Romania's Orthodox Patriarch Daniel serves the liturgy at the Patriarchal Church in Bucharest October 26, 2008.
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Politicians, citizens attend Saint Demetrius celebration
Posted on Tue Oct 28 2008
Nine O'Clock ROMANIA
The Army Day was not the only event attended by politicians. So was the religious holiday of St. Demetrius (Dumitru), the Myrrh-Bearer and the Patron Saint of Bucharest, celebrated yesterday by the Orthodox Christians.
Therefore, beside the thousands of believers that stood in a row, in order to reach the chest that included the Saint’s relics or to attend the ceremony at the Patriarchal Cathedral, the ceremony was also a political stage, entered by the Head of the State, the Premier, leaders of political parties and mayors. The first to visit the Patriarchal Cathedral was President Traian Basescu, accompanied by his wife.
They stayed in the Cathedral until 13.00. During the ceremony, the Head of the State was offered an icon of Saint Demetrius as a gift by His Gratitude, the Patriarch Daniel. After the Holy Liturgy ended, President Basescu left, after shaking the hands of several persons in the crowd and paying homage to the relics. He made no declaration.
Shortly after the President left, PM Calin Popescu-Tariceanu was the next to arrive to the Patriarchal Cathedral. During the official reception that took place after the re-sanctification of the Patriarchal Cathedral, Tariceanu was offered the highest distinction of the Romanian Patriarchy –the Class I Patriarchal Cross.
On this occasion, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church expressed his gratitude to the Government, “not only for the support he offered to the Cathedral, but for all the activities of the Church.” On his turn, PM Tariceanu declared he was “honoured and overwhelmed” by the distinction and expressed his wish to continue supporting the efforts of the Patriarchy for the construction of the New Patriarchal Cathedral. Other political personalities to attend the ceremony were the Culture and Religious Denominations Minister Adrian Iorgulescu, the leader of the Greater Romania Party – Corneliu Vadim Tudor, by the Democrat-Liberals Vasile Blaga and Adriean Videanu and by the Mayors of Districts.
Impatient crowds
As usually, the celebration hosted by the Patriarchal Cathedral turned into an overall chaos. Many of the persons who came to pay homage to the relics forgot patience and humbleness and had numerous attempts to reach the chest earlier. Numerous persons fainted during the liturgy and the interventions of doctors on ambulances were required. The pilgrimage started three days before the Holiday of Saint Demetrius. The relics of the Emperor Constantine and His mother Helena, as well as of Saint Paul, were carried in a procession. The chest with the holy relics will remain in front of the Cathedral until October 28. Over 340,000 Romanians named Dumitru, Dumitra or having other versions of these names celebrated their name day yesterday.
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