On Friday evening, July 12, after the all-night vigil and procession with the relics of Saint Demetrius the New, Patriarch Daniel of Romania delivered a welcome message to Metropolitan Naum of Ruse.
“Joining us now, this evening, and tomorrow during the Divine Liturgy, which will begin at 8:30 AM, is His Eminence Metropolitan Naum of Ruse, from the vicinity of the Basarabov Monastery, where Saint Demetrius the New once resided,” said His Beatitude.
“The Saint laboured spiritually in that area, then his relics were placed in this village, and a church was built for him. We maintain a special connection between Orthodox Romanians and Bulgarian Orthodox believers, and many Romanian Orthodox pilgrims visit the church near the city of Ruse.”
“We are delighted that this year, too, Metropolitan Naum is with us, accompanied by the representative of the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Bucharest, Father Kiril Sinev,” Patriarch Daniel noted.
“Welcome, Your Eminence Naum! We will then continue celebrating Saint Theophano Basarab, who was the daughter of Ruler Basarab I and was a hesychast,” His Beatitude continued.
“Thus, in the 14th century, we already see the presence of the hesychast spiritual movement, both in Constantinople and Mount Athos, as well as in several Balkan countries. Therefore, Saint Demetrius is also a hesychast saint, a theophore, bearing God through constant, unceasing prayer.”
“These saints, who prayed constantly during their lives, continue to pray for us in heaven. Thus, we are glad that now, on the 250th anniversary of the translation of Saint Demetrius the New’s relics to Bucharest, we can honour him together and ask for his help to protect our Churches and our peoples, to the glory of the Holy Trinity and our joy and salvation,” concluded the Patriarch of Romania.
On Saturday, July 13, 2024, marking 250 years since the relics of Saint Demetrius the New have guarded our Capital, the first celebration of the Feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Demetrius the New to Bucharest took place. The feast was recently inscribed in the Church calendar by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu
Source: basilica.ro