Romanian President Traian Basescu announced at Bookfest, at the end of last week, that he will bestow “Romania’s Star” on the three Romanian heroes, Andrei Ivantoc, Tudor Petrov-Popa and Alexandru Lesco. In 2004, Romania’s Patriarch awarded the Patriarchal Cross to the three heroes from Nistru, the highest distinction conferred by the Romanian Orthodox Church on laymen. The Romanian Patriarch is expecting the three members in Bucharest for a personal blessing. On January 6, 1995, (old style celebration of Christmas) a delegation consisting of Bishop Teofan Sinaitul, patriarchal vicar, and Arhim Sofian Boghiu, abbot of the Antim Monastery, crossed Prut and Nistru in order to deliver the message of love and encouragement of the Romanian Orthodox Church to the patriots detained in Tiraspol. Due to the refusal of the Ministry of Home Affairs of the so-called Transnistrian republic, the mission of the Romanian delegation that aimed to grant the Patriarchal Cross – high distinction offered by the Romanian Church to laymen – could not be accomplished and had to be passed on via the detainee’s families. “Romania’s Star” is the highest distinction given by the Romanian state. Its motto is "In fide salus" (In faith is our salvation). The distinction bore initially, according to the proposal of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza, the title “Unification Order”, with the motto "Genere et cordres fratres" (Brothers by origins and feelings). The new title was suggested by Mihail Kogalniceanu.