Saturday, July 13, 2024, marks the 250th anniversary of the translation of the relics of Saint Demetrius the New to Bucharest (July 13, 1774 – July 13, 2024). To mark this significant anniversary, a series of liturgical events will take place from July 10-14, 2024, according to the following schedule:
Wednesday, July 10, 2024
4:00 PM – 7:30 PM: All-night Vigil service at the Patriarchal Cathedral.
Thursday, July 11, 2024
7:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral.
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM: Memorial service for the Metropolitans of Wallachia who served at the Patriarchal Cathedral since 1774.
4:00 PM – 7:30 PM: Vigil service at the Patriarchal Cathedral.
Friday, July 12, 2024
7:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral.
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Sacrament of Holy Unction at the Patriarchal Cathedral.
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Blessing of the new reliquary for St. Demetrius, in the Europa Christiana Hall of the Patriarchal Palace, officiated by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, in the presence of the hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
3:45 PM: Procession and placement of the holy relics for veneration at the Baldachin of Saints.
4:00 PM – 7:00 PM: Vigil service at the summer altar of the Patriarchal Cathedral, conducted by the abbots of the monasteries within the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Procession with the relics of St. Demetrius the New along the following route: Patriarchal Cathedral – St. Nicholas-Vladica Church – (11 June Street) – Queen Marie Boulevard – Union Square (St. John-in-the-Square Church, St. Antony – The Princely Court Church) – Union Boulevard – Mitropoliei Hill Alley – Patriarchal Cathedral. The procession will include priests and monks from the 13 deaneries of the Archdiocese of Bucharest and will be led by the auxiliary bishops Varlaam of Ploiești, Paisie of Sinaia, and Timotei of Prahova.
8:30 PM – 9:00 PM: His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomes the convoy at the outdoor altar.
Saturday, July 13, 2024
6:00 AM: Procession and placement of the holy relics for veneration at the Baldachin of Saints.
7:00 AM – 8:30 AM: Midnight Office and Akathist hymn to St. Demetrius the New.
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Divine Liturgy at the outdoor altar, officiated by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, along with members of the Holy Synod.
12:00 PM – 12:10 PM: Reading of the Commemorative Act.
12:10 PM – 12:30 PM: Sermon and words of gratitude by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
5:00 PM – 8:30 PM: Vigil service at the Patriarchal Cathedral.
9:00 PM: Return of the holy relics to the Patriarchal Cathedral.
Sunday, July 14, 2024
7:00 AM: Procession and placement of the holy relics for veneration at the Baldachin of Saints.
8:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Divine Liturgy at the outdoor altar.
Saint Demetrius the New became the protector of Bucharest when his relics were placed in the Metropolitan Cathedral on July 13, 1774.
At that time, due to the please of the wealthy and influential boyar Hatzi Demetrius, General Pyotr Saltykov gifted the relics to Metropolitan Gregory II of Ungro-Wallachia (1760-1787). The official proclamation of Saint Demetrius as the protector of Bucharest took place during the tenure of Metropolitan Filaret II (1792-1793).
In 1955, at the proposal of Patriarch Justinian Marina, the Holy Synod proclaimed the general veneration of Saint Demetrius the New throughout the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The spiritual personality of Saint Demetrius the New, who lived in the 13th century and originated from the village of Basarabov near the present-day city of Ruse in Bulgaria, is highly revered in Southeast Europe, particularly in Romania.
As the spiritual protector of Bucharest, Saint Demetrius is remembered by the Church for his miracles, especially during times of great trial for the inhabitants of the capital, such as the plague epidemic of 1813-1815, the cholera epidemic of 1831, and the great fire of 1847.
The arrival of his holy relics in Bucharest in 1774 was a great blessing for the Romanian Orthodox Church, bringing immense joy and comfort to the faithful of our nation’s capital.
Photography courtesy of the Basilica.ro Files / Raluca Ene / Source: Basilica.ro
