The “Popa Tatu” Seventh-day Adventist church in Bucharest hosted on Saturday, November 25th, the 4th edition of the Open Doors Day. One of the historical Adventist buildings in Bucharest, the Adventist church on Popa Tatu Street has been located in this very place from 1923. During its long history, it received the visit of important actors from various areas (diplomats, literati, religious leaders, politicians, etc.). Being a place of social dialogue, the church aimed to lead to a better understanding between representatives from various areas and denominations and improving mutual respect and, as a consequence, the life of the local community.
This year’s edition brought together political and religious leaders who wanted to pay homage to the activity of Martin Luther now, when after 500 years since he started the Protestant movement. The guests, who have surprised remarkable aspects of Martin Luther’s work, positive aspects that are enjoyed by today’s generations. Therefore, the Adventist pastor Gabriel Ișvan, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty director in the Southern part o the country, opened the meeting by introducing Luther’s revolution in the education system, namely establishing schools sponsored by local authorities, where any children could learn. The Adventist church was inspired by this vision and the Adventist church today oversees a worldwide educational system with more than 1.800.000 students in 7.800 schools.
Daniel Zikeli, Phd., Auxiliary Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran church, praised the organizers for holding a comemorative event in their church and for valuing the work of the German reformer. Dr. Bogdan Ciucă, Deputy in the Romanian Parliament from 2003 until 2016, reminded the audience of Luther’s humbleness who, at the end of his remarkable life, said: “I did nothing… except for preaching the Gospel: the Gospel did everything else!”
Senator Titus Corlățean continued this thread of thoughts, urging the local church to affirm its moral values, to fight for them and to manifest them openly, without reservations, without shame. Daniel Tudorache, the Mayor of one of the administrative units in Bucharest, who made great efforts to be present at the meeting and who was accompanied by Councillor Vasile Motoc, has assured the participants that local authorities are alongside religious communities and support their activities without discriminating against any of them.
During the latter part of the event, Pastor Virgil Achihai, the Secretary General of the Evangelical Alliance in Romania, spoke about the way God changed Martin Luther’s life and the world was thus change through him. Dr. Costel Ghioancă, Pastor of the Adonai Baptist church, talked about the loyalty of the Baptist teachings towards the principles proclaimed by the reformers of the 16th century, reiterating the well-known principles: Solo Gratia („by grace alone”), Sola fide („by faith alone”), Sola Scriptura („by Scripture alone”), Solus Christus („Christ alone”), Soli Deo Gloria („glory to God alone”).
The conclusion of the meeting was summarized by Pastor Dragoș Mușat, the Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Director of the Adventist Church in Romania, and he urged the audience to honour Luther’s work by reading the Scripture, that book that, in the German reformer’s opinion, needed to be read in every house.
The 16th century Protestant Reformation, through its consequences, is beneficial to the Romanian society, and its commemoration was a great opportunity for the representatives of various denominations and local authorities to come together, to express their mutual appreciation and to contribute to the wellbeing of the local community. Soli Deo Gloria!
