Pat. Bartholomew and Pat. Daniel Consecrate Iconography of Romania’s National Cathedral
Person shouts "anathema" from the crowd as Bartholomew commemorates the schismatic Dumenko despite the Romanian church not recognizing the OCU.
BUCHAREST — His Holiness Pat. Bartholomew of Constantinople and His Beatitude Pat. Daniel of Romania presided over the consecration of the mosaic iconography adorning Romania’s National Cathedral this past Sunday, a central event in the celebrations marking 100 years of the Romanian Patriarchate and 140 years since the Church’s autocephaly. The cathedral is the largest Orthodox place of worship in the world.
According to Basilica News Agency, the solemn service drew members of the Holy Synod, 67 priests, 12 deacons, and thousands of faithful gathered on the cathedral esplanade. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated earlier by Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishops Varlaam of Ploiești, Paisie of Sinaia, and Timotei of Prahova, with choral responses offered by the Tronos Byzantine Choir under Archdeacon Mihail Bucă.
On the cathedral’s portico, Pat. Bartholomew, Pat. Daniel, and Met. Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina read from the Holy Gospel before blessing the mosaics depicting Ss. Andrew and Philip, the Apostles who preached in the lands of present-day Romania. The hierarchs also blessed the altar mosaic and the cathedral’s outer walls, completing the sanctification of the new iconography.
At the point of the service where Pat. Bartholomew read from the diptychs, he commemorated Serhiy "Epiphany" Dumenko, head of the schismatic Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU), despite Romania being in the majority of autocephalous Orthodox churches worldwide which have not recognized the structure.
When Dumenko was commemorated, a shout of "anathema!" came from the crowd, with those participating in the service acting as if they did not hear it. The moment can be seen around the 1:21:30 timestamp of the livestream.
Two silver-gilt reliquaries for the relics of St. Dionysius of Vatopedi and St. Petronius the Prodromite were also blessed and presented to abbots from Mount Athos, who attended with a delegation of monks.
In his address, Pat. Bartholomew praised the Romanian Church’s enduring witness and brotherly ties with the Ecumenical Patriarchate, recalling his participation in the 2018 altar consecration.
“They have brought us here to rejoice together in the consecration of the beautiful mosaics and the entire iconography of this majestic National Cathedral, dedicated to the Ascension of the Lord and to Saint Andrew the First-Called — a cathedral that, seven years ago, we had the honor of solemnly consecrating together with His Beatitude."
Pat. Bartholomew then gifted Pat. Daniel with a pastoral staff.
Pat. Daniel expressed gratitude for Pat. Bartholomew's presence, describing it as "a testimony to the unity of Orthodoxy and the support of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for the administrative freedom and dignity of local Churches." He highlighted the recent canonization of four Romanian Athonite saints as a sign of deepening spiritual communion.
The Romanian Patriarch presented Pat. Bartholomew with an icon of St. Bartholomew the Apostle, noting the coincidence of the event with the Feast of St. Demetrius, Pat. Bartholomew's baptismal name day.
Among the dignitaries in attendance were Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Bucharest Mayor Nicușor Dan, members of Romania’s royal family, former Presidents Emil Constantinescu and Traian Băsescu, and representatives of religious, diplomatic, and civic institutions. More than 8,000 clergy and faithful participated in the historic celebration.
Previously, UOJ reported that the iconography of the National Cathedral in Bucharest would be solemnly consecrated in a major event of national and ecclesiastical significance.
