Today, 11 September 2011, hundreds of Romanian and German faithful participated in the laying of the foundation stone to a new Romanian Orthodox church in Aubing, Munich, Germany, dedicated to the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and to Saint Hierarch Calinic from Cernica. The consecration service was celebrated by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel assisted by a large group of hierarchs, priests and deacons.

Present at the event were many officials, the president of the Bavarian Parliament, Mrs. Barbara Stamm, the Romanian Ambassador in Germany, Lazăr Comănescu, the General Consul of Romania, Mrs, Brânduşa Predescu, as well as representatives of the Roman Catholic Church of Munich and Feissburg, headed by the Assistant Bishop Engelbert Suebler, and representatives of the Lutheran Church of Bavaria, headed by Michael Martin, ecumenical counsellor.

The document of the foundation stone was read by His Grace Sofian Braşoveanul, Assistant of Germany, Austria and Luxemburg.

The plot of land where the church of the Romanians living in Munich will be built was purchased by care of His Eminence Serafim, Metropolitan of Central and Northern Europe.

“I have the pleasant duty to thank all those who answered our invitation to come here today to pray together with His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel and participate in this historical moment for the Romanian community of Munich, namely the laying of the foundation stone to the future Romanian Orthodox church in the capital city of Bavaria. The future Brancovean monument will certainly enrich the spiritual patrimony of this beautiful hospitable city”, said His Eminence according to Trinitas Radio station.

On this occasion, the Patriarch of Romania delivered a speech entitled “A new gate to heaven in Germany”, in which he emphasised among other things the fact that a new place of worship, the construction of a church, represents a Gate to Heaven. His Beatitude has also underlined the fact that in the sacred space of the brick church the earth and heaven meet, time and eternity, and the faithful from earth with those from heaven.

In the afternoon, the Patriarch of Romania will address a message during the opening festivity of the 25th International Meeting for Peace organised by Sant’Egidio Community in Munich, on the theme “Bound to live together”. On this occasion, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel will meet President of Germany, His Excellency Mr. Dr. Christian Wulf.