PHOTO Images from inside the National Cathedral during the consecration service. 3,000 guests were present
Consecration of the National Cathedral Photo: Basilica.ro
The painting of the National Cathedral was consecrated, on Sunday, in the presence of Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople. Around 3,000 guests were received inside, and around 25,000 believers gathered outside the cathedral.
The ceremony was attended by the President of Romania Nicușor Dan, together with his family, the Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, the President Maia Sandu, as well as other dignitaries and officials.
According to the Romanian Patriarchate, the mosaic works in the National Cathedral took place between 2019 and 2025, covering a total area of approximately 25,000 square meters. The altar, nave, main dome and pronaos were decorated in this technique before the consecration.
Representatives of the Patriarchate state that, due to its dimensions, the National Cathedral has “the largest Orthodox iconostasis in the world”, with an area of 407 square meters, a length of 23.8 meters and a height of 17.1 meters, which includes 45 icons.
The consecration service began at 10:30 a.m. and ended shortly after 12:00 p.m. At the end, Patriarch Daniel gave a speech, in which he also thanked the governments of Romania from 2010-2025 for the support given to the construction of the cathedral.
At the end of the thanksgiving speech, Patriarch Daniel presented Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I with a Byzantine mosaic icon.
Organized groups of pilgrims from the country's dioceses could enter the cathedral from 1 p.m. General public access to the cathedral is allowed from 8:00 p.m.
“Faithful Orthodox pilgrims will still be able to worship in the Holy Altar of the National Cathedral on the following days: October 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31, 2025, including during the night,” the Patriarchate also states.
It is unclear at this time what the schedule is after this date. HotNews asked the Romanian Patriarchate whether the faithful will still be able to visit the National Cathedral after October 31. “And after this date, in principle, it will be open for visits,” said Father Adrian Agachi, the spokesman of the Romanian Orthodox Church. A clear program has not yet been made.
