Yesterday, January 24, 2010, on the Sunday of the Publican and the Pharisee, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel attended the Holy Liturgy at the Patriarchal Chapel 'St Gregory the Illuminator' within the Patriarchal Residence. After explaining the meaning of the Gospel fragment read during the Liturgy, His Beatitude evoked the makers of the Union of the Romanian Principalities, which took place on January 24, 1859.

HB Daniel reminded that in the churches of the Romanian Orthodox Church, thanksgiving services were celebrated for the great gift of the Union of the Romanian Principalities of January 24, 1859. 'We are giving thanks today to God for this act, but we are also commemorating the makers of the Union, ruler Alexandru Ioan Cuza, metropolitan bishop Sofronie Miclescu of Moldavia, who also presided the Elective Assembly of Iasi, on January 5, metropolitan Nifon, who presided the Elective Assembly of Wallachia on January 24, 1859, and all the other makers of the Union, who understood how important is the gift of the Union, the gift of unity and dignity for a people which comes together, and does not divide itself,' said the Romanian Patriarch.