Romanian Patriarch Daniel marks 38 years of monastic life
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church has marked 38 years since his monastic tonsure.
The future Patriarch of Romania was tonsured a monk at Sihăstria Monastery on August 5-6, 1987, following the Vespers of the Feast of the Transfiguration. Saint Cleopas Ilie, canonized last year, blessed his decision, became his monastic godfather and gave him the name Daniel.
“A few days later, on August 14, I was ordained hierodeacon, and on August 15, hieromonk,” explained His Beatitude.
“I was baptized with the names Dan Ilie, and Father Cleopas, when I became a monk, combined them into a single name: Daniil – as he would say,” Patriarch Daniel recalled. He was 36 at the time.
Pastoral service as Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina
Three years later, he was ordained a bishop and briefly served as Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Timișoara. In June 1990, he was elected Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina.
As Metropolitan, he initiated major pastoral, administrative, and academic projects. Among them were the consolidation and restoration of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iași and the founding of the Providența Diagnostic and Treatment Centre — the first hospital owned by the Romanian Orthodox Church to be accredited by the Ministry of Health, with a 102-bed capacity.
A 21st-century Patriarch
Following his enthronement as Patriarch, the Romanian Orthodox Church underwent a series of transformations aimed at preserving the authenticity of liturgical life while responding to contemporary societal challenges.
One of the landmark achievements of his patriarchal ministry is the construction and consecration of the National Cathedral in Bucharest — a monumental project fulfilling a historic national ideal at the centenary of the Great Union of 1918. The cathedral is dedicated to all Romanian heroes and placed under the patronage of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Protector of Romania.
Patriarch Daniel has also shown deep care for the memory of his predecessors, Romanian martyrs, and saints. During his patriarchal tenure, more than 80 Romanian saints were canonized, strengthening both ecclesial and national identity.
Among his early initiatives in Bucharest was the founding of the Basilica Media Centre, the official communication platform of the Romanian Patriarchate, designed to reflect the Church’s presence in modern society.
Supporting the diaspora and social outreach
Patriarch Daniel has consistently shown care for Romanians living abroad. At his proposal, the Holy Synod established in 2009 a national Day of Romanian Migrants, as a sign of recognition and solidarity.
Socially, he has strongly supported the philanthropic mission of the Church, which now coordinates over 800 charitable and social service institutions, making the Romanian Orthodox Church the largest philanthropic actor in Romania.
Photo: Basilica.ro
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