{"id":203355,"date":"2018-08-21T16:45:51","date_gmt":"2018-08-21T13:45:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=203355"},"modified":"2018-08-21T16:45:51","modified_gmt":"2018-08-21T13:45:51","slug":"saint-george-the-pilgrims-sainthood-locally-proclaimed-at-varatec-monastery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/saint-george-the-pilgrims-sainthood-locally-proclaimed-at-varatec-monastery\/","title":{"rendered":"Saint George the Pilgrim\u2019s Sainthood locally proclaimed at Varatec Monastery"},"content":{"rendered":"

Saint George the Pilgrim\u2019s sainthood was locally proclaimed Friday, August 17, during a ceremony held at V\u0103ratec Monastery, where the Saint\u2019s holy relics are enshrined.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Lay-ascetic George Lazar \u2018the Pilgrim\u2019 (\u20201916) was glorified by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church during its working session on October 5, 2017.<\/p>\n

An additional local proclamation of canonization<\/a> took place Saturday, June 23, at Piatra Neamt, the city where the saint spent over 20 years.<\/p>\n

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The unceasing Prayer of Jesus was dwelling in his heart.<\/span><\/h6>\n

-Fr Dumitru Staniloae about St George the Pilgrim<\/h4>\n
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The Divine Liturgy and the canonization ceremony celebrated on the Saint’s first feast day were headed by Metropolitan Teofan of Moldova and Bukovina.<\/p>\n

Concelebrants included Archbishop Pimen of Suceava and Radauti, Archbishop Ioachim of Roman and Bacau, Bishop Macarie of Northern Europe, Assistant Bishop Calinic of Botosani, and Assistant Bishop Damaschin of Dorna.<\/p>\n

The assistant bishop to the Suceava Archdiocese, His Grace Bishop Damaschin read out the synodal tomos on the canonization of Saint George the Pilgrim.<\/p>\n

Saint George the Pilgrim<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Saint George was born in 1864 in Susag, Alba County. After living 14 years in marriage, with the approval of his wife, he went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Places taking with him the Holy Gospel and the Psalter.<\/p>\n

Suffering many temptations from demons, he decided to strengthen his patience and humility by walking barefoot and bareheaded for the rest of his life.<\/p>\n

In 1895 he returned to Romania, settling in to a small chamber in the tower bell of St John Church in Piatra Neamt.<\/p>\n

He slept only for three hours every night. During the day, he walked barefoot and bareheaded on the streets of the city, incessantly whispering psalms.<\/p>\n

The Saint passed away to the Lord on the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos in 1916, when Romania was entering WWI.<\/p>\n