Maria Rusu and her husband embarked on an overnight journey from their hometown of Cluj to Bucharest to witness the inauguration of Romania’s newly completed national cathedral, which now holds the title of the world’s largest Orthodox Christian church. Since its doors opened after 15 years of construction on Sunday, an influx of Romanians and visitors from abroad has flocked to the cathedral.
“Romania deserves it,” Rusu, a 72-year-old retired economist, expressed after patiently waiting in line for hours to enter the church during a Mass that was streamed on screens. This monumental structure will serve as the new seat for the Romanian Orthodox Church, which has operated from a smaller cathedral established in the mid-1600s located in downtown Bucharest.
The cathedral’s mosaic iconography was consecrated on its opening day by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, a significant religious figure representing the global Orthodox community, along with Romanian Patriarch Daniel. The historical context of this cathedral is profound, as plans for such a national church date back over a century, stymied by two world wars, decades of communist rule, and the complex transition to European Union membership.
Father Adrian Agachi, representing the Romanian Patriarchate, highlighted that this monumental achievement, which took 15 years to materialize, marks a significant milestone in Romanian history. He anticipates that daily visitors could reach up to 40,000, projecting that hundreds of thousands will visit the altar during the opening week.
Standing tall at 127 meters (417 feet), the cathedral can accommodate 5,000 seated attendees with space for tens of thousands more on its expansive esplanade. However, its construction, estimated at around 270 million euros (approximately $315 million), primarily funded by public resources, has attracted criticism, igniting debates about its financial implications.
Despite these controversies, the Romanian Orthodox Church remains a trusted institution in Romania, where about 85% of the 19 million population identifies as Orthodox. The unveiling of this cathedral symbolizes not only an architectural feat but also a shared cultural and religious pride among the Romanian people, signaling a hopeful future for unity and spiritual renewal in the nation.