Believers asked the Archdiocese of Suceava to organize a procession with the relics of Suceava’s patron saint John the New “to bring peace and comfort in this time of hardship.” So, on Sunday the holy relics were driven across Suceava to ward off the coronavirus and bring blessing to the medical staff and all those who are sick.
“It is fitting that we ascribe glory to God with all our heart and give thanks to Him for helping us to accomplish this holy work, long-awaited by believers and requested by them, namely to organize another procession with the relics of the Holy Great Martyr John the New of Suceava across the city that he, for so long, has been protecting, guarding and for which he prays and intercedes before God.”
“It was a pedestrian prayer, a movement in the spirit of prayer and we pray to God that He may receive this sacrifice and to send us from Above consolation, healing and redemption,” the Archdiocese’s Assistant Bishop Damaschin of Dorna said October 10, 2021.
His Grace Assistant Bishop Damaschin led the procession, which was attended by Suceava’s mayor Ion Lungu.
Before departing from St George Church, where the holy relics are kept, prayers were offered for the coronavirus to stop spreading, for the sick, for the medical staff, and for all those who serve their neighbours.
The relics stopped in front of several churches, hospitals and care centres.
At the County Emergency Hospital, which is named after St John the New, at St Zenobius Palliative Care Hospital and at the retirement home of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți, His Grace together offered prayers for the quick recovery of those in pain, for those suffering from illness and physical and mental disabilities, but also for those who take care of the patients.
Finally, the reliquary with the relics of Suceava’s patron Saint was placed in the Archdiocesan Cathedral. His Grace Bishop Damaschin thanked all those who were involved in the smooth running of the procession.
“We wholeheartedly thank the authorities, which were open this year and last year, and we hope that they will also be open from now on, given that this event took place in compliance with all the requirements imposed in this special period.”
“We thank the mayor and all the decision-makers involved, showing that Suceava has worthy people, who know that only through joint work we manage to save and overcome this difficult period.”
“Also, heartfelt thanks to the fathers from the Cathedral, to the fathers from the Diocesan Center, to all the hard workers and to all those who prayed together, either on the streets of Suceava, or those who stayed at home and from anywhere.”
“We should thank His Eminence Archbishop Calnic who blessed this event from the beginning; even more, he encouraged us to continue this procession in other areas of the county.”
“His Eminence, since last year, responded immediately when he received requests, requests from faithful people, from medical staff who wanted and felt the presence of the Saint in the medical units in the municipality and not only there, because they felt the presence of Saint John as a help for the particularly hard work that the medical staff is carrying out during this pandemic period.”
During the pandemic, the relics of St. John the New were first carried on the streets of Suceava last November.
Photography courtesy of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Radauti
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