The Very Reverend Archimandrite Ephraim Koutsou, Abbot of the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi on Mount Athos, will bring the honourable skull of Saint John Chrysostom to Bucharest in July. This privileged occasion will allow people to venerate the relic of Saint John Chrysostom in Bucharest.
Summer feast of Saint Demetrius
This event will take place in the context of the newly established feast commemorating the translation of the holy relics of Saint Demetrius the New, the Protector of Bucharest, which occurred on July 13, 1774.
The precious relic of Saint John Chrysostom will arrive at the Patriarchal Cathedral before the feast day. The complete pilgrimage schedule for viewing the relic in Bucharest will be announced in the coming weeks.
The feast of the Translation of the Holy Relics of Saint Demetrius the New to Bucharest is now officially celebrated for the second time in the Romanian Patriarchate.
The first official celebration took place in 2024, marking the 250th anniversary of the saint’s relics’ translation to the Romanian capital. The commemoration was honoured through a wide pilgrimage in which the holy relics of Saint Demetrius the New were brought to more than 120 churches throughout the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
A Martyr of the Word: Saint John Chrysostom
The arrival of Saint John Chrysostom’s holy skull in Bucharest is also spiritually aligned with the 2025 Commemorative Year of Spiritual Fathers and Confessors in the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Like many of these spiritual confessors who suffered under communist persecution, Saint John Chrysostom endured exile and unjust condemnation for boldly proclaiming the truth of the Gospel and rebuking secular rulers. Although an illegitimate synod deposed him, a decision later overturned after his repose in the Lord.
Saint John Chrysostom, one of the most revered Fathers of the Church, is primarily known for his profound pastoral care and powerful preaching, which earned him the epithet “Chrysostom,” meaning “Golden-mouthed.”
As Archbishop of Constantinople, he tirelessly preached the Gospel with clarity, boldness, and compassion, addressing his time’s spiritual and social issues. He called his flock to repentance, generosity, and a life of virtue rooted in Christ.
Deeply committed to the poor and marginalised, he established philanthropic institutions and strongly opposed the abuse of power and wealth, even among the ruling elite. His homilies on the Gospels and the Epistles remain masterpieces of theological insight and pastoral wisdom, guiding Christians toward a life of holiness and integrity in every generation.
Photo: Doxologia
