On Friday evening, July 12, following the all-night vigil and procession with the relics of Saint Demetrius the New, Patriarch Daniel of Romania delivered a warm message to Metropolitan Naum of Ruse.
“Joining us this evening and tomorrow during the Divine Liturgy, starting at 8:30 AM, is His Eminence Metropolitan Naum of Ruse, from the area near the Basarabov Monastery, where Saint Demetrius the New once resided,” stated His Beatitude.
“The Saint worked spiritually in that region, and his relics were later placed in this village, with a church built in his honor. We share a special bond between Orthodox Romanians and Bulgarian Orthodox believers, with many Romanian Orthodox pilgrims visiting the church near Ruse,” Patriarch Daniel explained.
“We are pleased to have Metropolitan Naum with us this year, along with the representative of the Bulgarian Orthodox community in Bucharest, Father Kiril Sinev,” Patriarch Daniel added.
“Welcome, Your Eminence Naum! We will then continue to celebrate Saint Theophano Basarab, the daughter of Ruler Basarab I and a hesychast,” His Beatitude continued.
“In the 14th century, we already see the emergence of the hesychast spiritual movement in Constantinople, Mount Athos, and various Balkan countries. Therefore, Saint Demetrius is also a hesychast saint, a theophore who carries God through constant prayer,” Patriarch Daniel emphasized.
“These saints, who maintained continuous prayer during their lives, now intercede for us in heaven. We are grateful that on the 250th anniversary of the translation of Saint Demetrius the New’s relics to Bucharest, we can honor him together and seek his guidance to protect our Churches and our people, for the glory of the Holy Trinity and our salvation,” concluded the Patriarch of Romania.
On Saturday, July 13, 2024, commemorating 250 years since the relics of Saint Demetrius the New have safeguarded our capital, the first Feast of the Translation of the Relics of Saint Demetrius the New to Bucharest was celebrated. This feast was recently added to the Church calendar by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu
Source: basilica.ro