Location
The first proposed location was in place of the park in Piaţa Unirii, where in 1998, without a proper authorization, Patriarch Teoctist laid the cornerstone of the Cathedral, in presence of President Emil Constantinescu.
During the discussions which followed, Orthodox theologians warned that, according to church's doctrine, people who want to change the purpose of a plot of land where a church is destined to be built will be anathemized.
Nevertheless, the place was not appropriate for a large building because it was the place where two metro lines intersected the Dâmboviţa River, which was channeled underground.
The Orthodox Church chose Carol Park as the new location for the cathedral, and in 2004, the Năstase government gave 5 hectares of the park to the Romanian Orthodox Church, so that the cathedral could be built in place of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Bucharest and the Mausoleum of Communist Heroes. The Architects' Union of Romania opposed the project location, arguing that it goes against certain national and international laws regarding environment protection, architecture and the protection of monuments.
Following protests by local Bucharesters and opposition in the press, as well as conflicts with the then-Mayor of Bucharest, Traian Băsescu, the site was changed to Izvor Park (right near the Palace of the Parliament).
The Orthodox Church received 11 hectares from the Romanian government and it will use 5 of them for the building, where the cornerstone was laid on November 29, 2007 by Patriarch Daniel.
One problem with the current location is that a 4000 m² plot has also been claimed by former owners from whom it was confiscated during the communist era. The Patriarchate is now trying to solve this issue.
Read more about this topic: Romanian People's Salvation Cathedral