Orthodox Pilgrimage in light of Lent – relics of St Gregory the Teacher in Ramnicu Valcea, Romania

Râmnic Archdiocese invites you to a “Pilgrimage in the light of Lent” – April 19 to 22.

Translation of the Relics of Saint Hierarch Gregory the Teacher, the Metropolitan of Wallachia, in the Râmnic Archdiocese.

During April 19 to 22 – 2013, with the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, at the request of His Eminence Archbishop Gerasimos, in Râmnic, will be brought the relics of the Holy Hierarch Archbishop Gregory the Teacher, the Metropolitan of Wallachia. Holy Hierarch Gregory the Teacher, the Metropolitan of Wallachia is celebrated on 22 June.

The relics will be brought to the monastery “From a single Wood” on 19 and 20 April, and to the Archdiocesan Cathedral “St. Nicholas” from Râmnic, on 21 and 22 April.

The pilgrimage is organized in the context of the Year dedicate to celebration of Saints Constantine and Helen in the Romanian Patriarchate and, for the beautiful collaboration between Church and Army, in commemoration of the 125th anniversary of General Paul Teodorescu’s birth. Due to rebuilding of “From a single Wood” Monastery by General Paul Teodorescu, Minister of Air and Navy between 1938-1940, the monastery became a place of the romanian sailors and airmen’s worship and for honoring them. At the National Museum of Aviation – Sector 2, Bucharest – was built the “Holy Hierarch Gregory the Teacher’s Church”, in honor of romanian airmen, so Holy Hierarch Gregory the Teacher, the Metropolitan of Wallachia, became the patron of romanian airmen.

“Lacasuri Ortodoxe” News Agency is media partner of this event.

“Pilgrimage in the light of Lent” – April 19 to 22 program

MONASTERY “FROM A SINGLE WOOD”

FRIDAY, 19 APRIL

7.30 P.M. – Receiving Holy Hierarch Gregory the Teacher relics and the Archdiocese of Bucharest Delegation, leds by His Grace Varsanufie Prahoveanul, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest;Procession with the holy relics to the Church;8.00 P.M. – Mystery Vigil and the Mystery of Holy Unction. SATURDAY, 20 APRIL

8.00 A.M. – Holy Hierarch Gregory the Teacher’s Akathist, blessing of the water, The Hours;9.30 A.M. – Hierarchical Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom (Father Irenaeus, Archbishop of Craiova and Metropolitan of Oltenia, will serve surrounded by a synod of bishops, priests and deacons);4.00 P.M. – The great Vespers. ARCHDIOCESAN CATHEDRAL “SAINT NICHOLAS” FROM RAMNICU VALCEA

SUNDAY, 21 APRIL

7.00 A.M. – Holy Hierarch Gregory the Teacher’s Akathist;7.30 A.M. – Matins service;8.00 A.M – Receiving Holy Hierarch Gregory the Teacher relics. (Holy relics will be placed to be worshiped under the canopy, in front of the Cathedral)9.30 A.M. – Hierarchical Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great.4.00 P.M. – Vespers, Chapel of Our Lady and the Mystery of Holy Unction. MONDAY, 22 APRIL

7:00 A.M. – Matins service,The Hours and Vespers;The Holy relics Will go back, to the Căldăruşani Monastery. St. Gregory “The Teacher”, venerated already for a long time in Bucharest and all around, was officially canonized on May 21, 2006, his celebrated day being on June 22, the day of his passing away. The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church has approved this decision on October 2005.

The relics of St. Gregory are currently in the Căldăruşani Monastery, where he himself spent five years, from 1818 to 1823, until he was elected as Metropolitan of Wallachia.

At the decision of Metropolitan Gregory, many schools were provided with books and the best teachers were brought in to teach. St. Gregory helped many poor students to study and tried to build theological seminaries, for the good preparation of the future priests and teachers. Above all, he tidied up the monastic life, trying to reestablish the rules of the Saints Fathers in Romanian monasteries.

After the outbreak of conflict between Russia and Turkey in 1828, St. Gregory was forced to flee to Chisinau (Moldavia). In 1831year, the Government from Bucharest required his resignation, but Gregory refused. He returned to Bucharest, on 22 August 1833, but he lived only one year more, passing into eternity on June 22, 1834. He was buried near the Metropolitan Cathedral in Bucharest. Over seven years, his bones were moved to Căldăruşani Monastery.