# Romania opens Bucharest’s National Cathedral after years of construction

Event date: 2025-10-26

Romania has consecrated the mosaic paintings inside Bucharest’s National Cathedral, opening one of the most visible religious buildings in the country after 15 years of construction.

DW said thousands of pilgrims flocked to the capital for the ceremony, which marked the opening of the cathedral to worshippers and officials. The building, also known as the People’s Salvation Cathedral, now stands as the world’s largest Orthodox Christian church, with an interior capacity for up to 5,000 worshippers. Its highest point rises more than 125 meters, and its interior mosaics and frescoes cover a vast area.

The event also highlighted the political and financial scale of the project. DW reported that the cathedral has cost a reported €270 million, with most of the funding coming from public sources. That has made it a symbol not only of religious ambition but also of debate over state spending in a country that faces budget pressure. Critics have argued that the money could have gone to schools or hospitals instead.

The service was attended by President Nicușor Dan and Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan, while Romania Insider reported that Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and Romanian Patriarch Daniel led the consecration. The ceremony also brought in other high-ranking officials, clergy and visitors, and the cathedral remained open around the clock afterward so the faithful could pray at the altar.

The cathedral is not new in the sense of raw construction alone. Its altar was consecrated in 2018, and work continued in stages for years, including the completion of towers, copper roofing and major interior decoration. The recent event marked the finishing of the mosaic program and the public opening of the site in its completed form.

Religious symbolism is central to the cathedral’s design. Romania Insider said the ceremony included the blessing of mosaic icons and the anointing of the doors and altar with holy oil. The scale of the building itself, including its bells and iconostasis, was meant to signal permanence and national importance.

The consecration now gives Romania a national religious landmark that is both devotional and political. The cathedral stands as a major Orthodox site, but also as a public monument whose construction required sustained state involvement. For supporters, it is a milestone in the history of the Romanian Orthodox Church. For critics, it remains a costly and contested expression of national identity.