The honourable skull of Saint John Chrysostom was brought to the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest from Mount Athos at midday on Friday, marking the summer feast of Saint Demetrius the New.
“The presence of Saint John Chrysostom’s relics in Romania is not only an opportunity for veneration and prayer, but also a call to a deeper listening to the Word of God,” said Patriarch Daniel during the welcoming ceremony at the Patriarchal Cathedral.
“As Saint John Chrysostom was worthy to receive direct inspiration from the Holy Apostle Paul in interpreting Scripture, so we too are called to open our hearts to hear the voice of God in our lives,” His Beatitude added.
The relic was brought from Vatopedi Monastery by a delegation led by Archimandrite Ephraim Koutsou.
In his remarks at the cathedral, the Abbot of Vatopedi highlighted that Saint John Chrysostom was not only a missionary but also a great ascetic, “a man of obedience who submitted himself to a spiritual father and dedicated himself to prayer and obedience.”
Archimandrite Ephraim of Vatopedi also shared a miracle he witnessed, where a person arrived on crutches to venerate the relic of Saint John Chrysostom’s skull and left healed.
“An Act of Great Spiritual Significance”
Patriarch Daniel emphasised that bringing these holy relics to Bucharest, to be honoured alongside the relics of Saint Demetrius the New, represents “an act of great spiritual significance.”
“As in the 5th century, Saint Proclus brought the relics of Saint John Chrysostom from Comana to Constantinople for the reconciliation and blessing of the Imperial Capital, so today these holy relics come to bring blessing upon our Capital and the entire country,” Patriarch Daniel noted.
His Beatitude added that this year marks 251 years since the relics of Saint Demetrius the New were brought to Bucharest in 1774, giving this year’s reception of Saint John Chrysostom’s relics “a truly special meaning.”
“These two great saints, though living in different times, unite in their shared prayer for the Romanian people, for the Greek people, and for all of Orthodoxy.”
During a ceremony following the reception, Abbot Ephraim was awarded the Patriarchal Cross.
The honourable skull of Saint John Chrysostom has been placed for public veneration inside the Patriarchal Cathedral, beside the relics of Saint Demetrius the New.
The relic will remain in Bucharest until Wednesday, July 16.
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Photo: Basilica.ro / Raluca-Emanuela Ene
