Hundreds of faithful took part Wednesday evening in a procession with the relics of Saint Cleopas Ilie of Sihăstria in the northeastern Romanian city of Botoșani, during festivities marking the patronal feast of Saint George Church.
The events began with Vespers and Artoklasia, followed by a procession through the city centre led by Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina and assistant bishops Nichifor of Botoșani and Nectarie of Bogdania.
For several years, Saint George Church has marked its patronal feast with relic processions involving different saints. This year, the relics of Saint Cleopas of Sihăstria — a native of Botoșani County — were brought for the occasion.
Devotion to Saint George
In his homily, Assistant Bishop Nichifor of Botoșani spoke of the enduring devotion to Saint George.
“He is the patron saint of many churches in our country, throughout the Orthodox world and beyond. Many bear him as patron through the name they received at baptism,” he said.
“Devotion to Saint George has endured for thousands of years, because he suffered in the first centuries of Christian witness, in times of persecution.”
The bishop said communion with the saints expresses the Church’s living faith.
“To confess our bond with the saints shows our link with all the fathers who honoured them, a bond through which God Himself works in our lives,” he said.
Procession as extension of Paschal joy
Bishop Nichifor described the procession as an extension of the joy of the feast and a public witness of faith beyond church walls.
“The saint belongs no longer only to a particular time or place, but is near to all who honour him and confess the true faith,” he said.
The procession followed a route through central Botoșani before returning to Saint George Church, a 16th-century foundation built in 1551 by Elena Rareș and modelled after a church founded by Saint Stephen the Great.
Photo: Doxologia.ro / Flavius Popa
