With consecration of National Cathedral slated for Oct 26, Romanian Patriarchate releases construction timeline
The construction of Romania's National Cathedral is a process unfolding in our own time, although the first initiative to build a cathedral of such magnitude in Bucharest dates back to the rule of King Carol I, being closely linked to Romania's state independence and strive for the liberation of the Romanian nation from foreign domination.
In anticipation of the consecration of the National Cathedral, scheduled for October 26, the Cultural Department of the Archdiocese of Bucharest has prepared several info flyers that are available both in print and digital formats, detailing the chronology of the Cathedral's construction, the team overseeing the works, the modern building techniques used, as well as lesser-known facts about the building's architectural features, the Basilica news agency of the Romanian Patriarchate informs on Monday.
Here is the timeline of the most important moments in the erection of the National Cathedral:
* February - March 2005 - The site of the National Cathedral was chosen on a 110,000 sqm plot located on Arsenalului Hill, at the intersection of 13 Septembrie Avenue and Izvor Street. The government issued Emergency Ordinance No. 19 of March 17, 2005 on the development of the architectural site Romanian People's Salvation Cathedral.
* February 13, 2006 - The Chamber of Deputies handed over to the Romanian Patriarchate the land plot at No 4 - 60, 13 Septembrie Avenue, by means of a protocol.
* November 29, 2007 - His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel officiated the service for the laying of the foundation stone and the blessing of the site designated for the erection of the Cathedral.
* December 28, 2007 - Law No. 376 on the construction of the Architectural Ensemble Romanian People's Salvation Cathedral is adopted
* 2007 - 2010 - Preparation of the documentation for the construction of the National Cathedral
* December 28, 2009 - Launch of the bidding for the selection of the National Cathedral's architectural project
* June 30 - July 1, 2010 - Assessment of the submitted projects; the winner is the project authored by SC Vanel Exim SRL, with which the design contract was concluded.
* September 2, 2010 - Release of the building permit for the execution of the Cathedral works
* 2010 - Organisation of the building site, installation of diaphragm walls, excavations for the foundation of the future edifice
* June 28, 2011 - Contract signed with SC Bog'Art SRL for the execution of the underground infrastructure
* 2011 - Waterproofing of the infrastructure with lead-sheet membranes for efficiency and durability
* October 24, 2011 - His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel blessed the Chapel of the construction site, with the patronal feasts: the Resurrection of the Lord, the Prodromitissa Icon of the Mother of God, and Saint John Chrysostom.
* June 28, 2012 - After the completion of the general raft foundation and part of the structural elements of the 3rd basement level, Patriarch Daniel officiated the blessing service for the Cathedral's foundation. A charter (golden bull) and the cross with which the site of the Cathedral had been blessed in 2007 were placed in a special case within the raft foundation.
* April 2013 - The construction of the National Cathedral reached ground level.
* July 22, 2013 - Start of the works for the execution of the Cathedral's superstructure by SC Strabag SRL
* September 4, 2016 - His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in front of the National Cathedral on the occasion of the International Orthodox Youth Meeting.
* September 4, 2018 - Installation of the bells in the bell tower of the western façade, at a height of 60 metres; the bells had been blessed the previous day.
* October 26, 2018 - Roofing of the Cathedral's bell tower is completed
* 2018 - Execution of the mosaics of the altar and iconostasis of the National Cathedral, under the direction of iconographer Daniel Codrescu. The Platytera icon of the Mother of God, in the apse of the altar, measuring 16 metres in height, is the largest mosaic representation of the Theotokos in Romania and among the largest in the Orthodox world.
* November 25, 2018 - The consecration of the altar of the National Cathedral by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel
* May 31, 2019 - The visit of Pope Francis to the National Cathedral
* July 2019 - Completion of the construction of the domes and installation of the copper roofing
* April 8, 2025 - Mounting of the 7-tonne cross on the great dome of the National Cathedral, at a height of about 130 metres
* 2019 - 2025 - Execution of the Cathedral's interior decoration in the mosaic technique (approx. 25,000 sqm), one of the largest mosaic iconographic ensembles.
* October 26, 2025 - Consecration of the National Cathedral by His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Popescu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)
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