With the blessing of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Way of the Saints yearly Procession was carried out on Friday, 23 October 2015, on the Hill of Joy (the Hill of the Romanian Patriarchate). This year, the reliquary containing the relics of the Three Holy Hierarchs form St Paul Monastery of Holy Mount Athos was accompanied in the traditional procession by the relics of St Pious Demetrius the New and of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen. In this event participated hundreds of priests: clergy of the six deaneries in the capital city of Romania, clergy of the deaneries of Northern and Southern Ilfov County, charity and military clergy, as well as numerous faithful.
The Procession at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest
At 12:00 p.m., two processions started simultaneously. The procession with the reliquary containing the relics of St Pious Demetrius the New set off from the Patriarchal Cathedral towards St Nicholas – Vladyka Church, and went on Queen Maria Blvd unto the base of the Hill of Joy.
The Procession from the Metropolitan Cathedral St Spyridon the New
The procession with the reliquary containing the relics of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen set off from the Metropolitan Cathedral St Spyridon the New, and went on Şerban Vodă Str. and Bibescu Vodă Str. unto the base of the Hill of Joy.
The two processions joined at the base of the Hill of Joy, approx. at 12:30 p.m., in order to meet the reliquary with the relics of the Three Holy Hierarchs, which was brought from Greece by His Eminence Pavlos, Metropolitan of Drama.
The newly-formed procession column went up the Hill of Joy unto the stage located next to the Patriarchal Cathedral. While pilgrims went up to the Patriarchal Cathedral, the troparions of the saints whose relics were carried in procession were being chanted.
Solemn Polychronion Service
Next, the holy relics of the Three Holy Hierarchs, of St Pious Demetrius the New and of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen, as well as the clergy and pilgrims present at the procession were met by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. At this moment, a solemn Polychronion service was officiated. In the end, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel delivered a welcome speech, followed by the speech of His Eminence Metropolitan Pavlos of Drama.
The holy relics were placed for veneration
Then, the reliquaries were placed in the baldachin located next to Patriarchal Cathedral to be venerated by the clergy and the faithful, and will remain there until Wednesday, 28 October 2015.
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