Italian anthropologist Giuseppe Tateo talks about the meanings, controversies and social impact of the National Cathedral in Bucharest, the most imposing Orthodox place in the world, which he describes as “a powerful and controversial symbol” of contemporary Romania.
The Cathedral of the Salvation of the Nation, the most imposing Orthodox place PHOTO: Facebook/ Andrei Ungureanu
The Cathedral of the Salvation of the Nation, which rises to 127 meters, is “the highest Orthodox cathedral in the world”. But, beyond the architectural dimension, the edifice has a deep symbolic charge. For believers, he represents “the spiritual rebirth of modern Romania“, while for others it becomes a symbol of the institutional power of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The cathedral is to be consecrated on October 26, in a ceremony attended by the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and hierarchs from the entire Orthodox world, a moment that will also mark the centenary of the Romanian Patriarchate.
“A cathedral is not only a symbolic representation of faith”
In an interview with Balkan Insight, Giuseppe Tateo, a researcher at Roma Tre University, describes the new facility as an impressive construction, but also a constant source of controversy. “A cathedral is not only a symbolic representation of faith”he states. “It is also a building with a well-defined architectural style that should be representative of the city“.
The anthropologist says that “most architects I spoke to believe that the project lacks aesthetic value… because it lacks creativity or innovation. The builders only followed the directives of the Patriarchate, which stipulated that the place should serve as a symbol of faith and national prestige“.
He also adds that the Patriarchate would have asked for a 1,000-year guarantee for the structure, “as a way to project the idea of Romanian Orthodox Christianity throughout the centuries”but the builders only guaranteed 500 years.
Public funding, the heart of the controversy
One of the most sensitive topics related to the construction of the Cathedral is financing. According to Tateo, the total cost of the building is estimated at approximately 270 million euros. “Only about ten percent of this amount came from the Romanian Orthodox Church… the rest was financed with public money from national and local authorities“, he explained.
Balkan Insight notes that the dependence on public funds has sparked criticism, especially among young Romanians, who believe that the money should have been invested in areas such as education, health or infrastructure.
A neighborhood full of symbols: the Cathedral and the House of the People
Giuseppe Tateo also notes the choice of location, right next to the former House of the People built during Nicolae Ceaușescu’s time, a proximity that he considers “somewhat ironic”. For him, this physical proximity between two monuments, one of Communism, the other of Orthodoxy, expresses the complexity of modern Romanian identity.
The researcher is, however, skeptical of the idea of one “religious revivals” in post-communist Romania. “I find it hard to believe that these imposing and expensive cathedrals can be seen as signs of a spiritual awakening… Rather, they reflect the way the Romanian Orthodox Church thinks and how it chooses to use the resources it has access to“.
He recalls that, in recent decades, the Romanian Orthodox Church has built no less than 34 cathedrals, most of them with public financial support.
A society in full secularization
Finally, the Italian anthropologist draws attention to an increasingly obvious trend: the decline of religious interest. “Although the Church remains one of the most reliable institutions in Romania, the country is going through a process of accelerated secularization. In the last decade, the number of registered Orthodox Christians officially decreased by about two million… Many young people no longer identify as believers or feel connected to Orthodoxy”, says Tateo.
However, he admits that the building will be admired by some Romanians:
“There will certainly be believers who will enjoy a building that celebrates Romanian identity in the Orthodox world… and who will admire, for example, its richly detailed mosaic iconography“, concluded Giuseppe Tateo.
