Chapel of the National Cathedral Celebrated its Dedication Day

Tuesday, 12 July 2016, more than one thousand faithful attended the celebration of the summer day feast of the chapel of the National Cathedral dedicated to the Icon of the Mother of God – the Prodromitissa.

The blessing of the water and celebration of the Akathist of the Mother of God the Prodromitissa were followed, this morning, at 9. 30 hours, by the Divine Liturgy. The religious service was celebrated at the summer altar in the courtyard of the chapel by His Grace Timotei Prahoveanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest, assisted by a group of priests and deacons.

His Grace delivered a sermon in which he spoke about the importance of the veneration of the icon of the Mother of God the Prodromitissa.

His Grace Timotei Prahoveanul explained to those present that the Prodromitissa icon preserved at Mount Athos is one of the icons not painted by human hands, having been miraculously painted 148 years ago, in 1863, in Iaşi city.

The liturgical answers were given by Anastasis psaltic group.

Today, the celebration of the dedication day of the Chapel of the National Cathedral gathered Romanians from all over the country – Very Rev. Fr. Archimandrite Ciprian Grădinaru declared for TRINITAS Radio station.

Procession with the Prodromitissa icon

Last night, 11 July 2016, the icon of the Mother of God the Prodromitissa was taken in procession. After the Vigil service celebrated by His Grace Timotei Prahoveanul, the servant priests and the faithful present surrounded the place of worship with the icon of the Mother of God the Prodromitissa, singing chants in the honour of the Mother of God.

Concert of religious chants dedicated to the Mother of God

The programme of the feast of the Chapel of the National Cathedral began ever since Sunday night, 10 July 2016, with a concert of chants and hymns dedicated to the Mother of God.

This event marked the beginning of the festive manifestations dedicated to the summer dedication day of the chapel, namely the Veneration of the Icon of the Mother of God the Prodromitissa from the Holy Mount  Athos (12 July).

In the beginning of the concert, Anastasis psaltic group of the Chapel of the National Cathedral, conducted by psalm singer Adrian Butuc, sang several Byzantine hymns in the honour of the Most Holy Birth Giver of God. Then, a concert performed by several folk music singers followed. They sang hymns dedicated to the Mother of God and songs in the mothers’ honour.

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The replica of the Icon of the Mother of God the Prodromitissa from the Chapel of National Cathedral is a life size detailed copy of the Icon preserved at the Holy Mount Athos, both from the point of view of the representation and of the bounding, unlike other replicas of this icon. Thus, just like at the original icon of the Mother of God the Prodromitissa, the binding of the icon from the Chapel of the National Cathedral is in silver, gilded here and there, with the crowns of the Mother of God and of Saviour Jesus Christ decorated with semi-precious stones.

The icon was made in Greece, in 2011 and blessed by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on 24 October 2011, when the Chapel was consecrated, on the occasion of bringing to Bucharest of the Venerated Head of Saint Andrew the Apostle the First called, the Protector of Romania (24 – 28 October 2011).

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