PEOPLE CATHEDRAL BUCHAREST

THE GREATEST CHURCH IN

BUCHAREST

The idea of building a cathedral for the Romanian People Salvation, large enough for a great number of people and also designed to be a symbol of Bucharest, was placed immediately after the War of Independence in 1878. There were over 100 churches in the capital of the country at the time but none large enough.

HISTORY OF PEOPLE SALVATION CATHEDRAL IN BUCHAREST

In those circumstances, the Liberal government led by Ion C. Bratianu decided it was time to start building the cathedral of the Romanian People Salvation. In 1884, the illustrious politician asks and receives a credit from legislative bodies, 5 million lei for the place of worship. It was to be placed on the boulevard linking the Unification Square to Roman Square, opened at that time only to the Coltea hospital. The project entailed significant expropriations and systematization. The Liberals lost the election, and the year 1890 finds the Conservatives in power. They will allocate from the credit of 5 million lei for the cathedral, nearly 1 million 300 thousand for the construction of schools. Eight years later, Spiru Haret, Cultural Affairs Minister, take another 3 million to complete schools budget. In less than 10 years from the initial amount of 5 million, not much remains for the Romanian People Salvation Cathedral. Only 500 thousand lei, hardly enough even for expropriations.

THE GREATEST CATHEDRAL IN ROMANIA TO VISIT IN BUCHAREST

At the beginning of the twentieth century, the place where the cathedral of people salvation was to be built was changed. A proposal was to place it near the present Patriarchy hill, where costs were lower. It is rejected by the Church because the monastery founded by Constantin Serban should have been destroyed and it was considered a historical monument.
The fact is that at the meeting of the Holy Synod in May, 11, 1900 everyone found out that the rest of the cathedral budget was spent for other purposes. The church is encouraged by the Government to launch a subscription list and build the place of worship with the charity box. Dignitaries refuse and ask for money from the state because they do not have money for the secularization law in 1864 let the state take the monastery properties. The council, however, set up a commission to raise money. Ordinary citizens did not pay to help the Church. The most important donation came from a gentleman from Basarabia who wanted to remain anonymous. He offered 100 thousand lei, a tiny amount compared to the tens of millions needed to build the cathedral. The First World War postponed the project.

PEOPLE SALVATION CATHEDRAL IN BUCHAREST PROJECT

1920 seemed to be auspicious for People Salvation Cathedral in Bucharest. King Ferdinand and the Holy Synod, represented by Patriarch Miron Cristea, decided to make a special committee made up of priests and mayors all across the country who were to raise money for the great edifice. No money came to Church and there is no news about this committee. What is known is that in 1925, the same Miron Cristea convince another Brãtianu, this time Ion I.C. Brãtianu to open a credit of 3 million lei to achieve cathedral plans. It creates a commission to raise money. Miron Cristea itself contributes 100 thousand lei but the project is delayed again due to lack of funds.
Another reason for debate was the place where the cathedral was to be raised. A committee of teachers, engineers, experts in systematization and planning, cultural people analyzed the situation. Patriarch decide that the building should raise in the foothills patriarchal Square Bibescu Voda. This was a 50 thousand square meters land. On March 11, 1929, the work for the Romanian People Salvation Cathedral started. Nowadays the largest church in Bucharest is SAINT SPIRIDON CHURCH.  A crucifix was built in the presence of almost all members of the government, the clergy, the military, and a lot of believers. In the coming years, the Church has been carrying out restoration Romanian Settlements in Jerusalem and Jordan. The project for People’s Salvation Cathedral is forgotten. It was to come back on the public agenda after 60 years of communism.

In 1990, the Church and the Government tried to build the People Salvation Cathedral in the Youth Park, CAROL PARK then in Izvor Park. The visit of Pope John Paul II to Romania in 1999 forced the government and Church representatives to decide.

The Cathedral will raise near the People House, the Parliament. It should have been ready in 2014. According to the Romanian Church, the People Salvation Cathedral in Bucharest will be opened on December 1st 2018. It was not due to the lack of money. Yet, it is about to be ready. We made this photo on July 22, 2019.