The pilgrimage organized each year by the Romanian Patriarchate and the Archbishopric of Bucharest on the feast of St Pious Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest (celebrated on October 27th), will be carried out from 23 to 28 October 2015, according to the following program:
On Friday, 23 October 2015, at 12.00 p.m., the procession The Way of the Saints will take place, carrying the relics of St Pious Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest, from the Patriarchal Cathedral, on Queen Maria Blvd. to the base of the Hill of the Patriarchate. At the same time, the holy relics of Sts Constantine and Helen will be brought by procession from the Metropolitan Cathedral St Spyridon the New on Şerban Vodă Aveand Bibescu VodăStr. unto the base of the Hill of the Patriarchate.
The two processions will meet at the brancovenesque stone Cross at the base of the Hill of the Patriarchate, where they will meet the relics of the Three Holy Hierarchs: St Basil the Great, St Gregory the Theologian and St John Chrysostom, brought to Bucharest from St Paul’s (Agiou Pavlou) Monastery in Holy Mount Athos by a delegation of the Orthodox Church of Greece, led by His Eminence Pavlos, Metropolitan of Drama.
At 12:30 p.m. the procession The Way of the Saints will continue by carrying the relics of the Three Holy Hierarchs, of St Pious Demetrius the New, and of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen, from the brancovenesque Holy Cross up to the Patriarchal Cathedral, where they will be met by His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, at the Summer Altar located next to the Patriarchal Cathedral. Next, the holy relics will be placed in the new baldachin located on the Hill of the Patriarchate in order to be venerated by the clergy and the faithful until Wednesday, 28 October 2015.
On Saturday, 24 October 2015, at 09:30 a.m., the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy will be officiated in the Patriarchal Cathedral, while on Sunday, 25 October 2015, at 09:30 a.m., the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy will be officiated at the Summer Altar next to the Patriarchal Cathedral.
On Monday, 26 October 2015, on the feast of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-gusher, at 09:30 a.m., His Eminence Pavlos, Metropolitan of Drama, will officiate at the Divine Liturgy, together with other hierarchs from home and abroad, surrounded by priests and deacons, at the Summer Altar next to the Patriarchal Cathedral.
On Tuesday, 27 October 2015, on the feast of St Pious Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest, from 07:00 a.m. to 08:30 a.m., the Divine Liturgy will be officiated in the Patriarchal Cathedral for the faithful willing to partake of the Holy Mysteries. Next, beginning with 09:30 a.m., His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel will officiate at the Solemn Divine Liturgy, together with an assembly of Romanian and Greek Hierarchs, surrounded by priests and deacons, at the Summer Altar.
Also, on Tuesday, 27 October 2015, at 19:00, at the Radio Hall in Bucharest will take place the final stage of the eighth edition of the National Choral Church Music Contest entitled Praise the Lord!, organized by the Romanian Patriarchate in partnership with the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company. The contest had this year two sections: interpretation for the choirs of the monasteries within the six metropolises in the country, and musical composition of chants at the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom. Special guests of this musical event are the Radio Children Choir, conducted by Voicu Popescu, and the actress Ana Calciu.
On Wednesday, 28 October 2015, on the feast of St Hierarch Hyacinth of Vicina, at 07:00 a.m., the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy will be officiated in the Patriarchal Cathedral, followed by a Te Deum Service for the opening of the solemn meeting of the Holy Synod.
Beginning with 10:00 a.m., in the Synodal Hall of the Patriarchal Residence, will take place the solemn meeting of the Holy Synod, whose theme is 2015 – Solemn Year of the Parish and Monastery Mission Today and Commemorative Year of Saint John Chrysostom and of the Great Spiritual Shepherds within Eparchies in the Romanian Patriarchate. During the solemn meeting will be evaluated the most important religious, spiritual, cultural, editorial and media manifestations carried out by the Eparchies of the Romanian Patriarchate from home and abroad during the year 2015.
In the afternoon of Wednesday, 28 October 2015, the delegation of the Orthodox Church of Greece, led by His Eminence Metropolitan Pavlos of Drama, will return to Greece, along with the relics of the Three Holy Hierarchs, brought from St Paul Monastery of Holy Mount Athos.
The relics of St Pious Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest, and of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen will remain in the baldachin on the Hill of the Patriarchate until every pilgrim will manage to bow down before them.
Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate
