The Romanian Ambassador to Italy, Gabriela Dancau, was awarded, on Thursday, with the Patriarchal Order 'Holy Lady Maria Brancoveanu', granted by His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, for her activity in support of the Romanian community in Italy and her contribution to promoting institutional dialogue, including for the efforts made to obtain the 'Agreement' (Intesa) between the Italian State and the Romanian Orthodox Church.

The ceremony took place at the headquarters of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy in Rome, where the award was presented to her by His Holiness Siluan, the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Italy.

According to a press release from the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of Italy, the order represents 'a sign of appreciation and blessing' for the activity carried out in support of the Romanian community, for promoting institutional dialogue and for contributing to obtaining the 'Intesa' between the Italian State and the Romanian Orthodox Church, an approach considered fundamental for the recognition and support of Romanian Orthodox believers in Italy.

The ceremony was attended by the eparchial vicar Father Gheorghe Militaru, the eparchial councilors and the archpriests from the Lazio area. On behalf of the Romanian authorities, Marian Popescu, the consul general of Romania in Rome, was also present.

In a message published on Facebook after the ceremony, Gabriela Dancau stated that she received the award 'with profound gratitude and humility', thanking Patriarch Daniel for the honor granted and Bishop Siluan for handing over the order.

The ambassador emphasized that the name of the Holy Lady Maria Brancoveanu gives the award 'a special historical and moral resonance', and receiving it represents 'a moral landmark and a call to a more demanding measure of one's own mission'.

At the same time, Gabriela Dancau highlighted the importance of the official recognition of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate by the Italian state, showing that this is the result of an institutional path built with perseverance and offers the Romanian community lasting rights and guarantees for the preservation of its faith and spiritual identity.

'I dedicate this distinction to the Romanians in Italy, to those in whose service I exercise my mandate as ambassador, and I receive it with gratitude to God and with the responsibility to continue the work that has been entrusted to me,' the ambassador said. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Mariana Ionescu; EN - writing by: Bogdan Gabaroi)

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