Friday, 24 October 2014, the “Way of the Saints” Procession, organised every year on the Joy Hill, took place with the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
This year, the Icon with a particle of the Holy Cross wood embedded accompanied the relics of Saint Martyr Constantine Brancoveanu and the relics of Saint Pious Dimitrios the New within the traditional procession. Over 700 priests from the three deaneries of Bucharest, from Ilfov deanery, priests of charity and military priests, as well as many faithful attended the event.
The Procession from the Patriarchal Cathedral
The two processions started at the same time, at 12.50 hours. The procession with the shrine of the relics of Saint Pious Dimitrios the New started from the Patriarchal Cathedral to Saint Nicholas church on Queen Mary Bd going up to the foot of the Joy Hill.
Procession from the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Spiridon the New
The procession with the shrine of the relics of Saint Martyr Prince Constantine Brancoveanu started from the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Spiridon the New taking Serban Voda and Bibescu Voda streets up to the foot of the Joy Hill.
The two processions met at the foot of the Joy Hill around 13.30 hours to meet the Icon with a particle of the Holy Cross Wood brought by His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem.
After meeting, the new procession formed climbed the Joy Hill up to the podium in the courtyard of the Patriarchal Cathedral.
While the pilgrims were climbing the Joy Hill to the Patriarchal Cathedral the troparion of the Holy Cross, of the Brancoveans and of Saint Pious Dimitrios the New were sung.
Polichronium for meeting the holy relics
Then, the Icon with a particle of the Holy Cross Wood embedded, the relics of Saint Martyr Prince Constantine Brancoveanu, and of Saint Dimitrios the New, and of the Saints Emperors Constantine and Helen, the clergy and pilgrims were met by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.
On this occasion, the Polichronium service was celebrated. To end with the religious service, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel delivered a welcome speech, followed by the answer of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III.
“Thank you, Your Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos for this great present, holy and blessing, and most of all thank you for having answered us promptly and with much generosity.
To end with, the Patriarch of Romania thanked His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem for having come to Romania.
The thought to ask you to come with the Holy Cross Wood from Jerusalem came up a few days before, but Your Beatitude were so generous and glad to bring this sign of blessing that we felt that the joy has come to all people through the Cross. Thank you a lot and we feel honoured and blessed too by the presence of Your Beatitude and of the delegation that accompanies you on behalf of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.”
The Holy Relics laid for veneration
Then, the icon and the holy relics were laid under the canopy arranged on the esplanade of the Patriarchal Cathedral to be venerated by the clergy and faithful till Monday, 27 October 2014.
