The canonical visit that His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church paid to Brasov city, from 10 – 12 July 2010, began with the ceremony for awarding the title of citizen of honour of the city in the heart of the country. Local and county authorities, hierarchs, priests and people of culture of Brasov city attended the event.

Saturday, 10 July 2010, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church was awarded the title of citizen of honour of Brasov city. The distinction was awarded within the framework of the extraordinary session of the Local Council of Brasov and opened the series of events related to the visit the Primate of our church paid to the city at the foot of Tampa Mountains. At the same time, the gesture of the community of Brasov city came as a proof of respect for the care His Beatitude showed to the faithful over here. The ceremony took place at the seat of the City Hall of Brasov, in the presence of the local authorities, such as the prefect of Brasov county, Ion Gontea, the local counselors and the representatives of the main religious cults in the city. Besides His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, some other hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church were also present: His Eminence Laurentiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania, His Eminence Calinic, Archbishop of Arges and Muscel, and His Eminence Archbishop Ioan of the Diocese of Covasna and Harghita.

In the final speech, the Patriarch of Romania thanked the authorities of Brasov city for the distinction offered: “Today we might say we have a small Europe here, in Brasov, where we spread hope all around through this peaceful living and mutual respect. It is through this peaceful living and friendship that we can implement the Gospel of Jesus Christ, our Lord, who shows us that the commandment of love for our neighbour is the foundation of the Christian life”, said His Beatitude.

Mayor George Scripcaru awarded His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel the diploma of citizen of honour, a medal and the book “History of Brasov City” by Alexandru Surdu. The Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church offered the City Hall of Brasov an icon of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, and a plaque of the insignia of the Romanian Patriarchate.

Presence and Blessing

The same day in the evening, the Patriarch of our Church participated in the Te Deum service that a group of priests and deacons headed by His Grace Andrei Fagarasanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Sibiu, celebrated in the church of the Holy Trinity in Scheii Brasovului, and blessed the construction works of an old people’s home of the parish. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel offered the church of Brasov a blessing cross made in the workshops of the Romanian Patriarchate, a book on the Nicene – Constantinople Creed and an icon of Jesus Christ, our Lord, for the future old people’s home at this church of Brasov.

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel explained the importance of the social work in parishes: “Today, an old people’s home means a home of hope and dignity. Our degree of civilization, as well as of living the Gospel of Jesus Christ, depends on the way we behave towards the old people and children, towards the poor and the sick, towards the people who really need our help, and who ask, in fact, the help of God, but He uses our hands to answer them”.

Sunday, 11 July, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, consecrated the church of “Saints Emperors Constantine and Helen and of Saint Cornelius the Centurion” in Brasov city, assisted by a group of hierarchs, priests and deacons – informs “Lumina” newspaper. The re-consecration of the church of Brasov was the central event of the visit the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church paid to Brasov. The city feast drew over 2,000 faithful, local and county authorities, representatives of some other religious cults and pilgrims from other parts of the country. The re-consecration of the place of worship – as huge as a real Cathedral – took place in a solemn atmosphere with detailed preparations by the parishioners in the Valea Cetatii district of Brasov. Besides the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church also present were His Eminence Laurentiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania, His Eminence Calinic, Archbishop of Arges and Muscel, His Eminence Ioan of the Diocese of Covasna and Harghita, His Grace Gurie, Bishop of Deva and Hunedoara, His Grace Macarie of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe and His Grace Andrei Fagarasanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Sibiu. We also mention some of the officials present at the event: the mayor of Brasov city, George Scripcaru, prefect of Brasov county, Ion Gontea, and vice-president of the County Council of Brasov, Ion Ochi.

The Sense of the Spiritual Healing

The re-consecration service followed the consecration of the chapel arranged at the semi-basement of the church. His Eminence Calinic, together with His Grace Gurie and His Grace Andrei Fagarasanul, consecrated the chapel, assisted by a group of priests and deacons. After surrounding the church, splashing it with holy water and anointing it with the Holy Great Myrrh, there followed the building of the holy altar and putting the holy relics in the leg of the Holy Table. Then, the painting and altar screen were consecrated and the Divine Liturgy was celebrated in the place of worship.

In the sermon delivered at the Divine Liturgy, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel emphasized the main teachings of the Gospel read on the 7th Sunday after the Pentecost. “The healing of two blind men and of a dumb one shows, first of all, the merciful love of Jesus Christ, our Lord, as well as the deep meaning of the word ‘salvation’, namely getting rid of a hard state, healing of a disease, release from bondage and getting out of danger or trouble”, said His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.

Distinctions for Founders and Benefactors

To end with the Divine Liturgy, parish priest Corneliu Garbacea received the Patriarchal Cross from His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, as well as a blessing cross for the church of Brasov. The mayor of Brasov was awarded the Order of “Saints Emperors Constantine and Helen” for the support granted to the Orthodox parishes in the city, while Gheorghe Seghete, founder of the church, was awarded the order of “Sanctus Stefanus Magnus”. The Diploma of Honour was awarded to the members of the Parochial Council, to the architects, engineers and painters who supported the construction works. Rev. Garbacea offered the Patriarch of Romania a beautiful hierarchic epitrachil and a plaque of the church on behalf of the parish. His Eminence Laurentiu thanked His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel for the support and attention paid to the faithful of Brasov city and underlined the fact that the faithful of Transylvania would sustain the projects the Romanian Patriarchate initiated.

The construction of the church dedicated to Saints Emperors Constantine and Helen and to Cornelius the Centurion began in 1990, one year after the parish of Valea Cetatii was set up in the district of the same name. His Eminence Serafim of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan See of the Central and Northern Europe, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Sibiu at the time, laid the foundation stone on 10 June 1990.