The centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate is a moment of great joy and gratitude for all Orthodox Romanians, an opportunity to strengthen faith and remember those who, through their sacrificial love, left us a testimony and a holy heritage, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR), Daniel has said.
"The year 2025, declared by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church as the commemorative year of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate and the commemorative year of the Romanian Orthodox priests and martyrs of the 20th century, represents a unique moment in the history of the Romanian Orthodox Church. This anniversary is not just a celebration of the past, but also a call to acknowledge our ancestors and reflection on the role of our Church in the life of the Romanian people. The Romanian Patriarchate was, throughout its 100 years of existence, an unquenchable torch of faith and national unity, and the Romanian Orthodox priests and confessors of the 20th century were true defenders of the Orthodox faith in the face of trials and persecutions", the Patriarch pointed out on the occasion of the proclamation of the commemorative Year of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate.
The head of the BOR said that "this century of existence and rich activity of the Romanian Patriarchate was marked by many blessings, but also by some difficult trials, which the Romanian Orthodox Church, with God's help, overcame with patience and wisdom and hope".
"Looking back at these 100 years, we see both a rich history and a beautiful spiritual legacy left by our forefathers - whether we are talking about the patriarchs who shepherded the Church wisely or the hierarchs, priests, deacons, monks and lay faithful prayers and confessors, who defended and transmitted the Orthodox faith in hard times, uniting in their souls the suffering of the Cross with the hope of the Resurrection, the tears of repentance with the joy of meeting the risen Christ", Patriarch Daniel pointed out.
The Romanian Patriarchate was not only an administrative institution, but also a symbol of national, spiritual and cultural unity, he said.
The investiture and enthronement of the first patriarch, Miron Cristea, on November 1, 1925, represented the establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate.
The establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate was recognized internationally, especially through the Tomos of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the official recognition of the Romanian Patriarchate by the other autocephalous Orthodox Churches, strengthening the prestige of the BOR.