Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova of the Archdiocese of Bucharest said on Wednesday that the presence of St Anne’s relics in the Romanian capital represents “a great blessing for the entire country and especially for families who do not have children but hope to have them”.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated at St George the New Church in Bucharest, where the faithful can venerate a fragment of the relics of the Holy and Righteous Anne brought from Koutloumousiou Monastery on Mount Athos.
‘Profound faith in God’
His Grace spoke about the lives of the Holy and Righteous Ancestors of God Joachim and Anne and the patience with which they awaited the fulfilment of their prayer.
“We should remember God’s wonderful work in the lives of these two righteous, God-fearing and long-suffering people.”
The Assistant Bishop recalled that, according to Church tradition, Sts Joachim and Anne prayed for many years to be granted a child and emphasised their steadfastness in faith.
“Both of them were therefore of noble descent, but more than that, through their lives they demonstrated profound faith in God.”
“Who among us would wait with such patience, without losing hope, 50 years after marriage, believing that they might still be granted a child?” Bishop Timotei of Prahova said.
Alongside the family of St Constantine Brâncoveanu
The hierarch highlighted the model of family life offered by Sts Joachim and Anne.
“Their desire was fulfilled, and they lived a beautiful life. What does it mean to be a family living in such a way? What a beautiful example they offer to families today and throughout the ages.”
“St Anne is now, after so much time, alongside one of the holiest families our Romanian land has known, the family of St Constantine Brâncoveanu,” His Grace said, referring to the relics of the Brâncoveanu Martyrs and St Maria Brâncoveanu kept at the Bucharest church.
The fragment of St Anne’s relics arrived in Bucharest on Saturday. The reliquary was first brought to the Patriarchal Residence, where it was welcomed by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, before being transferred to St George the New Church.
The faithful can continue to venerate the holy relics until approximately 22:00 on Thursday, when the delegation from Koutloumousiou Monastery is due to depart from Bucharest.
For more pictures, please visit our Photo gallery section.
Photo: BASILICA / Raluca-Emanuela Ene
