Thousands of pilgrims from across Romania and abroad have queued to pray at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, at the Venerated Wood of the Holy Cross, brought from Greece and at the Holy Relics of Saint Dimitrie the New, protector of Bucharest. Romanians celebrate Saint Dimitrie on October 27 but the pilgrimage goes on during the entire week. The feast of Saint Pious Dimitrie the New, Protector of Bucharest, whose relics are kept in the Patriarchal Cathedral, has always represented a distinguished spiritual time for the faithful of Bucharest as well as for many pilgrims from all over the country.

A series of manifestations are organized between October 23 and 29, among which an exhibition entitled The Orthodox Creed – books, icons and holy crosses, in the Europa Christiana room of the Patriarchal Palace. On Tuesday, October 26, when Saint Great Martyr Dimitrie, the Myrrh Bearer is celebrated, His Holiness Bartholomew, Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople and His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Chruch will inaugurate the Centre for Patrimony of “Saint Constantine Brâncoveanu” of the Romanian Patriarchate, in 63 Maria Rosetti St., Bucharest.

Unless you want to take part in the ceremonies held this week at the Patriarchal Palace near Unirii Square in Bucharest, we suggest avoiding car trips in the area, which is overcrowded by pilgrims during these days.

On Saint Dimitrie Romanians called Dumitru or Dumitra also celebrate their name days.

Several pre-Christian traditions on Saint Dimitrie have survived for centuries in Romania: the day before Saint Dimitrie, fires are lit in Romanian traditional villages and children usually jump over the fire to stay healthy during the entire year. The Saint is also the protector of shepherds, who can now figure out what sort of a winter will follow. Shepherds place their coat in the middle of the herd and wait to see what sort of sheep will lay on it. If a black sheep lays on the coat, the winter will be mild, the tradition goes. If a white sheep will come instead, the winter will be harsh. Another popular tradition says the winter will be mild if the weather will be bad on Saint Dimitrie and that a harsh winter will follow if the Saint Dimitrie day will bring good weather.

editor@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Basilica newswire)