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The chapel of the Henri Coanda Airport was sanctified in 2003, in the name of Saint Elijah (Ilie), the patron of Romanian pilots and of all those who fly. It is the only chapel inside an airport in the South-Eastern Europe. The chapel can be seen as a visit card for the Romanian orthodoxy, as many foreigners that go through this Airport get in contact with it for the very first time.
The chapel was built in the Byzantian style and it is a bless both for the airport employees and for the travelers. On the 18th of December 2003, his holiness Vincenţiu Ploieşteanu, patriarchal bishop’s vicar at that time, sanctified, inside the Henri Coandă International Airport Bucaharest, a chapel in the name of Saint Elijah (Ilie), the patron of Romanian pilots and of all those who fly.The chapel was founded at the request of the Romanian Patriarchate, with the support of the Romanian Ministry of Transports, Constructions and Tourism.
Its first prelate was father Vasile Bălţătescu, who was followed by other four priests, namely: Adrian Niţă, Marius Dumitrescu, Viorel Barbu and Vladimir Alexa. On the 13th of December 2010, a new priest was assigned to the St. Elijah Chapel, Bogdan Nastasiu, who had been ordained as the servant of this very place.
Even if many of us do not make the cross sign every time we pass by a church, when we board a plane we suddenly remember God and ask him for protection along our flight.
But if our plane takes off from Henri Coandă International Airport, we are given the choice to communicate with God from His own house.The little, but very impressive, chapel has a marvelous Byzantian painting and it can host many of the Christian sacraments: the Baptizm, the Wedding, the Holy Communion or the Confession.
The chapel is permanently open for the public and during the week, form Monday to Friday, prayers are said for the saint celebrated that day.