Abstract: În ziua de 24 ianuarie 2021, cu ocazia aniversării a 162 de ani de la Unirea Principatelor Române (1859), la Catedrala Patriarhală din București, după Sfânta Liturghie, a fost săvârșită o slujba de Te Deum, oficiată de Preasfințitul Părinte Varlaam Ploieșteanul, Episcop-vicar patriarhal, în prezența Preafericitului Părinte Patriarh Daniel. După slujba de Te Deum, la statuia Domnitorului Alexandru Ioan Cuza din apropierea Catedralei Patriarhale, a avut loc o ceremonie de depunere a unor coroane de flori din partea Patriarhiei Române și a autorităților statului.
Keywords: union, Romanian Principalities, Romanian Orthodox Church, modern Romanian state, Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, national unity
Summary: On January 24, 2021, was celabrated the 162th anniversary of the Union of the Romanian Principalities (1859). On this occasion, the Holy and Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, by His Grace Varlaam Ploieșteanul, Vicar Bishop to the Patriarch, together with a synaxis of priests and deacons. During the holy service were remembered all those who had contributed to the achievement of this ideal, pursued by the Romanian people for centuries. At the conclusion of the Holy Liturgy, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, delivered an address entitled: „The Union of the Romanian Principalities: the foundation of the modern Romanian state”. After the celebration of the Holy Liturgy, in the presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel and representatives of the Romanian state authorities, His Grace Varlaam Ploieşteanul, Vicar Bishop to the Patriarch, officiated a Te Deum service, as thanksgiving to God for the achievement of this fundamental goal of our national history, reached with the substantial contribution of our Church. Finally, before the statue of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, close to the Patriarchal Cathedral, wreaths were laid on behalf of the Romanian Patriarchate, the President of Romania, the Senate of Romania, the Chamber of Deputies, Romania’s Government, and the Ministry of National Defense. All these events, dedicated to the anniversary of the Union of the Romanian Principalities, took place in an atmosphere of spiritual joy and patriotic elation, enhanced by the presence of numerous devotees on the Hill of Joy, wearing traditional Romanian attire and tricolour cocardes, evidencing both the importance of national unity and dignity, and love and faithfulness to the country.
Diac. Marinel Laurențiu Marcu – Redactor coordonator al Revistei Biserica Ortodoxă Română, Buletinul Oficial al Patriarhiei Române și doctorand al Școlii de Studii Avansate a Academiei Române – SCOSAAR; e-mail: marinellmarcu@patriarhia.ro
