Saint Andrew the Apostle in Bucharest, on the Joy Hill

The Holy Head of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Protector of Romania was brought this morning from Patras – Greece, to Bucharest by a delegation of the Hellenic Orthodox Church led by His Eminence Metropolitan Chrisostom of Patras.

Relics of Saint Andrew the Apostle arrived in Romania

As Trinitas TV station informs us, this morning the delegation led by His Eminence Metropolitan Chrisostom of Patras, who accompanied the Holy Relics brought from the Greece, was met at the Official Hall of the Henri Coanda International Airport.

The delegates of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel to this ceremony were: His Eminence Irineu, Metropolitan of Oltenia, together with His Eminence Metopolitan Nifon, Archbishop of Targoviste and Patriarchal Exarch and His Grace Ciprian Campineanul, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch.

On this occasion, a press conference was held. The opening speech emphasised the special significance of bringing the relics of the Protector of Romania.

“Saint Andrew the Apostle, Apostle of Jesus Christ, our Saviour, the first called is an example to be followed for the entire Christian Orthodoxy, but for the Romanian people he has a special significance because he is our apostle and the one who Christianized the Romanian people”, said His Eminence Irineu, Metropolitan of Oltenia.
His Eminence Metropolitan Chrisostom of Patrias addressed a thanksgiving speech: “Thank you very much for having come here on behalf of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel to meet the Holy Head of Saint Andrew the Apostle (...) We thank His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel for having conveyed us this invitation with much love which gave us this wonderful occasion to come to you from the Holy Metropolitanate of Patras, where Saint Andrew the Apostle died a martyr’s death”.

The relics of Saint Andrew the Apostle will remain in the capital city till 28 October.

The relics of Saint Andrew the Apostle, on the Arsenal Hill

The delegation of Patras, together with the delegation of the Romanian Orthodox Church who met the holy relics at “Henri Coanda” International Airport brought the relics of Saint Andrew the Apostle to the building yard of the future Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation. Here they were met by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, together with a group of hierarchs, and hundreds of priests and faithful. Then they started off in procession both with the Holy Head of Saint Andrew the Apostle and with the Icon of the Mother of God – Prodromita from Mount Athos, around the location of the future Patriarchal Cathedral.

When reaching the place of the altar of the Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said a prayer for blessing the construction works.

To end with the procession, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel celebrated, together with the group of hierarchs, the consecration service of the chapel of the building yard of the Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation. The church in steaveanian style, dedicated to the Resurrection of the Lord, to the Icon of the Mother of God – Prodromita and to Saint John Chrysostom was built in only three months.

Way of the Saints

Today, faithful, priests, deacons, monks and nuns, as well as hierarchs covered the Way of the Saints. After the stop made at the building yard of the Cathedral for the Nation’s Salvation, the second part of the traditional procession in the capital city of Romania took place. The pilgrims accompanied in prayer the Holy Head of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Protector of Romania, the holy relics of Saint Pious Dimitrios the New and of Saints Constantine and Helen the Emperors till the podium specially arranged in the courtyard of the Patriarchal Cathedral.

Here the Holy Relics were met by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.

Te Deum close to the Patriarchal Cathedral

To end with the procession of the Way of the Saints, a Te Deum service was celebrated on the scene specially arranged in the courtyard of the Patriarchal Cathedral on the occasion of the reception of the Holy Head of Saint Andrew the Apostle, the First Called, Protector of Romania and for opening the Holy Synod session.

The religious service was celebrated by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel together with His Eminence Chrisostom, Metropolitan of Patras, as well as with hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church, priests and deacons.

The Patriarch of Romania said in his speech: “Our hearts are full of joy when we receive the Holy Head of Saint Andrew the Apostle who preached the Holy Gospel to our Gets – Dacians - Romans forerunners, setting up the Church of Christ in the territory of our country. Today, the righteous Romanian people meet the one who began their Christianization and kiss with great piety his Holy Head, where from holiness and much grace stem for all Christians. The Saint who has lit up the flame of the love of Christ in the hearts of our forerunners, the beginner of our evangelisation and baptism as people, has come again to Romania, where he preached Christ, our Lord”.

His Eminence Metropolitan Chrisostom mentioned, in his turn: “Your Beatitude, Saint Andrew the Apostle unites us with strong holy spiritual bonds; he is our common father and teacher. Many pilgrims from Romania arrive in large number in our city, to pray his Holy Head and the cross on which Saint Andrew died a martyr’s death, as well as at his grave in the old cathedral. We admire their piety and faith in God, manifested through the starts of their hearts and rather often through the tears shed with warmth in front of the first called of the Apostles. Now, we are fully experiencing this holy emotion, because we see warm manifestations of devotion to Saint Andrew here, in the capital city of Your Beatitude’s country. We feel special joy because you are preparing and building a splendid great cathedral in honour of Saint Andrew the Apostle, which will be the gem of Romania, as well as of the entire Orthodoxy. We wish you to finish the construction works as soon as possible and to celebrate its consecration service!”

The Patriarch of Romania has also sent a message of congratulation to all pilgrims: “We congratulate you all for your presence at the Patriarchate, at Sibiu and Alba Iulia on these days of blessing and joy which Christ, our Lord, gives us through His saints, and we pray Merciful God to reward your piety and generosity, diligence and efforts, giving you good health and salvation, peace and joy, help in your family and activity for many blessed years, in order to grow in faith and brotherly love, in holiness and good deeds, for the glory of the Holy Trinity, for the joy of the saints and for getting eternal life”.

The Holy Head of Saint Andrew the Apostle the First Called, Protector of Romania, is for the second time in our country and for the first time in the capital city of Romania.

Source: Romanian Patriarchate