The board of directors of the Cambridge Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies (IOCS) has sent a letter to His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel congratulating him on the “historic occasion of the consecration of the new National Cathedral in Bucharest”.
“The consecration of the Cathedral, by the grace of the Holy Spirit”, the letter reads, “represents both the culmination of an age-long historical and theological vision and the answer to the prayerful endurance of the Romanian Orthodox Church over many a generation”.
The letter was signed by Dr. Christoph Schneider, Academic Director, Fr. Dragoş Herescu, principal, Dr. Răzvan Porumb, vice principal.
The Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies (IOCS) is the pan-Orthodox house for theological studies in the ancient university city of Cambridge, England functioning with the formal approval and blessing of the Pan-Orthodox Episcopal Assembly for Great Britain and Ireland.
Founded in 1999 the Institute is situated at a major crossroad for academic exchange and attracts students and scholars from across the world.
Full text:
Your Beatitude,
Your blessing
It is with unreserved joy that we write to your Beatitude to convey our warm congratulations, on behalf of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies Cambridge (IOCS), on the historic occasion of the consecration of the new National Cathedral in Bucharest.
The consecration of the Cathedral, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, represents both the culmination of an age-long historical and theological vision and the answer to the prayerful endurance of the Romanian Orthodox Church over many a generation.
At the same time, the consecration of the Cathedral is, unequivocally, the result of your Beatitude’s love and vision, which has rallied and inspired individuals, communities and organisations, both in Romania and abroad, with the aim of making the Cathedral a reality.
Asking for your Beatitude’s blessing, we pray our merciful God to grant you many years as Christ’s shepherd, to the glory of His name.
Assuring your Beatitude of our love and duty in Christ,
Dr. Christoph Schneider, Academic Director,
Fr. Dragoş Herescu, principal,
Dr. Răzvan Porumb, vice principal.
Photo credit: Raluca Ene/ Basilica.ro