for the service of the Orthodox Church here, in the Northern Europe. It can help the clergy to have an intense spiritual activity through its hierarch, His Grace Bishop Macarie, who is a very diligent man. At the same time, we congratulate the local priest, Rev. Fr. Ovidiu Bancilă who made tremendous efforts together with his faithful to restore this beautiful church”, His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei said.
“The greatest need that we feel in the West is the church buildings. Whenever God plans through the sacrifice of the priests and faithful to build or organise a church according to our Orthodox style, the entire Diaspora rejoices because we acquire deeper roots through our own churches”, His Eminence Metropolitan Serafim said.
The church in neo-Gothic style was built from 1880-1881, on the shore of Vättern lake of Jönköping, according to the plans of architect Lars Kellman, through the donation of the young British woman Cecilia Willerding. The iconostasis of the church was carved in 2014, in Brâncovean style, in cherry wood.
