THEOCTISTE
LE PATRIARCHE
DE L`EGLISE ORTHODOXE ROMAINE
No: 96/2005
14.01.2005
His Holiness Bartholomaios,
Archbishop of Constantinople – New rome
Ecumenical Patriarch
Your Holiness,
It is with brotherly love in Christ, our Lord, that we inform Your Holiness that, the Romanian Orthodox Church celebrates two events of a great importance in her more recent history: 120 years since the Thomos of Autocephaly was received from the Ecumenical Patriarchate and 80 years since our Church was raised to the rank of Patriarchate.
It is in this context that the Romanian Patriarchate will organise several religious and Cultural events in order to mark the above mentioned jubilee moments in the life of the Romanian Orthodoxy, with the participation of many personalities from the public, ecclesiastical and cultural life from Romania.
The program will begin on Saturday, the 5th March 2005, with a Solemn Session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, in the Rotunda of the Palace of the Patriarchate, followed by the launch of the Anniversary Volume and Medal. The next day, on Sunday, the 6th March, as a corollary of these anniversary moments, we shall share, together with Your Holiness, the other hierarchs, clergy and faithful, in the joy of Eucharistic Communion, during the Holy Liturgy celebrated in Bucharest, at Saint Spirydon – the New church.
Taking into consideration the outstanding importance of these anniversary moments of the Romanian Patriarchate, as well as for the fraternal communion of the whole of Orthodoxy, on behalf of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church and of the Romanian people, being convinced that your Holiness` presence in these moments will bring a greater blessing and courage in affirming the Orthodox faith of our beloved spiritual believers.
While hoping to meet again in the spirit of brotherly love and of Orthodox unity, we wish Your Holiness good health and peace, brotherly wholeheartedly embracing You in Christ, Our Lord and Saviour.
TEOCTIST
Archbishop of Bucharest,
Metropolitan of Muntenia and Dobrudgea,
Locum Tenens of Caesarea of Cappadocia,
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church