Pilgrims flock to Bucharest streets for annual procession with relics of Romanian Saints

Three Romanian Saints are waiting for pilgrims on the Patriarchate’s Hill in Bucharest. The holy relics of St Demetrios the New, St Dionysius Erhan and St Philothea were placed in the baldachin next to the Patriarchal Cathedral following the annual procession ‘The Way of the Saints’ that drew pilgrims on the streets of Bucharest on Friday.

The relics of Saint Demetrios the New were carried in procession from the Patriarchal Cathedral on Queen Maria Ave and met with the ‘guests of honour’ at the Brancovenesque Cross at the foot of the Patriarchate’s Hill.

The holy relics of Saint Dionysius of Cetatea Alba and Ismail and of Saint Philothea of Curtea de Arges were carried from St Spyridon’s Metropolitan Cathedral on Serban Voda and Bibescu Voda Streets.

The trinity of Romanian Saints were then brought to the top of the Hill in a single procession accompanied by incense smoke and church hymns.

The hierarchs leading the column, and the believers were welcomed by the Patriarch of Romania.

The tradition of carrying the relics of Saint Demetrios the New in procession on the streets of Bucharest dates back to the 19^th century.

The historical testimonies note that the relics of the Protector Saint of the capital were removed from the Cathedral every time Bucharest was going through difficult moments.

Such cases included the plague epidemic of 1813-1814, the drought of 1827, the cholera epidemic of 1831 etc.

Tens of thousands of pilgrims are expected to venerate the relics of the three Saints in the coming days, during which religious ceremonies, cultural and artistic events will take place.

The program of the celebrations includes the festal Divine Liturgy on October 27, followed by the canonization ceremony of St Dionysius the Bishop of Cetatea Alba and Ismail, and the Church Music Contest ‘Praise the Lord!’

• Source: basilica.ro