Message of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church at the anniversary of 40 years since the setting up of the Romanian Orthodox parish of the “Nativity of the Lord”, Munich, Germany (17 January 2016):
It is with great joy that we address all the Romanian Christian Orthodox faithful of Munich, at the anniversary of 40 years since the official recognition of the first Romanian Orthodox parish in the Land of Bavaria, Germany (1976-2016) dedicated to the “Nativity of the Lord”.
This parish was set up four decades ago under the supervision of Rev Prof Dr Mircea Basarab, at the initiative of a group of Romanian Orthodox faithful from Munich. In 1994, this parish was integrated in the jurisdiction of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Germany, Central and Northern Europe.
A rich pastoral-missionary, cultural-social and representation activity was unfolded in this parish in the course of time, during its 40 years of existence, which emphasises the diligence of the Romanian servant clergymen and faithful who, although far from their country, endeavoured to keep their ancient Romanian Orthodox faith, identity and culture.
In the Romanian Diaspora, the church is the blessed space where the Romanians who live far from their mother country keep their true ethnic and spiritual identity and communion with those who remained at home. Most times, the love for their home, for the Romanian traditions and customs, for the common confession of the right faith brings the Romanians from Diaspora to the church where the celebration is in their mother tongue.
Now, at the anniversary of 40 years since the official recognition of the first Romanian Orthodox parish in the Land of Bavaria we congratulate His Eminence Metropolitan Serafim of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitanate of Germany, Central and Northern Europe, His Grace Sofian Braşoveanul, Assistant Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Germany, Austria and Luxemburg, the two servant priests of this parish, Rev Prof Dr Mircea Basarab (1976-2013), known as a distinguished Romanian theologian, and Rev parish priest Alexandru Nan (2013 – present) for their pastoral and missionary work, as well as all the parishioners of this parish.
We pray to Merciful God to give you all, at the beginning of the New Year 2016, good health and salvation, peace and happiness, as well as the joy to cultivate the Romanian communion and brotherly cooperation and the good relations with other Churches in Germany.
With high esteem and paternal blessing,
† DANIEL
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
