**Thousands Gather in Bucharest for Consecration of Romania’s National Cathedral After 15 Years of Construction**
*BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)* — Thousands of pilgrims turned out Sunday in Romania’s capital for the consecration of religious paintings inside one of the world’s largest Christian Orthodox churches, the People’s Salvation Cathedral, also known as the National Cathedral. The majestic church is opening after 15 years of construction.
Worshippers and officials arrived in droves at the cathedral, which stands more than 125 meters (410 feet) tall at its highest point and can accommodate up to 5,000 worshippers. The cathedral’s opulent interior is adorned with frescoes and mosaics depicting religious saints and icons, reflecting Romania’s deeply Orthodox heritage.
Proposals for a national cathedral in the country of about 19 million people have been made for more than a century. However, its realization was delayed by two world wars and decades of communist rule, during which religion was suppressed. The Romanian Orthodox Church calls the cathedral “a symbol of national identity.”
Romania is among the most religious countries in the European Union, with around 85% of the population identifying as religious. The cathedral is situated behind the imposing Palace of the People, built by the late communist leader Nicolae Ceausescu. Construction began in 2010, and the altar was consecrated in 2018.
The project has so far cost approximately 270 million euros ($313 million), predominantly funded by public money. Some works on the cathedral are still ongoing.
For Sunday’s consecration ceremony, traffic was restricted in the area. The service was attended by prominent figures such as President Nicusor Dan and Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan.
The cathedral’s mosaics and iconography cover an expansive area of 17,800 square meters (191,000 square feet), according to the cathedral’s official website. Daniel Codrescu, who has spent seven years working on the frescoes and mosaics, told The Associated Press that much of the artwork was inspired by medieval Romanian paintings and Byzantine traditions.
“It was a complex collaboration with the church, art historians, artists, and friends of contemporary art,” Codrescu said. “I hope the church will have a very important impact on society because it’s a public space.”
Despite the cathedral’s grandeur, its cost has sparked debate. Romania operates with one of the largest budget deficits in the European Union, leading some critics to question the allocation of public funds for the project rather than for schools or hospitals.
Claudiu Tufis, associate professor of political science at the University of Bucharest, described the project as a “waste of public money,” though he acknowledged it might boost national pride and identity for some Romanians.
“The fact that politicians have been forced, year after year, to fund it—sometimes diverting money from communities in genuine need—shows it was a display of power rather than an act of humility or love of God,” Tufis said. “Economically, it might be viable in the long term as a tourist attraction.”
Supporters of the cathedral, such as 37-year-old Rares Ghiorghies, say they back the church but believe funds should be prioritized for health and education, viewing this as an issue of good governance.
“The big problem is that many critics do not follow the church’s activities closely enough,” Ghiorghies said.
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*McGrath reported from Leamington Spa, England.*
https://wtop.com/world/2025/10/thousands-of-romanians-attend-consecration-in-one-of-worlds-largest-orthodox-churches/
