‘Thank you, beloved pilgrims. We regret other believers could not participate’ – Patriarch Daniel
Basilica News Agency – Aurelian Iftimiu – 30/10/2020
Patriarch Daniel Tuesday warmly thanked the ‘beloved pilgrims’ for coming to the feast of Saint Demetrios the New and attending the divine services at the Patriarchal Cathedral with patience and ‘exemplary order’.
‘In the warmest way, we thank you, beloved pilgrims, who participated in the all-night vigil services, in the Divine Liturgies. Thank you for your patience, but also for your wisdom, for you have shown exemplary order.’
“In this difficult context due to the pandemic, the faithful pilgrims adapted, respected the sanitary rules required by the authorities, kept their physical distance and wore a mask; they were very understanding,” said the Patriarch of Romania during the Divine Liturgy in honour of St Demetrios the New.
His Beatitude expressed regret to those who wanted to participate in the celebrations of St. Demetrios but weren’t able to do so due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“We regret that believers other than Bucharesters were unable to participate due to the sanitary conditions imposed. We hope that next year we will not have this limiting and sad situation for those who could not participate directly.”
“There are people who seek in this world the reality that is not in this world, but which has signs of its presence in this world,” Patriarch Daniel said referring to pilgrims.
“The Kingdom of God is not of this world, but the Kingdom of God has come near to our world, to humans, through Jesus Christ, therefore, His sermon, like that of St. John the Baptist, begins with these words: Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Matthew 4:17)” His Beatitude noted.
Feast of St Demetrios the New, Protector of Bucharest, took place this year under special conditions imposed by the sanitary restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic in Romania.
Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Raluca Ene
