Cluj-Napoca, Romania, June 18, 2019
Photo: mitropolia-clujului.ro
Thousands of Orthodox faithful filled the streets of the northwestern Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca on Sunday for this year’s annual Pentecost procession.
Photo: mitropolia-clujului.ro
The procession is a new tradition continuing an ancient Transylvanian tradition, taking place for the ninth year in a row this year. The holy march emphasizes prayers for the fruits of the earth and the environment on the day of the Descent of the Holy Spirit, when the churches are traditionally decorated with trees and branches, reports the press service of the Metropolis of Cluj.
Photo: mitropolia-clujului.ro
The faithful assembled at the initiative of His Eminence Andrei, the Archbishop of Vad, Feleac and Cluj and Metropolitan of Cluj, Alba, Crișana and Maramureș.
Photo: mitropolia-clujului.ro
The event began in front of the metropolitan cathedral where Met. Andrei served the Vespers of Pentecost with the kneeling prayers, with more than 120 priests from the 48 municipality parishes and neighboring parishes and thousands of faithful. At the end of the service, the hierarch addressed the crowd, urging them to practice a confessing faith.
Photo: mitropolia-clujului.ro
The thousands-strong crowd then embarked upon its holy procession, led by a toaca, the cross, lanterns, icons, and banners, followed by the priests and deacons, Met. Andrei, and the faithful. The troparion to Pentecost was sung throughout the procession, and three stops were made to offer up special litanies to the Lord.
The procession ended by returning to the cathedral, where the service of the small blessing of water was celebrated, with the blessing of wheat and prayers for nature being offered.
Photo: mitropolia-clujului.ro
“The event aims to bring the hierarchs, priests and Orthodox believers in the city together in prayer on the Great Feast of Pentecost, when the renewing wing of the Holy Spirit covers the Church and the entire universe. This procession is also a more complete experience of the feeling of communion and the manifestation of the Church in its fullness, in the great pilgrimage to the Kingdom of God,” said Fr. Bogdan Ivanov, the diocesan cultural advisor.
Photo: mitropolia-clujului.ro
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