Saturday, July 13, marks the 250th anniversary of the translation of Saint Demetrius the New’s relics to Bucharest.
How Saint Demetrius’ relics arrived in Bucharest
The historical context in which the venerated relics arrived in Romania’s capital was during the Russo-Turkish War (1768-1774). Battles were fought on Romanian soil and south of the Danube.
When Russian General Ivan Petrovich Saltykov arrived with his army in the village of Basarab, he ordered the holy relics of Saint Demetrius to be taken to Russia to prevent the Turks from desecrating them.
As the procession with the relics passed through Bucharest, a wealthy merchant of Aromanian origin named Hatzi Demetrius, along with Metropolitan Gregory II of Wallachia, pleaded with the Russian general to leave the revered relics to the Romanian people and the Metropolis of the country as a consolation for the many material damages and sufferings endured by Romanians during the war, especially since Saint Demetrius was of Wallachian descent.
The general was persuaded and granted their wish. On July 13, 1774, the relics of Saint Demetrius were placed with great honour in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Bucharest.
Spiritual Protector of Bucharest
Saint Demetrius the New was proclaimed the “Protector of Bucharest” in 1792, during Metropolitan Filaret II’s tenure. However, devotion to the saint was generalized later by Patriarch Justinian Marina, during the atheistic communist regime.
The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church decided on February 28, 1950, to generalize the cult of Saint Demetrius the New. Five years later, the festive proclamation of his canonization was to take place.
As Bucharest’s spiritual protector, Saint Demetrius is remembered by the Church for miracles performed during difficult periods affecting the city’s inhabitants: the plague epidemic of 1813-1815, the cholera epidemic of 1831, the great fire of 1847, and the coronavirus pandemic of 2020.
Starting in 2024, the event is celebrated liturgically and included in the Romanian Orthodox Church Calendar. The feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Demetrius the New to Bucharest will be held annually on July 13.
First Liturgical Celebration
Marking 250 years since the arrival of Saint Demetrius’ relics, the Romanian Patriarchate organized several anniversary events starting from the early months of the year. In March and April, a historic pilgrimage was organized during which the honourable relics of Saint Demetrius visited 123 parishes and monasteries in the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
An extensive liturgical program took place from July 10 to 14. On Friday evening, thousands of clergy and believers participated in a jubilee procession in the city centre. Romanian and Bulgarian hierarchs attended the events.
Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Raluca-Emanuela Ene
