Funeral details in Blaj set the stage for a solemn national moment
In Blaj, Romania, a funeral ceremony is planned for Cardinal Lucian Mureșan, the Greco-Catholic Church’s respected archbishop major and metropolitan of Alba Iulia and Făgăraș. The Presidential Administration announced that President Nicuşor Dan will attend the service on Monday at the Catedrala Arhiepiscopală Majoră “Preasfânta Treime.” The ceremony will begin at 11:00 with the Holy and Divine Liturgy, followed by the Slujbă Înmormântării. Officials said all celebrants will wear liturgical vestments, underscoring the solemn nature of this farewell for Romania’s Greco-Catholic community.
The liturgy and the final rites
The funeral rites are taking place in the Cathedral of Blaj, the heart of the Greco-Catholic tradition in Transylvania. The order of service includes the Liturghie and the burial rites that follow, marking a dignified farewell to a church leader who spent decades guiding the community. The text notes that the ceremony will reflect the liturgical traditions of the church, with bishops and priests officiating and wearing the appropriate vestments for this high solemnity.
Tributes from Romanian leaders
Alongside the president, other leaders have publicly extended their condolences and paid their respects. The death of Cardinal Mureșan, who died on Thursday at the age of 94, prompted messages of sorrow from across political and religious circles. The president sent a condolence message expressing solidarity with believers under the shepherding of His Beatitude and acknowledging the cardinal’s influence on the Romanian Greco-Catholic Church. On Saturday, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan visited the catafalque in Blaj to pay his respects. Speaking to the press after leaving the cathedral, he emphasized his tribute to the cardinal’s life, the Greco-Catholic Church, and the Romanian community that has benefited from its work.
The premier arrived toward the end of the Sfintei Liturghii and the Parastas, a service led by a priestly group headed by Virgil Bercea, the Greco-Catholic bishop of Oradea. The gathering reflected a blend of state acknowledgment and ecclesial reverence for a church leader who helped shape the religious landscape of Romania.
Cardinal Mureșan’s legacy in the Greco-Catholic Church
Cardinal Lucian Mureșan was elevated to the cardinalate on February 18, 2012, by Pope Benedict XVI, a testament to his leadership within the Romanian Greek-Catholic tradition. As archbishop major and metropolitan, he served as a prominent figure for the community, guiding the church through contemporary challenges and fostering dialogue within Romanian society. His death closes a significant chapter in the life of the Greco-Catholic Church in Romania, and the Blaj ceremony is viewed as a fitting tribute to a man who left a lasting mark on both church and country.
What to expect next in Blaj
With the funeral proceedings scheduled for Monday, members of the Greco-Catholic faithful, alongside state officials and the broader public, will gather in Blaj for a final farewell. The arranged liturgy and the subsequent burial rites will be followed by the customary acts of remembrance and prayers for the late cardinal’s soul. This moment in Blaj offers a chance for communal mourning, reflection on the cardinal’s decades of service, and reaffirmation of the ties between the Romanian state and its Greco-Catholic heritage.
