Romanian Orthodox Church Enthroned His Beatitude Daniel, the New Patriarch of Romania

The ceremony was lead by Archbishop Nifon of Targoviste and begun at 8:30 with the Holy Liturgy and than after the enthronment continued with Te Deum.

More thant 30 foreign delagations attendend the enthronement. Archpriests, Deans from the Romanian Orthodox Church, Theologians and students in theology, but also delegates from all Christian Orthodox countries and from other Christian denominations attended the ceremony.

President Traian Basescu, former Presidents Ion Iliescu and Emil Constantinescu and the former King Michael together with members of the Royal Family of Romania were present. Representatives from Political parties in Romania took part in the event.

During the ceremony, the new patriarch were given the liturgical symbols, the Patriarchal Rod, the Garment, the Engolpions, all symbols of his authority, and the white headdress.

A solemn session of the enthronement took place in the Administrative Palace of the Patriarchate. Delegates from the Apostolic Churches beginning with the throne of Constantinople and ending with the word of Pope Benedict the XVI represented by Cardinal Kasper addressed congratulations and words of hope in improved cooperation, continuation and renewal of dialogue between the Romanian Orthodox Church and other Orhtodox Churches and Confessions from all over the world.

Symbolic gifts of recognition, unity in prayer and work have been presented to His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel: A Patriarchal Rod from Ecumenical Patriarchate, a Holy Calist from Vatican, Icons meaningful to the new position and theological, lithurgical and social responsabilities of His Beatitude Daniel and croses with patriarchal engolpions from other Orthodox Delagations as for example from His Eminence, Alexey II, Patriarch of Moskow and All Russia.

At 16:30 His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel will be welcomed by Traian Basescu at Cotroceni Palace who will confere upon the new Patriarch the national order "Star of Romania in rank of Great Cross"

An inside-Church Attempt to Limiting Chances of Daniel of Moldova

In context of media scandal regarding hierarchy cooperation with Securitate the declaration of Nicolae, Metropolitan of Banat, stating that the most merituous to candidate for Patriarchal position is Danel of Moldova seems to be a hiden attempt to limiting the real chances of Metropolitan Daniel.

Nicolae of Banat is the oldest in bishophood from among Romanian Orthodox Hierarchs. He recognized in 1990 that he cooperated with the Secret Police of the Communiste regime and gave tham information even regarding the priests under his authority.

Although he never retired Metropolitan Nicolae said to that a Law on Lustration is necessary in Romania as well as improvement of lustration procedures.

Vice President of Demorcatic Party, Sorin Frunzaverde Declared his Favourite Candidate as New Patriarch of Romania: Daniel of Moldova and Bucovina

Nowdays Vice President of Democratic Party, former Minister of Waters, Forests, and Environment [1997-1998 Februry], former Minister of Turism [April – December 1998], former minister of National Defence March-december 2000], stated that the future Patriarch of Romania will be Metropolitan of Moldova.

Sorin Frunzaverde is member of the Romanian Church National Electoral College, the one that will finaly elect the Patriarch of the Orthodox Church at the proposal of the Holy Synod which will come with one up to three candidates.

In spite the fact that the mass media, early before his statement, already launched a debate on how much the elections will be influenced by the political parties, and published the list of the about eight politicians that are members in the Church National Electoral College, Sorin Frunzaverde state his opinion declaring that “personally I will involve myself for Matropolitan Daniel of Moldova”.