End of pilgrimage to the National Cathedral
Romanian Christian believers were impressed with the grandeur of the National Cathedral
Mihai Pelin, 06.11.2025, 13:50
Christian believers’ period of prayer at the altar of the National Cathedral in the Romanian capital city ended Wednesday at midnight, after 11 days. Over 300,000 pilgrims from around the country and abroad entered the Cathedral. Although the waiting time was, on some days, as long as over 10 hours, people stood in line to visit it and were impressed with what they saw.
Placed for veneration in the altar were the relics of Apostle Andrew, the patron saint of Romania and the National Cathedral, and of Saint Demetrius the New, the patron saint of Bucharest.
Last month, on October 26, the painting of the National Cathedral was consecrated in a service officiated by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople and Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church, together with a council of 65 hierarchs, 70 priests and 12 deacons.
Among the 2,500 official guests at this event were the president of Romania, Nicuşor Dan, PM Ilie Bolojan and the president of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu. The Romanian Orthodox Church chose to consecrate the painting this year, when it celebrates 100 years since it became a Patriarchate.
The imposing National Cathedral is located right next to the Parliament Palace, built in the 1980s on the orders of the communist dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu, who had many churches, houses, historical monuments and hospitals in the area demolished for that purpose. Construction works on the record-breaking cathedral started 15 years ago and cost over EUR 270 million, mostly from donations, the Patriarchate’s contribution and public funding.
Experts say the monument will likely become a tourist symbol for Romania. It is the tallest Orthodox church in the world (127 m) and can hold 5,000 people. Two-thirds of its 25,000 sq.m. walls are already covered with mosaics, for which over 200 Byzantine mosaic specialists worked for seven years. As confirmed by the World Records Academy, the cathedral also has the largest altar screen in the world, spanning over 400 sq.m. and 45 Byzantine-style icons.
In total, the church has eight spires that combine architectural elements from Romania’s historical provinces, including Transylvanian church spires. The main spire supports a 7m high cross, which weighs 7 tons. Jesus Christ, the Mother of God, the Holy Apostles, as well as Romanian saints are represented on the 27 bronze doors at the entrance. The 6 bells are also impressive, and one of them is actually the largest bell in Europe, weighing over 25 tons. It will only ring for important events, and it will be heard within a radius of at least 15 km. (AMP)
