In 2018, the Year of the Great Union Centenary, proclaimed “Solemn Year of Unity of Faith and Nation” and “Commemorative Year of the 1918 Great Union Founders” by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Romfilatelia travels to the Alba Iulia fortress, symbol of the Romanian unity due to the first unification accomplished by Michael the Brave and, subsequently, the venue of the Great Union. The historic moment of the Romania’s Unification was marked by the erection of the Coronation Cathedral, with the patronage of the Archangel Saints Michael and Gabriel, whose cornerstone was laid on March 28, 1921, the second day of Easter.
On the Eve of the most important event of Christianity, Romfilatelia introduces into circulation the postage stamp issue The Holy Easter 2018, which commemorates the turning points from the life of Jesus Christ – the Entrance to Jerusalem, the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. The new issue will be available on Friday, March 9th, 2018, in Romfilatelia’ own shops network in Bucharest, Bacau, Brașov, Cluj-Napoca, Iași and Timișoara and online on https://romfilatelia.ro/store/.
The two postage stamps of the issue, both with the face value of Lei 1.30, illustrate icons from the patrimony of the Alba Iulia Cathedral – The Entrance to Jerusalem and The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The Entrance of Lord Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, known as Palm Sunday, marks the beginning of the last week of His earthy life. From this day the Holy Week starts, and all churches officiate, every evening, masses through which believers are called to accompany Christ on the Via Dolorosa, until His death and His Resurrection.
The act of Resurrection is the confession of God’s boundless power, a proof of the people’s resurrection, this being a basic truth of the Christian faith. Christians find comfort in the fact that God became human, died for people’s sins and was resurrected on the third day.
The stamp of the perforated souvenir sheet, with the face value of Lei 12, reproduces the icon The Crucifixion of Lord Jesus Christ, from the iconostasis of the Alba Iulia Cathedral. Through the crucifixion, the most important moment from Jesus Christ’s messianic mission, God’s Son receives the earthly death, the supreme sacrifice, through which He takes upon himself the sins of the world, reconciling man and Creator. The Icon of the Crucifixion signifies God’s infinite kindness and love towards humanity, and He is not afraid of any suffering.
The postage stamp issue is completed by a First Day Cover, as page composition there were used a sheet of 28 stamps, a minisheet of 10 stamps + 2 labels (5 sets), a minisheet of 8 stamps + 1 label, a special block of 3 stamps perforated (set of the issue + the postage stamp of the issue’s souvenir sheet), a special block of 2 stamps (the imperforated set of the issue together with the perforated souvenir sheet) and a perforated souvenir sheet.
The special product, with silver plated stamp, reunites, in an original presentation, a special block of 3 stamps perforated (containing the set of the issue together with the postage stamp of the souvenir sheet), created in limited edition.
The philatelic album is created into a limited edition of 421 pieces and is equipped with the special block of the issue (containing two imperforated stamps and the souvenir sheet), as well as the First Day cover with the First Day postmark clearly imprinted, with foiling, both products being numbered from 001 to 421.
Romfilatelia thanks His Beatitude Daniel, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church and Priest Irineu, Archbishop of Alba Iulia, for the documentary and photographic support provided for the achievement of this postage stamp issue.
For further information, please contact the Public Relation Office:
Tel: 021 / 337 24 42
roxana.herascu@romfilatelia.ro
