Yesterday, 19 December 2011, several groups of carollers from the Archdiocese of Bucharest, as well as from various parts of the country, carolled His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel in “Europa Christiana” room of the Patriarchate Palace – informs “Lumina” newspaper.

The first group, which carolled the Patriarch of Romania was “Doxologia” priests’ chorus of the deanery of Ploieşti, accompanied by archpriest Ştefan Muşat. The 25 members sung several traditional carols, for which His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel congratulated them.

“It is a very nice thing for the priests to be carollers too, not only shepherds who announce the Nativity of the Lord going from house to house icon in hand. It is very nice that this part of the country, Prahova, beautiful through nature, to be beautiful through culture too. Prahova is a region with very beautiful traditions, which can become a sort of Bucovina of Wallachia, if one insisted on preserving the folklore, on reviving the traditions of Christian inspiration diminished or forgotten during the communist regime, as well as on the more intense involvement of the clergy in the cultivation of talent with the children, young people and adults”, also said His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.

The following carollers who came to announce the Nativity of Christ, our Saviour, at the Patriarchate Palace, were members of the choral group of Perişor parish, Zagra commune, county of Bistriţa-Năsăud. Dressed in national costumes typical for their native village, continuing the customs conveyed from generation to generation, the young people supervised by priest Florentin Moldovan sang traditional carols for His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel and wished him good health. “It is a very nice thing that you preserve our Romanian traditional customs, inspired by our Christian Orthodox faith, and the beauty of the national costumes which praise God through their beautiful colours. Besides carolling, it is a very good thing to visit the poor or lonely ones, to bring them joy and help them in any way. We do not mean material presents, but perhaps some help in the house, cleaning or shopping. Though all these proofs of the soul’s kindness we answer, in fact, to the love of God, shown in Christ, our Lord, who is the supreme gift of God for the salvation of the world, feeling the joy the angels and shepherds felt at the Nativity of the Lord in Bethlehem”, said the Patriarch of Romanian to the young people from Perişor village.

Carols of the Orphans of Bacău

There followed the carollers of Lieşti parish, deanery of Tecuci, county of Galaţi. The group made up of 17 children aged from 6 to 17, sang carols typical for the area they come from. “Speranţa” choral group joined the groups of carols singing songs about the Nativity of the Lord. Coming from Oneşti city, county of Bacău, “Speranţa” chorus is made up of young people who live at the orphanage of Târgu Ocna, county of Bacău. “We congratulate you for trying to bring joy in times with many problems. We, the Christians, bring joy where it is sadness and hope where it is loneliness and despair. We wish you always to feel this joy in your souls!”, His Beatitude told the young carollers. Last night “Datina românească” group of Bucharest was received at the Patriarchate Palace.