Carol Concert and Presentation of Codex Basilianus Held in Bucharest

On Saturday evening, December 27, 2025, a Christmas carol concert and the presentation of the publication Codex Basilianus took place at the Cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bucharest. The concert featured carols composed by two Basilian monks from Romania.

The event brought together the ensemble ThreeO, students from the University of Music and Performing Arts in Graz (Austria), and Basilian monks of the Province of Saints Peter and Paul in Romania. Through a rich variety of musical instruments and performance styles, the participants vividly conveyed the poetic and spiritual depth of the works collected in the book Codex Basilianus: Songs and Carols of Basilian Monks, which was released earlier this year and is now available in bookstores.

The evening was opened by Francesca Ghel, editor and representative of the Bucharest Archdiocesan Publishing House. In her welcoming remarks, she especially acknowledged the presence of Archbishop Giampiero Gloder, Apostolic Nuncio to Romania and Moldova; Bishop Mihai Frățilă, Ordinary of the Bucharest Eparchy of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church; and Bishop Cornel Damian, Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Bucharest.

The concert began with a performance by the group ThreeO, who presented the carol “Când Domnul Preasfântul” (“When the Most Holy Lord”). This was followed by remarks from Francisc Opreanu, spokesperson for the group, who spoke about the origins and mission of the Codex Basilianus project. The initiative aims to collect, arrange, and promote religious songs composed during the years of persecution and underground existence of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church under the communist regime. The first volume of Codex Basilianus was presented on October 10, 2025, and its wide reception led to the publication of a new edition, which was available to concert attendees. Opreanu also introduced the authors of the works — Basilian hieromonks Gheorghe Marina (1908–1989) and Gavril Sălăgeanu (1905–1989).

The second part of the evening was dedicated to Hieromonk Gavril Sălăgeanu, OSBM, poet and author of numerous spiritual songs. Hieromonk Ermiliu Jurja, OSBM, shared personal memories of Fr. Gavril, who composed Christian poetry during times of persecution, often while hiding in forests or enduring imprisonment. The concert continued with the recitation of his poetry and the singing of carols, in which the audience actively joined.

In his closing remarks, Bishop Mihai thanked the performers for a moving journey through the history of Romania’s ecclesial culture and sacred music. He emphasized that carols are not merely songs, but prayers born from the lived faith of Basilian monks who dedicated their lives entirely to God.

Source: arcb.ro