Thursday, 24 October 2013, the Way of the Saints procession was held with the blessing of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, organised as every year on the Joy Hill. This year, the Icon of Saint Empress Helen in which particles of the Holy Wood of the Holy Cross are kept and the relics of the Saint and the Miracle Worker Icon of Saint Emperor Constantine the Great from the Metropolitanate of Corinth, and the relics of Saint Great Martyr Artemie from Caldarusani Monastery accompanied the relics of Saint Dimitrios the New within the traditional procession. Over 700 priests from the three deaneries of Bucharest, and from deanery of Ilfov too attended the event, as well as priests of charity and military priest, together with thousands of faithful.<\/p>\n
Procession at the Patriarchal Cathedral <\/p>\n
At 11.00 hours the two processions set off simultaneously. The procession of the shrine of the relics of Saint Pious Dimitrios the New left from the Patriarchal Cathedral to Queen Maria Ave, up to the Joy Hill accompanied by His Grace Varlaam, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch. <\/p>\n
Procession from the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Spiridon the New <\/p>\n
The procession of the holy relics of Saint Great Martyr Artemie, general in the army of Saint Emperor Constantine the Great, kept for veneration at Caldurasani Monastery close to Bucharest, set off from the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Spiridon the New to Serban Voda and Bibescu Voda streets up to the foot of the Joy Hill, accompanied by His Grace Varsanufie, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest. The two processions joined at the foot of the Joy Hill, around 11.30 hours, to meet the Icon of Saint Empress Helen in which particles of the Holy Wood of the Holy Cross and relics of the Saint and the Miracle Worker Icon of Saint Emperor Constantine the Great brought by His Eminence Dionisie, Metropolitan of Corinth. <\/p>\n
After the two processions met, the new procession formed climbed the Joy Hill up to the podium in the yard of the Patriarchal Cathedral. <\/p>\n
While the pilgrims were climbing the Joy Hill to the Patriarchal Cathedral, the troparion of the Saints Emperors Constantine and Helen, of the Holy Cross, of Saint Great Martyr Artemie and of Saint Pious Dimitrios the New was sung.<\/p>\n
Polichronium service for meeting the holy relics <\/p>\n
Then, the Icon of Saint Empress Helen in which particles of the Holy Wood of the Holy Cross and relics of the Saint are kept and the Miracle Worker Icon of Saint Emperor Constantine the Great, the relics of Saint Artemie, of Saint Dimitrios the New and of the Saints Emperors Constantine and Helen, the clergy and pilgrims were met by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. <\/p>\n
On this occasion, the polichronium service was celebrated. To end with the religious service, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel delivered the welcome speech: “We received here, on the Joy Hill, with the blessing of God, two icons from Greece, by the good office of His Eminence Dionisie, Metropolitan of Corinth, namely the Icon of Saints Emperors Constantine and Helen with particles of the Wood of the Holy Cross and relics of Saint Empress Helen and the Miracle Worker Icon of Saint Constantine the Great, as well as relics of Saint Great Martyr Artemie, general of Saint Constantine the Great, brought from Caldarusani Monastery. Besides them, the relics of Saint Pious Dimitrios the New, Protector of Bucharest are laid for the pilgrims to venerate them, for whose feast the holy icons and relics mentioned were brought here. Saints Constantine and Helen were sent by God to release the Christians from persecutions, to support the unity and teaching of faith of the Church, to build lots of places of worship in various parts of the empire and to help the poor, orphans, widows, shortly, to make the Gospel of Christ fruitful in the life of society. So did Saint Great Martyr Artemie, general and friend of Saint Emperor Constantine, who made the faith in Christ fruitful, and made credible confession in front of Emperor Julian the Apostate. He was sentenced to death by beheading as a result. These saints understood their temporary stay in this world as a pilgrimage or as a journey to the eternal heavenly Homeland, as a fight for winning the key that opened the gates of the Kingdom of Heaven for them. In this light of the Christian life lived as a permanent pilgrimage, Saints Emperors Constantine and Helen, together with Saint Artemie, increase these days the joy of all pilgrims who venerate their holy icons and relics, at the feast of Saint Pious Dimitrios the New, Protector of Bucharest.”, followed by the answer of His Eminence Metropolitan Dionisie: “We come here as representatives of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Greece to participate “in the feast spirit” in the festive manifestations that you organised to pay homage to the first Christian emperor of the Romans, Saint Constantine, just like the apostles and to his mother, Saint Helen. The Patriarchal Cathedral of Bucharest is dedicated to them and you dedicated this year to them too because in 2013 it is one millennium and seven centuries since the Edict of Milan was issued, in February 313 AD”.<\/p>\n
The Holy Relics laid for veneration <\/p>\n
Then, the icons and holy relics were laid under the canopy specially arranged on the esplanade of the Patriarchal Cathedral to be venerated by the clergy and faithful till Tuesday, 29 October 2013. <\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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