{"id":395193,"date":"2022-10-12T12:46:06","date_gmt":"2022-10-12T09:46:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=395193"},"modified":"2022-10-12T12:46:06","modified_gmt":"2022-10-12T09:46:06","slug":"iasi-20000-people-process-with-relics-of-saints-paraskeva-and-paisius","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arhiva.basilica.ro\/en\/iasi-20000-people-process-with-relics-of-saints-paraskeva-and-paisius\/","title":{"rendered":"Ia\u0219i: 20,000 people process with relics of Saints Paraskeva and Paisius"},"content":{"rendered":"

Tens of thousands of Romanian Orthodox faithful came out for a procession with the relics of two of the most beloved Romanian saints through the streets of Ia\u0219i on Sunday evening.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The feast of St. Paraskeva, October 14, is traditionally one of the most significant religious events in Romania, drawing pilgrims from throughout Romania and beyond over the days leading up to her feast.<\/p>\n

Her relics resided in Bulgaria, Serbia, and Constantinople, and she is greatly loved throughout the Balkans and the Orthodox world. Still, they have remained in the cathedral in Ia\u0219i, working countless miracles, since 1641.<\/p>\n

The relics of the great Saint Paisius (Velichokovsky) of Neam\u021b are also in Ia\u0219i for the feast of St. Paraskeva this year. 2022 marks the 300th anniversary of his birth and was officially proclaimed the commemorative year of the Hesychast Saints Symeon the New Theologian, Gregory Palamas, and Paisius by the Romanian Orthodox Church\u2019s Holy Synod.<\/p>\n

According to authorities, more than 50,000 people have come to venerate the relics of Sts. Paraskeva and Paisius since the annual St. Paraskeva pilgrimage began on October 8.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe rejoice for the many, we rejoice for the few, in the hope that they have their hearts turned to God and find support and strength in His saints to overcome the obstacles in our lives, in the life of the country, and before the world,\u201d His Eminence Metropolitan of Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina said at the end of the procession.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope that in the coming days, Ia\u0219i will be a blessed, welcoming host, with open arms, with a big heart, to make happy those who step on our doorstep. And for Friday [the feast day of St Paraskeva], my hope is in God that everything will be peaceful and serene so that people from other parts of Moldavia or from across the country can enjoy a moment of spiritual respite,” Metropolitan Teofan said.<\/p>\n

The Metropolitan noted that there are pilgrims who leave their hometown only once a year to go to Saint Paraskeva:<\/p>\n

\u201cSome leave the house only once a year: they come here to Ia\u0219i, then return home, and for half a year keep the memory of the beautiful moment they experienced next to the Saint\u2019s reliquary.<\/p>\n

And then for half a year, those people hope they will get one more time, one more autumn, one more October to come to Ia\u0219i again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very happy for them, as well as for those who often come here, pour out their heart, their soul before the Saint, and leave more encouraged for family life, for assuming the responsibilities they have in their family life and the life of society.\u201d<\/p>\n

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