\n
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For almost a century, Heroes Day has been celebrated in Romania on
\nthe same day as the Ascension of Jesus, the moment when, according to Bible
\nteachings, 40 days after Resurrection, he ascended to heaven from the Mount of
\nOlives in Jerusalem. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
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The secular celebration of the nation’s heroes was established in
\n1920, after WWI, when all provinces with majority ethnic Romanian populations
\nbecame united under Bucharest’s control. Hundreds of thousands of Romanian
\nsoldiers died for the unification of the nation and their sacrifice has since
\nbeen commemorated by this national holiday. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
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It was also in 1920 that Romania became the first country to
\ncommemorate, on the same day, both its own heroes and the foreign soldiers who
\ndied on its territory. All Romanian churches in Romania and abroad, both
\nOrthodox and Greek Catholic, held special services on Thursday in memory of
\neveryone killed in battle throughout centuries. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
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Hundreds of residents in the small town of Toplita, in the centre,
\npaid their respects at the local memorial built in memory of WWI heroes. The
\nOrthodox bishop of Covasna and Harghita, Andrei Moldovan.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
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Andrei Moldovan: These brave heroes
\nof the Romanian nation, who have sacrificed their lives on battlefields to
\ndefend ancient Ardeal, were laid to rest by Patriarch Miron Cristea at the
\nentrance to Toplita. The heroes, for us, are the foundation of the Romanian
\nnation.<\/p>\n
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\n
\n
\n
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A school child who attended the event, said:<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Child: Today is a very emotional day
\nfor us because this is where our ancestors are buried, who spilled their blood
\nfor us and our freedom.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
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\n
\n
<\/p>\n
Buzau, in the southeast, hosted the inauguration of a military
\ncemetery where almost 10,000 soldiers from many different countries are
\ninterred. The opening ceremony, which also formed part of the Great Union
\nCentennial celebrations, was attended by Romanian officials, ambassadors and
\nmilitary attaches from allied and partner states. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/p>\n
An Israelite cemetery in Bucharest held a religious service in
\nmemory of the ethnic Jews killed in the battle for the unification of Romania.
\nThe neighbouring Republic of Moldova, an ex-Soviet state with a majority
\nRomanian-speaking population, inaugurated the Cemetery of Honour of the
\nRomanian Soldiers in the village of Tabara, near Orhei. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\n
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<\/p>\n
The president’s office, the government and the defence ministry
\nissued statements in which they expressed their respect for those who, through
\ntheir ultimate sacrifice, defended the freedom, integrity and dignity of the
\nRomanian country and its people. On the anniversary of 100 years since the
\nfulfilment of the national dream, said president Klaus Iohannis, we should more
\nthan ever remember the deeds of those who came before us and take stock of what
\nhas been achieved in the years since the Great Union. <\/p>\n
\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Two celebrations were held on Thursday in Romania: the Ascension of Jesus and Heroes Day<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":105,"featured_media":77743,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[37738],"tags":[39331,39330,28945],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-77742","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-today-in-the-news","tag-andrei-moldovan","tag-heroes-day","tag-klaus-iohannis"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n