The pilgrimage to the holy relics of St Demetrius the New, Bucharest’s patron saint, began on Sunday at the Patriarchal Cathedral. “Honouring the saints is, in fact, honouring the gift of God,” emphasised Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova of the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
His Grace encouraged the faithful to join the religious celebrations organised for the Patriarchal Cathedral’s patronal feast.
“We welcome you and encourage you to be close to the saints, and together let us all have the hope that they will bring our prayers before God.”
“We pray to these saints and to all the saints that they may be friends, helpers and close to those who honour them as they should,” the bishop said.
Pilgrimage continues until 28 October
The pilgrimage takes place from 18 to 28 October.
Until Friday, 23 October, the faithful can venerate the holy relics of St Demetrius the New, St Demetrius the Myrrh-Gusher, Saints Constantine and Helen, and St Nectarios inside the historic Patriarchal Cathedral, daily between 7:00 am and 9:00 pm.
On Saturday, 24 October, the Path of the Saints procession will begin at noon, following two routes departing from the Patriarchal Cathedral and the Metropolitan Cathedral of St Spyridon the New.
The relics of St Elizabeth of Pasărea will also be brought in procession and placed alongside the other holy relics for veneration.
The programme will continue on Monday, 26 October, with the Divine Liturgy followed by the official proclamation of the Synaxis of the Holy Military Martyrs.
The central celebration will take place on Tuesday, 27 October, when His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel will celebrate the Divine Liturgy with hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church at the Patriarchal Cathedral’s outdoor altar.
