Blaj, Greek-Catholic heart of Romania
The major cathedral of Blaj is dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity: commissioned in 1738 by Bishop Inocențiu Micu-Klein and built between 1741 and 1749 in Baroque style, it is the seat of the Greater Greek-Roman Catholic Archbishopric. In Blaj, on June 2, 2019, Pope Francis beatified the seven Greek-Catholic bishops martyrs of communism.
🌹 Wonders and anecdotes
- Baroque Cathedral of 1741-1749, work of the Viennese architects Martinelli; his two monumental towers were added in 1838.
- It is the main cathedral of the Greek-Roman Catholic Church, united to Rome, the seat of the major archbishop of Făgăraș and Alba Iulia.
- On June 2, 2019, in the Freedom Field of Blaj, Francis presided for the first time as Pope of the Divine Byzantine Liturgy and beatified the seven martyrs, including Cardinal Iuliu Hossu.
- Some 60,000 faithful participated in the beatification; Francis summarized the legacy of the martyrs in two words: freedom and mercy.
Blaj Cathedral and its martyrs
Blaj is the "little Rome" of the Romanians united to Rome: his Baroque cathedral preserves the memory of a Church that survived the communist suppression of 1948 and that saw its seven martyrs raised to the altars. In the Byzantine rite, the Sleeping of the Mother of God crown her liturgical year every 15 August.
"Mother of God, support the Greek-Roman Catholic Church, faithful to martyrdom.
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