{"id":213168,"date":"2018-10-30T12:01:15","date_gmt":"2018-10-30T10:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=213168"},"modified":"2018-10-30T12:01:15","modified_gmt":"2018-10-30T10:01:15","slug":"thousands-flock-to-venerate-bucharest-patron-saint-demetrius-the-new","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arhiva.basilica.ro\/en\/thousands-flock-to-venerate-bucharest-patron-saint-demetrius-the-new\/","title":{"rendered":"Thousands flock to venerate Bucharest Patron Saint Demetrius the New"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thousands of believers flocked to venerate Bucharest\u2019s Patron Saint Demetrius the New at the patriarchal Divine Liturgy presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel last Saturday, October 27.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Concelebrants for the Divine Liturgy included several Romanian hierarchs, but also Metropolitan Naum of Ruse as representative of Bulgaria, St Demetrius\u2019s homeland, and Bishop Qais of Erzurum on behalf of the Antioch Patriarchate.<\/p>\n

In his homily, the Patriarch of Romania pointed to the life of St Demetrius the New and that of St Callinicus of Cernica, whose holy relics joined the festivities in Bucharest.<\/p>\n

In his speech, the Patriarch recalled how St Callinicus supported the construction of the Romanian People\u2019s Salvation Cathedral and why is pilgrimage important for Christians.<\/p>\n

Humble monk Demetrius<\/h4>\n

Referring to St Demetrius the New, His Beatitude reminded that he was a simple monk who lived in fast, prayer, simplicity and great discretion. The saint lived in the 13th<\/sup> century during the Second Bulgarian Empire.<\/p>\n

Being a herder of cattle, the Saint \u2018reached spiritual perfection having the joy to live in solitude rather than among other people.\u2019<\/p>\n

Patriarch Daniel spoke about the moment when the Saint\u2019s holy relics arrived in Bucharest and stressed Saint Demetrius\u2019s protection over the Patriarchal Cathedral.<\/p>\n

\u2018He was less known during his earthly life, but he became renowned after his soul entered the Heavens,\u2019 the patriarch said.<\/p>\n

Venerable Demetrius the New shows us that he who unites himself with Christ through prayer, repentance, and the Holy Sacraments \u2018becomes a chosen vessel of the Holy Spirit.\u2019<\/p>\n

His Beatitude said that holiness enters the body through the soul. \u2018That is why the relics of the Saints remain incorrupt, as a sign of the Holy Spirit\u2019s work in the human nature.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018In the Saints we honour God\u2019s work in the human nature,\u2019 His Beatitude said.<\/p>\n

Saint Callinicus of Cernica<\/h4>\n

The relics of Saint Callinicus were brought to Bucharest to join the festivities, given that this year was his 150th<\/sup> death anniversary.<\/p>\n

Saint Callinicus was ordained to the Episcopacy at the Sts Constantine and Helen Patriarchal Cathedral.<\/p>\n

Patriarch Daniel noted that Saint Callinicus \u2018was a humble, pious monk, a man of prayer and of mercy. Everything he had he was offering to the poor.\u2019<\/p>\n

The Saint once said \u2018after my death don\u2019t look for silver or gold, for I gave them to the poor.\u2019<\/p>\n

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said that St Callinicus was \u2018a great erudite and a fervent militant for the unification of the Romanian Principalities.\u2019<\/p>\n

St Callinicus \u2018has lent a hand\u2019 to help the construction of the National Cathedral<\/h4>\n

According to the Patriarch, St Callinicus was a good organizer and was \u2018passionate about building churches, since he had an inclination towards architecture.\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2018At the conclusion of the construction works, he always climbed the church\u2019s roof and placed the cornerstone.\u2019<\/p>\n

Referring to the fact that a day before the main bell tower vault was completed at the New Cathedral, His Beatitude said that \u2018while in Bucharest, Saint Callinicus has lent us a hand to help, because he was used to complete the construction works at monasteries himself.\u2019<\/p>\n

St Demetrius the New\u2019s Vestment goes to Bulgaria<\/h4>\n

At the end of the Divine Liturgy, Patriarch Daniel presented the Metropolitan of Ruse with a vestment with which St Demetrius the New\u2019s holy relics were clothed for a long time.<\/p>\n

The vestment will be enshrined at Basarabov Monastery in Bulgaria.<\/p>\n