Overview of a solemn national moment
In Blaj, central Romania, a solemn moment unfolds as Cardinal Lucian Mureşan’s funeral is arranged in the city’s Holy Trinity Cathedral. The cardinal, who led the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church as archbishop major of Alba Iulia and Făgăraş, died on Thursday at the age of 94. He was created cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI on 18 February 2012, a milestone that placed him among Romania’s most prominent religious leaders. His passing marks the end of a long era of church leadership and public service for the uniate community and its followers across the country.
The funeral program and rites
According to the presidential administration, on Monday at 11:00 the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity in Blaj will host the Holy and Divine Liturgy followed by the Slujba Înmormântării — the burial service. The communiqué notes that all concelebrants will wear liturgical vestments for the solemn rites, underscoring the ceremonial dignity of the occasion. The service will bring together clergy from across the Greco-Catholic Church and lay mourners who have long respected Cardinal Mureşan’s leadership.
Attendance by national leaders
Among those expected to participate is President Nicușor Dan, who is scheduled to attend the funeral in Blaj. Earlier, on Saturday, Prime Minister Ilie Bolojan visited the catafalque where the cardinal’s body lay in state at the same cathedral. Speaking to reporters after the visit, the prime minister offered a tribute to Cardinal Mureşan and to the Greco-Catholic Church, praising its contribution to the country and to the local community.
The prime minister arrived toward the end of the Sfintei Liturghii and of the Parastas service, which were presided over by the Greco-Catholic Bishop of Oradea, Virgil Bercea. The presence of high-ranking state officials at a church ceremony highlights the close ties between Romania’s civil authorities and its Greco-Catholic community, and underscores Blaj’s status as a historic spiritual and cultural center.
About the venue and the church’s legacy
The funeral will be held in Blaj’s Cathedral Basilica and Metropolitan Church of the Holy Trinity, a historic stronghold of the Greco-Catholic Church in Transylvania. Blaj has long been associated with Romania’s Uniate tradition and is a symbolic seat for the church’s hierarchy in the region. Cardinal Mureşan’s leadership, particularly during times of change for the religious community, left a lasting imprint on both clergy and laity alike.
A lasting legacy for Romania’s Greco-Catholic community
As archbishop major of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church and Metropolitan of Alba Iulia and Făgăraş, Cardinal Mureşan steered church life through periods of transition and renewed dialogue with broader Romanian society. His passing closes a chapter in a long history of religious life in Transylvania, while the funeral calls on believers to reflect on his public service and spiritual leadership.
Looking ahead
With the funeral rites concluded, attention will turn to the memory of Cardinal Mureşan and the ongoing role of the Greco-Catholic Church in Romanian public life. The ceremony showcased the mutual respect between civil authorities and religious leaders, recognizing the cardinal’s contribution to national life and to the community he served for decades.
