The reliquary with the honorable head of Saint George of Cernica toured the Romanian communities in Munich, Nuremberg, and Hersbruck on May 20-23.
The delegation of Cernica Monastery, led by the abbot Vasile Pârjol, was greeted at the Romanian Settlement in Munich by Assistant Bishop Sofian of Brașov and many Christians dressed in folk costumes.
The joy was marked by a short artistic moment performed by the “Ciuleandra” Ensemble from Munich and “Datina” Ensemble from Traunreut.
After welcoming the relics, Assistant Bishop Sofian officiated the Sacrament of the Holy Unction in the settlement’s church. The liturgical program continued Saturday with the celebration of the Divine Liturgy, where clergy of the sister Orthodox Churches in Germany concelebrated.
The service was attended by Claudiu Târziu, chairman of the Senate’s Committee for Romanians Everywhere.
“Aware of both the persecution against the faith and of living away from home, among strangers, the Venerable George came today to visit us Romanians living in the diaspora at a distance to bring us comfort, encouragement, and blessing”, the Assistant Bishop to the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Germany, Austria and Luxembourg wrote on Facebook.
On Saturday evening, the relics were taken to the parish of Saint Hierarch Nicholas and Saint George of Cernica in Hersbruck.
The pilgrimage continued on Sunday when the relics of Saint George of Cernica were taken to the Metropolitan Centre in Nuremberg.
Saint George was born in 1730 and became a monk on Mount Athos when he was a young man. He was a disciple of Saint Paisius Velichkovsky (November 15) who was then the igumen of Vatopedi Monastery.
Since the skete at Cernica had been deserted for almost thirty years, Metropolitan Gregory II of Wallachia asked Elder George to revive monastic life there according to the Athonite Typikon.
Saint George’s efforts at Cernica were so successful that Metropolitan Philaret II also entrusted him with leading the Caldarusani Monastery, which he guided until his death. Life at both monasteries followed the Athonite-Paisian hesychastic tradition.
Saint George was glorified by the Romanian Orthodox Church in 2005. His holy relics are in the Cernica Monastery, where they are venerated by the faithful.
Source: basilica.ro
