The Romanian Patriarchate has been a guiding light to Christ, the bridegroom of the Church, throughout its 100 years of existence as an institution and organisation, as well as a factor of unity and stability throughout the difficult times it has gone through, Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Christian Orthodox Church (BOR) said on Tuesday.

„Throughout its 100 years of existence as an institution and organisation, the Romanian Patriarchate has been a guiding light to Christ, the bridegroom of the Church, as well as a factor of unity and stability throughout the difficult times it has gone through. The one-century anniversary of the establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate is an opportunity for a deeper knowledge of the history of our church, closely linked to the history and life of the Romanian people and to its aspirations for unity and freedom,” Daniel said at the Patriarchal Cathedral events dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the adoption of the decision of the Holy Synod to promote the Romanian Christian Orthodox Church to the rank of Patriarchate.

Daniel celebrated the divine liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral together with the members of the Holy Synod, members of the National Church Assembly.

In his speech called „The Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate – a time of gratitude to God and benefactors, a solemn occasion to honour the recently canonised saints,” Daniel reviewed the history of the promotion of the BOR to the rank of Patriarchate, emphasising that the promotion was „an administrative necessity and an expression of the spiritual unity existing between the clergy and the faithful from all the provinces of Greater Romania.”

The patriarch praised the life and example of „the great shepherds of souls, the confessing priests, the great spiritual martyrs, who have shone through their praiseworthy deeds in this 100-year period.”

„The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church solemnly proclaimed today the canonisation of 16 Romanian saints who confessed their faith in Christ during the difficult period of the communist regime in Romania. These saints are the most precious fruit that our church has brought in this 100-year period, because through them the mysterious work of the grace of the Holy Spirit in the Romanian Orthodox Church is most intensely shown. These ministers were canonised or inscribed in the Church’s calendar because the signs of holiness were found in their lives: the orthodoxy of the faith, the holy life of repentance and prayer, humble and merciful love for one’s neighbor, the sacrificial confession of faith, and sometimes even the performance of miracles, as well as the piety of the people towards them.”

The highest ranking Orthodox hierarch emphasised that „the Church honours them especially because they resisted persecution with courage and confessed the truth of Christ even in torture and death, thus offering a living example of faith, of a full, Christian life,” and „their canonisation is an act of recognition of the holiness of their lives, which transcends any political context, emphasisng the fact that true Christian confession does not support fleeting worldly ideologies, but the eternal values of faith and love of God.”

„The Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate is, therefore, a moment of holy joy and gratitude for the entire Romanian Orthodoxy. Looking back, we see not only a rich history, but also a deep spiritual legacy, left by our ancestors – patriarchs, hierarchs, priests, monks and faithful and laity, who defended and transmitted the Orthodox faith over time. Despite the trials and vicissitudes it faced, the Romanian Christian Orthodox Church has remained steadfast in its mission, combining in its history the sacrifice of the Cross with the hope and joy of the Resurrection.”

On Tuesday morning, the holy relics from the Patriarchal Cathedral and those of the Holy Apostle Andrew from the Patriarchal Residence were carried in procession, all of which will be placed in the Baldachin of the Saints to facilitate the access of pilgrims to worship.

After the divine liturgy, the general proclamation of the canonisation of the 16 holy martyrs and confessors of the 20th century took place by Patriarch Daniel, surrounded by the hierarchs of the Holy Synod, followed by the Te Deum service for the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate and for the beginning of the works of the Holy Synod and the National Church Assembly.

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Christian Orthodox Church approved last year the canonisation of 16 venerable and confessing priests of the 20th century.

This year, the Romanian Orthodox Church celebrates 140 years since becoming autocephalous and 100 years since its promotion to the rank of Patriarchate. That is why 2025 has been declared the Solemn Year of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate and the Commemorative Year of the 20th century Romanian Christian Orthodox Martyrs and Confessors.

AGERPRES