The Hierarchical Divine Liturgy on the Feast of Saint Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest, was officiated on Monday, at the Outdoor Altar of the historic Cathedral by His Holiness Bartholomew I, Archbishop of Constantinople, together with His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, members of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR), and a choir of hierarchs, priests and deacons.

Within the ceremony, His Grace Varlaam of Ploiesti, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch read the Tomos of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, an anniversary synodal act also signed by the Ecumenical Patriarch, bringing to mind the recognition of Autocephaly to the Romanian Orthodox Church on April 25, 1885 and its elevation to the rank of Patriarchate on February 4, 1925.

'The Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate offers us the occasion to give thanks to God for His providential care over the faithful Romanian people throughout history, because the elevation of our Church to the rank of Patriarchate is the fruit of national unity and ecclesiastical autocephaly, as well as a recognition of the intense spiritual life of Orthodox Christians - clergy, monastics, and laypeople - across all the lands inhabited by Romanians over the centuries. As institution and organization, the Romanian Patriarchate has been, throughout its 100 years of existence, an unfading torch of Christian faith and national unity. The canonized Romanian saints are the holy fruits of the Gospel of Christ, which the Holy Apostles Andrew and Philip proclaimed to our Daco-Roman ancestors in the first century of the Christian era,' according to the mentioned document.

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I brought to mind the historic events of the recognition of the Romanian Orthodox Church's autocephaly and its elevation to a Patriarchate, mentioning that these two anniversaries are not merely 'simple historical facts, but the very life of the Church in Romania.'

'Our two Churches meet in the light and joy of these two historic events. Autocephaly and the patriarchal rank are not mere historical facts, they are the very life of the Church in Romania, they are the triumph of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and the past and present of the Church embrace each other. The past provides the roots, while the present offers the answers to the questions of history. The past and present of our two Churches form an uninterrupted work of service to humanity and the world. This is the meaning and the path of both autocephaly and the patriarchal rank. An institution inspired by God, which gives life and preserves the unity of Orthodoxy under heaven, is more than history, it is an institution that examines, surpasses and ultimately judges history. Let all know, both those who appear to lead and those who are led, that canonical order, meticulousness, the economy granted by God, the Orthodox tradition and the Divine Scripture are the foundation of both good governance and harmony, full of God's work in the service of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church, the Orthodox Church, which holds the fullness of truth,' Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I conveyed the faithful present on the Hill of Joy.

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, who evoked the figure of the Pious Saint Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest, as a representative of the hesychast current developed by the monks of his era, thanked at the end of the service all those involved in the smooth running of the recent liturgical events, from authorities, clergy and volunteers to the pilgrims attending the services at the Hill of Joy or the National Cathedral.

'And above all, we thank you, dear faithful pilgrims, for you have been the beauty and richness of these days of celebration. We pray to our Lord Jesus Christ that through the intercessions of His Most Holy Mother and all the saints, and especially Saint Demetrius the New, may He grant us peace and health, salvation and joy for many blessed years,' Patriarch Daniel said.

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A series of liturgical events are taking place in the Romanian capital through October 19-29 to mark the Feast of St. Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest (October 27). This year's pilgrimage has been enhanced by the presence of the relics of St. John Jacob of Neamt,the New Chozebite, alongside those of St. Demetrius the New, St. Demetrius the Great Martyr, St. Nectarios, and Sts. Constantine and Helen.

From October 19-22, the holy relics were removed from the Patriarchal Cathedral and placed in its vestibule following the 'Path of the Saints' procession, before being installed for veneration in the Saints' Canopy on Patriarchal Hill.

The relics will be returned to the Patriarchal Cathedral on October 29, after the final pilgrims pay their respects.

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St. Demetrius the New, commemorated by the Romanian Orthodox Church on October 27, was officially proclaimed patron saint of Bucharest by Metropolitan Filaret II (1792-1793). His veneration was extended nationwide in 1955. AGERPRES(RO - writing by: Daniel Popescu; EN - writing by: Rodica State)