His Beatitude Daniel celebrated Friday, 30 September 2016, nine years since his enthronement as Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
On this anniversary, after the Divine Liturgy, a Te Deum service was officiated as thanksgiving brought to God for the bounties poured out upon the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Romanian people and His Beatitude during the nine years of patriarchal ministry. The divine services were celebrated by His Grace Timotei of Prahova, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest, in the presence of the hierarchs of the Holy Synod and the faithful.
Next, congratulatory messages on behalf of state authorities have been read out.
Mr Sergiu Nistor, presidential adviser, read the message of the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, addressed to His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, on his ninth anniversary of enthronement as Patriarch.
We celebrate nine years since the highest hierarchical ministry in the Romanian Orthodox Church was entrusted to you, through the vote of the hierarchs of the Holy Synod. I am pleased to convey to you, Your Beatitude Patriarch, my sincere congratulations accompanied by best wishes of health, fulfilment and joy in the midst of the faithful whom you pastor, and to whom you have given, all these years, Your Beatitude’s love and commitment!
The Prime minister of Romania, Dacian Cioloş, has also transmitted a message, which was read by the State Secretary for Religious Affairs, Victor Opaschi.
I congratulate you for the activity that you carry out as Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church, both home and abroad, and for the fact that you are one of those personalities that cultivate with perseverance responsibility and discernment as core values of public space and democracy.
Finally, His Eminence Casian, Archbishop of Lower Danube, delivered a speech regarding the responsibility and contribution of Patriarch Daniel to the life of the Romanian Orthodox Church, in the nine-year patriarchal ministry.
