A vestment that covered the relics of St. Demetrius the New is being brought to prisons across the Archdiocese of Bucharest on July 13–14, offering spiritual comfort to inmates and prison staff alike.
As part of the initiative, 7,000 copies of the saint’s Akathist hymn are being distributed in penitentiaries. The pilgrimage began on Monday at the Rahova, Jilava, and Jilava Prison Hospital facilities and continued on Tuesday in Prahova County.
Fr. Ciprian Ioniță, Patriarchal Counselor of the Social-Philanthropic Sector of the Romanian Patriarchate, said the initiative marks the 252nd anniversary of the translation of St. Demetrius the New’s relics to Bucharest and is carried out in cooperation with Romania’s National Prison Administration.
He noted that such visits bring hope and spiritual encouragement to inmates, who often have limited access to visitors and religious events. Fr. Cristian Antonescu, coordinator of prison chaplains within the National Prison Administration, emphasized the importance of bringing God’s blessing to places marked by suffering, including prisons, hospitals, and care homes.
The initiative, undertaken with the blessing of Patriarch Daniel of Romania, was warmly received by inmates, many of whom shared prayers and personal intentions with St. Demetrius and expressed hope for their families and loved ones.
Source: Basilica.ro / Photo credit: Penitenciarul Rahova
