{"id":568556,"date":"2026-04-24T11:57:27","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T08:57:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=568556"},"modified":"2026-04-24T11:57:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T08:57:27","slug":"saint-cleopas-relics-procession-romania","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/saint-cleopas-relics-procession-romania\/","title":{"rendered":"Hundreds join St Cleopas relics procession in northern Romania: We confess our bond with the saints"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hundreds of faithful took part<\/a> Wednesday evening in a procession with the relics of Saint Cleopas Ilie of Sih\u0103stria in the northeastern Romanian city of Boto\u0219ani, during festivities marking the patronal feast of Saint George Church.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The events began with Vespers and Artoklasia, followed by a procession through the city centre led by Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina and assistant bishops Nichifor of Boto\u0219ani and Nectarie of Bogdania.<\/p>\n

For several years, Saint George Church has marked its patronal feast with relic processions involving different saints. This year, the relics of Saint Cleopas of Sih\u0103stria \u2014 a native of Boto\u0219ani County \u2014 were brought for the occasion.<\/p>\n

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Three hierarchs led the procession with the relics of Saint Cleopas on the streets of Boto\u0219ani. Photo: Doxologia.ro \/ Flavius Popa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Devotion to Saint George<\/h2>\n

In his homily, Assistant Bishop Nichifor of Boto\u0219ani spoke of the enduring devotion to Saint George.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is the patron saint of many churches in our country, throughout the Orthodox world and beyond. Many bear him as patron through the name they received at baptism,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDevotion to Saint George has endured for thousands of years, because he suffered in the first centuries of Christian witness, in times of persecution.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The bishop said communion with the saints expresses the Church\u2019s living faith.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo confess our bond with the saints shows our link with all the fathers who honoured them, a bond through which God Himself works in our lives,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Procession as extension of Paschal joy<\/h2>\n

Bishop Nichifor described the procession as an extension of the joy of the feast and a public witness of faith beyond church walls.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe saint belongs no longer only to a particular time or place, but is near to all who honour him and confess the true faith,\u201d he said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The procession followed a route through central Boto\u0219ani before returning to Saint George Church, a 16th-century foundation built in 1551 by Elena Rare\u0219 and modelled after a church founded by Saint Stephen the Great.<\/p>\n