The National School for Prison Officers in Târgu Ocna, Romania, hosts two days of celebrations dedicated to the consecration of the Church of Martyrs and Confessors of Communist Prisons. Five hierarchs will officiate on Saturday the consecration of the church built near the prison where Valeriu Gafencu, surnamed “the saint of the prisons”, reposed. The institution will also inaugurate the Prison Museum and a monument dedicated to Prince Martyr Constantine Brâncoveanu.
The celebrations start on Friday evening with the reconsecration of the institution chapel, followed by a concert of religious and lay music interpreted by Raluca Angel, the choir of the “Annunciation” Parish in Târgu Ocna and graduates of the National School for Prison Officers.
Five hierarchs will consecrate the Church dedicated to the martyrs and confessors of Communist prisons: His Eminence Ioachim, Archbishop of Roman and Bacău, His Eminence Varlaam of Ploiești, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop, His Eminence Teodosie, Archbishop of Tomis, His Grace Andrei, Bishop of Covasna and Harghita, His Grace Emilian of Criș, Auxiliary Bishop of Arad.
On these days, two reliquaries are brought from Nechit Monastery and displayed near the new church, to be honoured by the faithful. They contain parts of the holy relics of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste and parts of the relics of the Brâncoveanu Martyrs.
Programme
Friday, May 13
16:00 – The Vespers office
16:50 – Greeting ceremony for the arrival of His Grace Andrei, Bishop of Covasna and Harghita
17:00 – Reconsecration of the chapel of the National School for Prison Officers in Târgu Ocna
19:30 – Concert of religious and lay music
Saturday, May 14
08:00 – His Eminence Teodosie, Archbishop of Tomis, celebrates the Divine Liturgy
09:30 – Sermon and religious songs by Paula Hrișcu
10:00 – Greeting ceremony for the arrival of the hierarchs
10:10 – 13:00 – Blessing, consecration and awarding ceremonies
- Unveiling of the sfințirea Monumentului „Sf. Voievod Constantin Brâncoveanu”
- Inauguration and blessing of the Prison Museum
- Consecration of the Church of Martyrs and Confessors of Communist Prisons (with liturgical answers given by the Psaltic Choir of the Metropolis of Moldavia)
- Awarding festivity
- Concert of religious and lay songs with Paula Hrișcu, a children choir and graduates of the National School for Prison Officers in Târgu Ocna
The National School for Prison Officers in Târgu Ocna is located at the adress: 137, Tisești St.
Photo credit: Facebook / Școala Națională de Pregătire a Agenților de Penitenciare Târgu Ocna
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