On 16 August 2014, the Romanian Orthodox Church celebrates the Brancovean Saints Martyrs: Prince Constantine with his four sons – Constantine, Stefan, Radu, Matei – and counsellor Ianache. On this occasion the church of “Saint George” the New of Bucharest founded by prince Brancoveanu dressed festive vestments.
The blessing of the new painting and of the restoration works of Saint George the New church
On the celebration day of the Brancovean Saints Martyrs, 8.30 hours, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, and some other hierarchs blessed the painting and the restoration works of Saint George the New church of Bucharest, one of the most representative Brancovean foundations where the relics of Saint Martyr Prince Constantine Brancoveanu are kept.
The celebrating group consisted of Romanian hierarchs and hierarchs delegated by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, Patriarchate of Alexandria, Patriarchate of Antioch, Patriarchate of Jerusalem and Patriarchate of Georgia, priests and deacons.
Important restoration works have been executed at the Brancovean foundation situated at 0 km of Romania, adorned with new painting.
Hierarchic Divine Liturgy
Then, at 9.30 hours, the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church celebrated the Divine Liturgy on a podium specially arranged near Saint George the New church, together with a group of hierarchs, priests and deacons.
Message of the Ecumenical Patriarch at the feast of the Brancovean Saints
After reading the Evangelical pericope, His Eminence Grigorie, Archbishop of Tyatira and Great Britain read the message of His Eminence Bartholomew of Constantinople for the feast of the Brancovean Saints.
“We answer with great joy the brotherly request addressed to our Modesty to send a representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate to the festive manifestations organised in the honour of the Brancovean Saints Martyrs from 14-17 August 2014, in the person of His Eminence Gregory, Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain, our beloved brother in Christ and concelebrant who will convey our congratulatory patriarchal letter. We also express our great joy both our personal one, and of the Holy Church of Constantinople, whose spiritual sons were honoured as martyrs (the Brancovean ones), as regards the promotion of the personalities of these holy men, especially of Constantine Brancoveanu, who had close relationships with our patriarchal see as well as with our worth remembering Ecumenical Patriarchs Calinic II, Dionisios IV, and Calinic III, who appreciated him, the first one of them collaborating with him for rebuilding holy places of worship, the second having anointed him as ruling prince of Wallachia in 1688, and the third having written a liturgical canon in his honour” reads a fragment of His Holiness’ message.
The Patriarch of Romania conveyed his thanks to His Eminence Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch.
“Please, convey His Eminence our high esteem, respect and thanks for this message”, the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church said.
Synodal Commemorative Act
To end with the Divine Liturgy, His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch and Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church read the Synodal Commemorative Act marking 300 years since the martyr death of the Brancovean Saints
“The solemn commemoration of the Brancovean Saints Martyrs by the Romanian Patriarchate, with the participation of the representatives of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Georgia, which Saint Prince Constantine Brancoveanu appreciated and helped, culminates with this Divine Liturgy celebrated in the spirit of the fraternal communion among our sister Churches, today, Saturday, 16 August 2014, the celebration day of the Brancovean Saints. This holy solemn time calls us to be confessors of the Christian faith, founders of holy places of worship and of Christian culture, urges us to cultivate brotherly inter-aid and be generous with sacrificial, lowly and merciful love”, mentions a fragment of the Synodal Act read by His Grace Varlaam Ploiesteanul.
Gifts and distinctions
Then, the Patriarch of Romania awarded the delegated hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, of the Patriarchate of Alexandria, Patriarchate of Antioch, Patriarchate of Jerusalem, and of the Patriarchate of Georgia the Order of the “Brancovean Saints Martyrs” for hierarchs, consisting in an engolpion of the Brancovean Saints.
Parish priest Emil Nedela Caramizaru was awarded the Order of “Brancovean Saints Martyrs” for clergy.
Several gifts were offered for the Brancovean foundation of Bucharest: the icon of Saint Constantine Brancoveanu with a particle of the relics of the martyr prince, a blessing cross, many books of service spiritually useful, and a DVD presenting the pilgrimage procession of 21 May 2014 of Bucharest.
To end with, parish priest Nedela Caramizaru delivered a speech in which he emphasised the importance of this time and thanked all those who supported the restoration works of this church: “The joy of this day increased especially because the great foundation of Saint Martyr Constantine Brancoveanu was re-consecrated through the prayers of the Romanian hierarchs present here together with the high hierarchs representing the Orthodox Sister Patriarchates of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem and Georgia, Churches which the Saint Prince Constantine Brancoveanu appreciated and helped a lot. We thank Your Beatitude on behalf of the parochial council and of the faithful of this old church for the holy work done here in the commemorative year of the Brancovean Saints on their celebration day. We also thank for the blessing granted in view of drafting and editing two works: Grave of Saint Constantine Brancoveanu and the monograph of the “Saint George the New” church published with special graphic aspect by Basilica publishing house of the Romanian Patriarchate. We thank the distinguished hierarchs present at this feast of the Romanian soul for the honour they made us participating in the re-consecration of this emblematic church of the Saint Prince Constantine Brancoveanu in the heart of Bucharest”.
Then, the parish priest offered His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, a basket of flowers and the first monograph of “Saint George the New” church of Bucharest.
His Beatitude thanked the parish priest and showed that this basket of flowers represents the community of faithful who helped this church and expresses their faith and deep devotion for the Brancovean Saints Martyrs. “The faithful and the clergy make up the flowers of faith gathered in a bunch in front of the Most Holy Trinity for the joy of the Mother of God and of all saints” His Beatitude said.
The Holy Martyr Founder Constantine Brancoveanu has also been a great servant and supporter of the pan-Orthodox unity and solidarity
To end with, His Beatitude Daniel spoke about the outstanding personality of Saint Constantine Brancoveanu: “Saint Martyr Constantine Brancoveanu was a great founder of holy places of worship, and a great culture promoter, so that Nicolae Iorga called his reign the “cultural monarchy”. Saint Constantine Brancoveanu was a great founder of national conscience who helped the other Romanian provinces. Saint Martyr Founder Brancoveanu has also been a great servant and supporter of the pan-Orthodox unity and solidarity, and this is why the presence here of the representatives of the Eastern Patriarchates which he helped is a proof of the model or light that Saint Constantine Brancoveanu conveys throughout the centuries. We thank you all and wish you much help of God for the prayers of the Brancovean Saints Martyrs”.
To end with, the hierarchs members of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church were awarded the Order of the “Brancovean Saints Martyrs” for hierarchs, inside the place of worship founded by Saint Constantine Brancoveanu.
Representatives of the central state and local authorities, academicians, professors, priests and many faithful attended this special event in the life of the Church.
