Exhibit of March 2025: The Patriarchal Cross awarded by His Blessed Miron Cristea, Patriarch of Romania

From the very beginning, it must be mentioned that the Patriarchal Cross is the highest distinction awarded by the Romanian Patriarchate, granted by the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, upon the proposal of diocesan bishops, to both clergy and laypeople who have had remarkable activity in pastoral-missionary, administrative-church, educational, and social-philanthropic fields.

This distinction was established in 1925 by Patriarch Miron Cristea, immediately after the elevation of the Romanian Orthodox Church, as he wished to encourage and reward activities that contributed to the consolidation of the Romanian Orthodox Church, as well as the development of society as a whole during an important period in interwar Romania’s history.

For the graphic design of this Cross, the painter Costin Petrescu (1872-1954) was contacted, who followed the description of some decorative patterns that His Beatitude Miron had seen at the window of a peasant house in the Cătimănel hamlet, part of the Toplița commune in Transylvania.

The Patriarchal Cross was also inscribed in the Coat of Arms of the Romanian Patriarchate, approved by Law no. 70, voted in the Romanian Senate on March 28, 1928, in the Chamber of Deputies on April 6, 1928, and promulgated by Royal Decree no. 1.148 on April 25, 1928, published in the Official Gazette, Part I, no. 96 on May 3, 1928.

This Patriarchal Cross, with inventory number 49, consists of a Greek cross with four equal arms in cobalt blue ceruleum, bordered by a thin black frame and a golden margin. In the middle of each of the four arms of the main cross, another cross is formed, resulting in four smaller crosses, all with equal arms. At the outer ends of the four smaller crosses are 12 smaller crosses, also with equal arms. Thus, the total number of large, medium, and small crosses reaches 17, and together with the main cross, a total of 18 crosses is formed. Symbolically, the number 1 represents unity, and the number 8 signifies infinity. The multiplication of crosses gives this distinction the character of an "infinite cross," a symbol of the dynamics of church life, in the confession of the infinite love of the Holy Trinity.

In the center, the golden monogram “+ Miron I, Patriarch of Romania” is inscribed in two golden circles. At the top of the cross, attached by a movable joint, there is a stylized patriarchal mitre, to which is attached a chain made of golden links in the form of a twisted rope.

The color chosen for this distinction is meant to remind us of Heaven, towards which we should always strive.

It should also be mentioned that on the back of the cross, on each arm, there is a black diamond, framed by a golden diamond and another black one, with the central diamond. If we wish to interpret these symbols, the three diamonds included one inside the other point us to the Holy Trinity. The four diamonds on the arms represent the Metropolitans of the four dioceses within the Romanian Patriarchate in 1925, while the central diamond represents the Patriarch of Romania.

During the tenure of subsequent Patriarchs, the shape and color of the Cross were slightly modified, receiving another shade of blue, and the number of crosses at the base was increased.

Currently, the Patriarchal Cross, made of white enamel, has added a base formed by six additional crosses (2x3), symbolizing the cultivation of the gifts received at Baptism and Ordination, through prayer and generosity, thus increasing missionary and pastoral works, as well as supporting Romanian Orthodoxy both within the country and beyond its borders.

Since its institution, with the awarding of this distinction, a diploma or certificate is also granted, granting the holder the right to wear it.

Thus, we invite you to visit the Metropolitan Museum to see this valuable object and discover many other treasures preserved over time by the Metropolitanate of Moldavia and Bukovina.

Mihai-Alex Olteanu