Yesterday, February 12, in the Patriarchal Cathedral, Right Rev. Varlaam, Patriarchal Vicar Bishop, has celebrated a Te Deum service on the occasion of the passing, on February 7, 2010, of five years of uninterrupted publishing of the 'Ziarul Lumina' (The Light) newspaper, the first Christian daily in Romania. His Grace Varlaam talked about the long tradition of church press, mentioning that 'after the proclamation of the autocephaly of the Romanian Orthodox Church, many prominent hierarchs and theologians have underlined repeatedly the necessity of a Christian daily newspaper to reflect the dynamic life of the Church in our country.'

At the end of the thanksgiving service, in the Europa Christiana Hall of the Patriarchate's Palace, in the presence of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and of other hierarchs from the Holy Synod, the most important moments in the history of The Light publications were evoked. Cosmin Olinici, Patriarchal Counselor and coordinator of The Light publications has presented the main development directions of Ziarul Lumina over the last five years and also unveiled several future projects. Next, Rev. Constantin Sturzu, one of the founders of the Ziarul Lumina newspaper, has explained that 'the beginnings of this publication are under the sign of the media apostleship. Like our Savior has called the disciples to Him and then sent them to preach, we, those who worked together for the birthing of this publication, have felt that we received, as sons of the Church, a higher calling.' Those present at the festivity have observed a moment of silence for the regretted founder and editorial director Florin Zamfirescu, who was called by fellow journalist 'the architect of newspapers' or 'the newspaper man.'

During the festivity, the new site of Ziarul Lumina was launched, www.ziarullumina.ro, in a new and improved design, which surpasses the limits of the printed edition and which aims to be a 'virtual library and a portal of Orthodox resources.'

The Patriarch congratulated the founders, staff and readers of the Ziarul Lumina newspaper, which 'is a light for the contemporary Christian, who is present and active in society,' being, at the same time, 'a necessary reflection of the value of Orthodox spirituality.' His Beatitude offered the staff in Bucharest and Iasi, as instruments, the Encyclopaedia of Romanian Orthodoxy, recently printed, and the volume 'Hierarchs and Rulers of Wallachia.' Also, the Romanian Patriarch has offered diplomas to those who distinguished themselves through the contribution to the activity of 'Ziarul Lumina' newspaper.