Bucharest, February 14, 2018
Photo: http://basilica.ro/ His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will participate in the consecration of the Romanian Orthodox Church’s National Cathedral in Bucharest, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania announced at a meeting of the National Church Council at the patriarchal residence on Tuesday, reports the Romanian Orthodox Church’s Basilica News Agency.
The National Cathedral, to be dedicated to the Ascension of Christ and St. Andrew, is popularly known as the People’s Salvation Cathedral. It will be the patriarchal cathedral for the Romanian Orthodox Church and the tallest Orthodox Church in the world (433 ft. high). The new church is designed to hold 6,000 worshipers—more than ten times the current cathedral. The complex will also include a soup kitchen with a capacity for 1,000, two hotels, and parking for 500 cars.
Photo: Wikipedia Pat. Bartholomew was invited personally by Pat. Daniel during the council that took place on the island of Crete in the summer of 2016, and later via an official letter. Pat. Bartholomew expressed his desire to participate in this very important event for Orthodox Romanians in an interview last year with the Romanian Patriarchate’s television station, stating that it is always a joy and honor for him to visit the Orthodox faithful of Romania.
Pat. Daniel also announced that the festivities related to the consecration of the National Cathedral will last for five days, from November 25 to 30. He also gave an update on the status of the building project, stating that it is about 80% finished.
The metal roof structure is scheduled to be installed from July until the end of September, and the bells will be installed between August and October. The crosses will be placed on the domes in late October, with the bronze doors being mounted at the main entrances during the same time.
The consecration of the foundation stone of the National Cathedral was celebrated on September 13, 2007 by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
