{"id":547375,"date":"2025-11-04T12:02:10","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T10:02:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=547375"},"modified":"2025-11-04T12:02:10","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T10:02:10","slug":"colectiv-fire-memorial-10-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/colectiv-fire-memorial-10-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Romanian priests hold memorial 10 years on for Colectiv victims \u201cwho never had the chance to grow old\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

A memorial service for the victims of the Colectiv nightclub fire was held last week at the roadside cross erected in front of the former club, marking ten years since the tragedy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The service was held on Thursday, October 30, at 10:30 a.m. at the Fabrica Pionerul \u2013 Parcul Bucur access area in Bucharest\u2019s Sector 4, by an assembly of priests from the state cemeteries, led by Father Ionu\u021b B\u0103rbulescu, dean of Sector 4.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe officiated the memorial service for the young people who never had the chance, and will never have the chance, to grow old,\u201d the protopresbyter said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe prayed that God may place them where, as the Church\u2019s prayers say, there is the never-ageing happiness \u2014 in His Kingdom,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Nearby, at the \u201cSaint Nicholas\u201d \u2013 Bro\u0219teni Church, the Divine Liturgy had been celebrated earlier.<\/p>\n

Living memory<\/h2>\n
\"\"
Every year, priests gather for memorial services commemorating the victims of the Colectiv club fire. 30.10.2025. Photo: Basilica.ro \/ Mircea Florescu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Such memorial services have been held annually since 2015 to keep alive the memory of the 64 young people who lost their lives.<\/p>\n

Among the first to arrive at the scene on the night of 30\u201331 October 2015 was an Orthodox priest, Father Vasile B\u00eerleanu<\/a>, who serves at the ISU \u2013 Dealul Spirii Chapel, and who assisted both victims and rescuers.<\/p>\n

The Church provided material support to Colectiv survivors, offering food and sanitary products in four hospitals in Bucharest. Victims and their families also received financial assistance through the Archdiocese of Bucharest and through other dioceses.<\/p>\n