On Sunday, October 26, 2025, the heart of Bucharest pulsed with the footsteps of thousands of pilgrims, clergy, and dignitaries as the People’s Salvation Cathedral—also known as the National Cathedral—opened its doors for the consecration of its resplendent religious paintings. After more than fifteen years of construction, and over a century of anticipation, Romania’s Orthodox faithful and civic leaders gathered to witness what many called a landmark moment for the nation’s spiritual and cultural identity.
The event, attended by over 8,000 worshippers and high-ranking officials, marked not only the completion of the cathedral’s elaborate mosaics and frescoes but also the centenary of the Romanian Patriarchate and 140 years since the country’s Orthodox Church gained autocephaly, according to Basilica.ro. The ceremony was led by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and Romanian Patriarch Daniel, underscoring the occasion’s significance within the broader Orthodox world.
As reported by The Associated Press and Romania Insider, the cathedral stands as the largest Christian Orthodox church globally, soaring over 125 meters (410 feet) at its highest point and stretching across a vast 38,000 square meters. Its main hall can accommodate 5,000 worshippers at once, while its iconostasis—measuring an impressive 23 meters in length and 17 meters in height—dominates the sanctuary. The cathedral’s six bells, including the largest in Europe at more than 25 tons, can be heard as far as 15 kilometers away, a literal and symbolic call to the faithful.
The ceremony itself was steeped in tradition and grandeur. Members of the Holy Synod, 67 priests, and 12 deacons joined the two patriarchs, as well as Moldovan president Maia Sandu, Romanian president Nicusor Dan and his family, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, members of Parliament, Custodian of the Romanian Crown Margareta, Prince Radu, former presidents Emil Constantinescu and Traian Băsescu, senior clergy, diplomats, and representatives of other faiths. Security was tight, with more than 800 gendarmes ensuring the event proceeded peacefully.
The ritual began with the reading of three Gospel passages by Patriarch Bartholomew I, Patriarch Daniel, and Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina. The patriarchs then blessed the mosaic icons depicting Saints Andrew and Philip—apostles credited with bringing Christianity to the lands of present-day Romania—before anointing the cathedral’s doors and altar with holy oil. In a gesture of reverence, two ornate silver reliquaries, intended for the relics of Saint Dionysius of Vatopedi and Saint Petronius of Prodromu, were also blessed.
"We have come again from the God-illuminated Phanar to this blessed Romanian land and the city protected by God, Bucharest, carrying the love and blessing of our common Mother Church, the Great Church of Christ in Constantinople," Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I declared, as quoted by Basilica.ro. Patriarch Daniel, in turn, thanked his counterpart for attending and highlighted the progress made since the cathedral’s altar was first consecrated in 2018, noting the completion of extensive mosaic work both inside and out.
Indeed, the cathedral’s interior is a marvel of religious art. According to the cathedral’s website and AP reports, the frescoes and mosaics—covering an area of 17,800 square meters (191,000 square feet), with some estimates from Romania Insider and Euronews Romania placing the total iconographic ensemble at around 25,000 square meters—depict saints, biblical scenes, and revered icons. Daniel Codrescu, who spent seven years working on these mosaics, told The Associated Press that the iconography drew inspiration from medieval Romanian art and the wider Byzantine tradition. "It was a complex collaboration with the church, with art historians, with artists, also our friends of contemporary art," Codrescu explained. "I hope (the church) is going to have a very important impact on society because … it’s a public space."
The People’s Salvation Cathedral’s story is one of perseverance. The notion of a national cathedral for Romania—a country of nearly 19 million, with roughly 85% of its population identifying as religious—dates back more than a century. Proposals were stymied by two world wars and the decades of communist rule that followed, during which religion was actively suppressed. Construction finally began in 2010, with the altar consecrated in 2018. The cathedral stands just behind the Palace of the People, a reminder of Romania’s complex past under communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu.
The project’s scale is matched by its cost: to date, it has required approximately 270 million euros ($313 million), the majority drawn from public funds, with some works still to be completed as of October 2025. This financial outlay has not gone without controversy. With Romania facing one of the largest budget deficits in the European Union, critics have questioned whether such resources might have been better spent on pressing needs like education and healthcare.
Claudiu Tufis, an associate professor of political science at the University of Bucharest, minced no words when he told AP the project was a "waste of public money"—though he acknowledged it could "offer a boost to national pride and identity" for some Romanians. "The fact that they have forced, year after year, politicians to pay for it, in some cases taking money from communities that really needed that money, indicates it was a show of force, not one of humility and love of God," Tufis said. "Economically, it might be OK in the long term as it will be a tourist attraction."
Others, like Rares Ghiorghies, 37, voiced support for the cathedral but argued the money would be better invested in health and education as "a matter of good governance." He also pointed out, "The big problem in society is that most of those who criticize do not follow the activities of the church."
Despite the debate, the cathedral has already become a focal point for both national pride and spiritual devotion. Its role as a future tourist attraction is widely anticipated, and its doors will remain open day and night until October 31, 2025, allowing the faithful to pray at the altar. For many, the cathedral is more than bricks and mortar—it is a testament to the resilience of faith in Romania, a country where religious identity has long been intertwined with the nation’s story.
As the bells echoed across Bucharest and the mosaics glimmered in the autumn light, the People’s Salvation Cathedral stood as both a monument to Romania’s past and a beacon for its future—inviting both reverence and reflection from all who pass through its grand doors.
