The blessing of St Demetrius the New was brought to prisons throughout the Archdiocese of Bucharest on 13–14 July 2026 during a pilgrimage with a vestment that once covered the saint’s relics. At the same time, 7,000 copies of the saint’s Akathist were distributed to inmates and prison staff.
On 13 July, the vestment and prayer books were brought to the three prisons in and around Bucharest—Rahova, Jilava and Jilava Prison Hospital. The initiative continued the next day in Prahova County.
The programme’s coordinator, Fr Ciprian Ioniță, Patriarchal Counsellor for the Social-Philanthropic Sector of the Patriarchal Administration, told Trinitas TV that the initiative is being carried out in partnership with the National Administration of Penitentiaries.
Hope for those in difficult circumstances
“We thought it would be a great joy both for prison staff and for those deprived of their liberty that, during these days marking the 252nd anniversary of the translation of St Demetrius the New’s relics to Bucharest, we should come with the saint’s vestment and offer each person an Akathist. These are people who are generally visited less often,” Fr Ioniță said.
“People deprived of their liberty are in a delicate situation. They have no access to information, no freedom, and therefore every opportunity to come to church, to pray and to communicate with God through prayer is a blessing for them. We have seen how much joy these things bring them. Every time we organise activities in prisons—not only in the Archdiocese of Bucharest but in every diocese we visit—we are always received with joy and hope.”
Fervent prayers and heartfelt intentions
Fr Cristian Antonescu, coordinator of Orthodox prison chaplains within the National Administration of Penitentiaries, also took part in the programme.
“Every place needs God’s blessing, but even more so places marked by suffering: hospitals, care homes and, of course, prisons. We were delighted to take part today in an event dedicated both to inmates and to prison staff, organised at the initiative and through the pastoral care of Patriarch Daniel,” Fr Antonescu said.
“Events like these help us remain close to those deprived of their liberty and show them that the saints are their friends,” he added. “Most of those I spoke with were deeply grateful and told me they had entrusted to St Demetrius a heartfelt prayer and a loving thought for their families at home.”
Prayers for health
Fr Cătălin Constantin Caucă, chaplain of Bucharest-Rahova Prison, expressed gratitude to Patriarch Daniel for the initiative.
“It truly was a great joy for us and for some of the inmates. Some of them have previously been allowed escorted visits into the community, and I accompanied them to the Patriarchal Cathedral to venerate the relics of St Demetrius the New and ask for his help there,” the chaplain said.
Claudiu Românu, governor of Bucharest-Jilava Prison, told Trinitas TV that most of the inmates who came to venerate the saint’s vestment in the prison chapel were those facing health problems.
“For this, I thank you for being with us once again, and I thank all those who thought of and organised such an event,” the prison governor said.
Photo: Rahova penitentiary
