“Lord, how poor Moldavia and the country, Iaşi and the Cathedral would have been, without the presence here of the holy relics of Saint Parascheva,” Metropolitan Teofan said on Sunday, June 13, 2021, at the “celebration of thanksgiving” organized on the occasion of the 380th anniversary of the translation of Saint Parascheva’s relics to Iasi.

His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the Cathedral esplanade with His Grace Damaschin of Dorna, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Suceava and Radauti, and His Grace Emilian of Crișana, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Arad.

During the Divine Liturgy, Bishop Emilian evoked the event that took place in Iași 380 years ago. At the end, Bishop Damaschin of Dorna read out the message sent by the Patriarch of Romania for this celebration.

” 380 years of a blessed crowd of pilgrims

After the Patriarch’s message was read, the Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina spoke: “We thank God for the gift made to Romania, Moldavia, Iasi, 380 years ago! A period of blessing poured out on the faithful who have acquired a deeper and deeper consciousness in the truth that Saint Parascheva is our protector, all-gracious, comforting in troubles and temptations.”

“380 years of a blessed crowd of pilgrims from all over the country and the entire world came to humbly bow down in front of the reliquary with the holy relics of Saint Parascheva.”

“What a great day, what a beautiful day, October 14, every year! What an icon of God’s people gathered around the saints of Heaven and earth! 380 years of a pilgrimage made by the Orthodox Christian brothers and sisters from Bulgaria, from Serbia, who come here to thank the Saint because for a long time Saint Parascheva remained for veneration in Vidin, in Tarnovo, or in Serbia’s Belgrade.”

“May God bless this feast of thanksgiving to Heaven for the presence of the holy relics here, and until the feast of St. Parascheva, in autumn, let us stop, on different occasions and at different times, to venerate the Saint and bring our offering of gratitude. While the feast of the Venerable Saint, on October 14, will be the central place of gratitude for the fact that Saint Parascheva, 380 years ago, was vouchsafed to be here with us, to enrich our souls. For, Lord, how poor Moldavia and the country, Iaşi and the Cathedral would have been, without the presence here of the holy relics of Saint Parascheva.”

Photography courtesy of: Doxologia / Oana Nechifor