A group of Greek pilgrims, led by Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida and Bishop Nicodemus of Skopelos, visited several religious sites in Bucharest on Monday.
At the Patriarchal Palace, the pilgrims were welcomed by the Bucharest Archdiocese’s Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova.
Following the palace tour, the two Greek hierarchs held talks with Assistant Bishop Timotei.
During the encounter, Metropolitan Chrysostomos emphasized the close ties between the two sister Orthodox Churches and expressed admiration for the special devotion Romanian faithful show toward Saint John the Russian, whose holy relics are kept in his diocese.
At the end of the meeting, Assistant Bishop Timotei offered gifts on behalf of the Patriarch of Romania to the two visiting hierarchs.
“The Romanian Orthodox Church maintains close relations with the Church of Greece,” Bishop Timotei noted, “with many Romanian hierarchs visiting Greece and many Greek hierarchs travelling to Romania. The visit of Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida and Bishop Nicodemus fits into this tradition of old and steadfast fraternal ties between our two Churches.”
Bishop Timotei also highlighted that the Metropolis of Chalkida hosts many important pilgrimage sites, foremost among them being the shrine of Saint John the Russian.
“There are also other monasteries there,” he added, “including the one where Elder Iakovos Tsalikis, recently canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate, served — a highly venerated figure in the Church of Greece alongside Saint Paisios of Mount Athos.”
“Many Romanian faithful make pilgrimages to this diocese during the feast of Saint John the Russian and throughout the year since his relics are known for performing numerous miracles. In recent years, several churches in Romania have also placed themselves under his patronage, and his veneration has become increasingly widespread in the Romanian Orthodox Church.”
Speaking about Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkida, Bishop Timotei said, “He is a hierarch who warmly welcomes Orthodox believers from around the world. Often, his diocese hosts services attended by bishops, priests, monastics, and lay faithful from many countries.”
Later the same day, the Greek visitors also planned to visit the National Cathedral.
Photo: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu
