Saint Demetrius the Myrrh-gusher was honoured on Monday at the outdoor altar of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, Romania. The Divine Liturgy concluded with the official proclamation of a new feast added to the Romanian Orthodox Church calendar: the Synaxis of the Holy Military Martyrs. The message delivered by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on this occasion concluded with a prayer for world peace.
His Grace Varlaam of Ploiești and His Grace Paisie of Sinaia, Patriarchal Assistant Bishops, together with His Grace Timotei of Prahova, Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, celebrated the Divine Liturgy.
The concelebrating clergy included priests from the Patriarchal Administration and the Diocesan Administration of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, as well as clergy serving at the Patriarchal Cathedral.
Let us follow his faith
“While the parents of the young Demetrius were Christians in secret, without provoking the authorities through their faith, the young Demetrius openly displayed his strong faith as governor of the city’s citizens and preached Christ, bringing many to faith in Christ,” His Grace Varlaam of Ploiești recalled in his homily.
“Among our people, devotion to Saint Demetrius the Myrrh-gusher is great. Many churches and monasteries are under his protection, and throughout the centuries many Romanians have borne, and continue to bear today, the blessed name of the Holy Great Martyr,” His Grace added.
For this reason, the hierarch also urged the faithful today to demonstrate the same courage as the saint in confessing their faith.
“Let us always keep before our souls and spiritual eyes his radiant icon, follow his faith, and show the same courage in confessing it within our families, in the communities in which we find ourselves, and in our present-day society,” His Grace said.
Official proclamation of the new feast
After the faithful received Holy Communion, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, presided over the ceremony proclaiming the new feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Military Martyrs, to be commemorated on October 26, the commemoration day of Great Martyr Demetrius, who is regarded as the first among the members of this synaxis of saints.
His Grace Varlaam of Ploiești, Patriarchal Assistant Bishop, read the Synodal Tomos proclaiming the feast. The document was held by Fr Ionuț Corduneanu, Administrative Patriarchal Vicar, and Fr Ciprian Ion Ioniță, Patriarchal Counsellor.
Fr Nicușor Beldiman and Fr Costin Spiridon, Patriarchal Counsellors, presented the icon of the feast. At the conclusion of the reading of the Tomos, the Sacerdotes Militares Choir, composed of priests serving in the Romanian Army, sang the Troparion of the Holy Military Martyrs.
The Tomos and the icon of the feast were presented to the Patriarch of Romania, who then presented them to the people. The ceremony ended with Patriarch Daniel’s message highlighting the centuries-old bond between the Church and the Army.
The shared values of Church and Army
The Patriarch of Romania stated that “the Army and the Church share common values” and recalled that the feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Military Martyrs and of Great Martyr Demetrius, regarded as the first among the members of this synaxis, coincides with Military Chaplains’ Day, established within the Romanian Patriarchate last year.
The common values of the Church and the Army are “the courage to confess the true faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, love for one’s neighbour, one’s country and one’s people, and the spirit of self-sacrifice, even unto death,” the Patriarch of Romania explained.
“The golden eagle on Romania’s coat of arms bears a Latin cross, which rises in the light of the Resurrection, because the Romanian people, through faith and sacrifice, have transformed suffering into victory and sacrifice into glory or dignity.”
State emblems
Patriarch Daniel also spoke about the symbolism of Romania’s state emblems — the coat of arms and the national anthem — as well as the historical role of military chaplains.
“Nothing was received as a gift from other peoples; rather, victory was won through the sacrifice of the Romanian people and through the grace of their faith in Christ Crucified and Risen,” His Beatitude emphasised.
“For this reason, the National Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of the Salvation of the Nation, has the Ascension of the Lord — Heroes’ Day — as its principal patronal feast. Its second patronal feast is that of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Protector of Romania.”
The role of military chaplains and a prayer for peace
“Today, it is both necessary and beneficial for military chaplains to continue, with grace, honour and dedication, the sacred tradition of providing religious assistance within the Romanian Army. A strong army is defined by commanders and soldiers who are well trained in military sciences, but who are also strengthened morally and spiritually through the spiritual ministry of military chaplains,” the Patriarch of Romania further stated.
“We pray to God, through the intercessions of the Holy Military Martyrs, as well as of Saints Constantine and Helen, Saint Nektarios of Aegina, Saint Demetrius the New, and Saint Elisabeta of Pasărea, to pour out the grace of His peace upon today’s world, troubled by many conflicts, and to grant us all good health and abundant help in every good work!”
The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church included the feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Military Martyrs in the Church calendar during its working session on June 3, 2026, while Military Chaplains’ Day was established at the Holy Synod’s session on July 1–2, 2025.
The patronal feast of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest
The proclamation of the new feast of the Synaxis of the Holy Military Martyrs formed part of the patronal feast of the Patriarchal Cathedral.
Until October 28, 2026, the reliquaries containing the relics of Saint Demetrius the Myrrh-gusher, Saint Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest, Saints Constantine and Helen, Saint Nektarios of Aegina, and Saint Elisabeta of Pasărea are available for veneration at the Saints’ Canopy beside the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest.
Pilgrims can check the length of the queue on the dedicated website, sfdimitrie.arhiepiscopiabucurestilor.ro. Scroll down to the interactive map and click on the pedestrian symbol inside the red circle to see the estimated waiting time.
