An important event took place in Bucharest - the consecration of the interior painting of the Cathedral of Salvation of the Nation, which is the largest Orthodox church in the world. This solemn event gathered many pilgrims and notable guests. The cathedral, which took 15 years to build, rises over 125 meters and can accommodate up to 5,000 people. Its interior walls amaze everyone with their beauty - the mosaics and icons that adorn them cover an area of 17,800 square meters.
The consecration was performed by two patriarchs - the Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I and the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church Daniel. The ceremony also involved 65 hierarchs, 70 priests, and 12 deacons.
Among the guests at the service were the President of Romania Nicushor Dan, the Prime Minister Ilie Bolosan, and the President of Moldova Maia Sandu.
Expenses and Criticism
The temple has been named a symbol of national identity, but the cost of its construction has caused outrage. In total, approximately 270 million euros were spent on the structure, most of which was raised from public funds. Critics believe that such large sums could have been better used for the development of education and healthcare in a country that has one of the largest budget deficits in the European Union.
According to Eurostat, in August, the volume of construction work in the European Union decreased by 0.9%, while in the Eurozone it decreased by 0.1%. The largest decrease in this indicator was recorded in Romania.
In Bucharest, the restoration of the interior painting of the Cathedral was celebrated along with its symbolic significance for national identity. However, the costs of building the temple have become a subject of discussion and criticism due to the enormous funds that were spent, which could have been directed towards more priority areas of the country's life.