The Romanian city of Alexandria hosted a procession on Saturday evening with the relics of St Basil the Great, St Alexander, Patriarch of Constantinople, and St Mary Magdalene, the Myrrh-Bearer.
Bishop Galaction of Alexandria and Teleorman and Bishop Nicodemus of Skopelos, Assistant Bishop of the Metropolis of Chalkida, Istiaia and the Northern Sporades of the Orthodox Church of Greece, led the procession of clergy and faithful.
The Greek hierarch brought the right hand of St Basil the Great to Romania for several days.
The Bishop of Alexandria and Teleorman recalled that the tradition of holding the procession was revived after 1990.
“Following an ancient tradition of our Church, revived after 1990, we have held this procession, which is organised on the occasion of major feasts. By carrying holy icons and sacred relics in procession, we ask the protection of our Most Good God and of the saints for ourselves and for our communities, towns and villages.”
Bishop Galaction emphasised that St Basil the Great and St Alexander distinguished themselves in the history of the Church, particularly through their defence of the true faith and their guidance of the faithful.
Let us preserve the true faith
The bishop urged the faithful to preserve the faith and remain steadfast in performing good works.
“We thank all of you who joined us for this procession this evening, and we pray that our Most Good God, through the prayers of the holy hierarchs Alexander and Basil the Great, may help everyone in all things beneficial to this earthly life and to the salvation of their souls.”
At the conclusion, Bishop Galaction thanked the local authorities and public-order institutions involved in ensuring the procession was conducted smoothly.
Feast in Alexandria
The feast of St Alexander has particular significance for Alexandria, as he is the patron saint of both the city and its Episcopal Cathedral.
The cathedral houses fragments of the sacred relics of St Alexander, Patriarch of Constantinople.
The relics of St Basil the Great will remain in Alexandria for veneration until 1 September. They will then be taken to Pantocrator Monastery in Drăgănești-Vlașca, where they will remain until midnight on Wednesday, 2 September.
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Photo: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu
