Source: Basilica News Agency
October 16, 2015
The pilgrimage organized each year by the Romanian Patriarchate and the Archbishopric of Bucharest on the feast of St. Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest (celebrated on October 27th), will last from October 23 to 28, 2015, according to the following program:
On Friday, October 23, 2015, at 12.00 p.m., the procession "The Way of the Saints" will take place, carrying the relics of St. Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest, from the Patriarchal Cathedral, on Queen Maria Blvd. to the base of the Hill of the Patriarchate. At the same time, the holy relics of Sts. Constantine and Helen will be brought by procession from the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Spyridon the New on Şerban Vodă Aveand Bibescu Vodă Str. to the base of the Hill of the Patriarchate.
The two processions will meet at the brancovenesque stone Cross at the base of the Hill of the Patriarchate, where they will meet the relics of the Three Holy Hierarchs: St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory the Theologian and St. John Chrysostom, brought to Bucharest from St Paul’s (Agiou Pavlou) Monastery of Mount Athos by a delegation of the Orthodox Church of Greece, led by His Eminence Pavlos, Metropolitan of Drama.
At 12:30 p.m. the procession "The Way of the Saints" will continue by carrying the relics of the Three Holy Hierarchs, St. Demetrius the New, and the holy Emperor and Empress Constantine and Helen from the brancovenesque Holy Cross up to the Patriarchal Cathedral, where they will be met by His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, at the summer altar next to the Patriarchal Cathedral. The holy relics will be placed in the new canopy located on the Hill of the Patriarchate to be venerated by the clergy and the faithful until Wednesday, October 28.
On Saturday, October 24, at 09:30 a.m., the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the Patriarchal Cathedral, while on Sunday, October 25 at 09:30 a.m., the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy will be officiated at the summer altar next to the Patriarchal Cathedral.
On Monday, October 26, on the feast of the holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-gusher, at 09:30 a.m., His Eminence Pavlos, Metropolitan of Drama, will officiate at the Divine Liturgy, together with other hierarchs from home and abroad, surrounded by priests and deacons, at the summer altar.
On Tuesday, October 27, on the feast of St. Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest, from 07:00 a.m. to 08:30 a.m., the Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the Patriarchal Cathedral for the faithful willing to partake of the Holy Mysteries. At 09:30 a.m., His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel will officiate at the solemn Divine Liturgy, together with an assembly of Romanian and Greek Hierarchs, surrounded by priests and deacons, at the summer altar.
Also, on Tuesday, at 7:00 p.m., at the Radio Hall in Bucharest the final stage of the eighth annual National Choral Church Music Contest entitled "Praise the Lord!," organized by the Romanian Patriarchate in partnership with the Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company will begin. This year's contest had two sections: for the choirs of the monasteries of the countr's the six metropolises, and composition of chants for the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom. Special guests include the Radio Children's Choir, conducted by Voicu Popescu, and actress Ana Calciu.
On Wednesday, October 28, on the feast of the hierarch St. Hyacinth of Vicina, at 07:00 a.m., the Hierarchal Divine Liturgy will be celebrated in the Patriarchal Cathedral, followed by a Te Deum Service for the opening of the solemn meeting of the Holy Synod.
The solemn meeting of the Holy Synod will begin at 10 a.m. in the Synodal Hall of the Patriarchal Residence. The theme is "2015 – The Solemn Year of Parish and Monastery Missions Today and the Commemorative Year of Saint John Chrysostom and of the Great Spiritual Shepherds in the Romanian Patriarchate." During the solemn meeting the hierarchs will evaluate the most important religious, spiritual, cultural, editorial and media manifestations carried out by the eparchies of the Romanian Patriarchate from home and abroad in 2015.
In the afternoon of Wednesday, October 28, the delegation of the Orthodox Church of Greece, led by His Eminence Metropolitan Pavlos of Drama, will return to Greece, along with the relics of the Three Holy Hierarchs, brought from St Paul Monastery of Holy Mount Athos.
The relics of St. Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest, and of the Holy Emperor and Empress Constantine and Helen will remain in the canopy on the Hill of the Patriarchate until every pilgrim has a chance to venerate them.
