Bishop Dionysius Erhan, one of the most outstanding church personalities from Bessarabia in the first half of the 20th century, will be proclaimed a Saint by Patriarch Daniel and other Romanian hierarchs in a canonization ceremony in Bucharest in October on the feast of St Demetrius the New.
The canonization ceremony was set for October 27 because the baptism name of St Dionysius was Dimitrie (Demetrius).
Following the proposal submitted by the Bishops’ Assembly of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, Bishop Dionysius Erhan of Cetatea Alba and Ismail was glorified by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church last autumn.
The newly-glorified Saint Dionysius will be commemorated every year on September 17, the day of his passing away.
Marking St Dionysius Erhan’s first feast day this Tuesday, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir of Chisinau presided over the Divine Liturgy at Suruceni Monastery where the Saint’s holy relics are kept.
The same day, Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia, who took the initiative of the canonization process, commemorated St Dionysius in Cahul and brought thanks to God for the gift of the Saint’s canonization.
Saint Dionysius of Cetatea Alba and Ismail is a protector of the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia.
Photography courtesy of Doxologia
