Thousands of believers participated Sunday, 20 November 2016, in the Divine Liturgy celebrated at Bistrița Monastery, Vâlcea County, on the Feast of Pious Saint Gregory the Decapolite, Radio Trinitas reports.
His Eminence Irineu, Metropolitan of Oltenia, presided over the Divine Liturgy. The following Romanian hierarchs concelebrated:
- His Eminence Teodosie, Archbishop of Tomis;
- His Eminence Varsanufie, Archbishop of Râmnic;
- His Grace Nicodim, Bishop of Severin and Strehaia;
- His Grace Andrei, Bishop of Covasna and Harghita;
- His Grace Sebastian, Bishop of Slatina and Romanaţi;
- His Grace Visarion, Bishop of Tulcea;
- His Grace Gurie, Bishop of Deva and Hunedoara;
- His Grace Ilarion of Făgăraş, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Sibiu;
- His Grace Paisie of Lugoj, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Timişoara;
- His Grace Emilian of Lovişte, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Râmnic.
Metropolitan Irineu of Oltenia delivered a homily referring to the example of Christian living offered by Saint Gregory the Decapolite.
The holy relics of Saint Gregory the Decapolite were placed for veneration in front of the katholikon church under the steeple of the monastery.
A foundation of the Craiovescu boyars, Bistriţa Monastery dates back around 1490. The Chrysobull of donation, the first document of the Monastery is dated 16 March 1494 and belongs to Prince Vlad the Monk. In 1947, Great Ban Barbu Craiovescu brought the relics of Saint Gregory the Decapolite (780-842) from Constantinople.
