Iași, Romania, October 13, 2026
Photo: doxologia.ro
About 30,000 people filled the streets of Iași, Romania, on Monday evening, walking behind the relics of St. Parascheva and St. Paisie (Olaru) of Sihăstria in the annual Way of the Saints procession.
More than 120,000 pilgrims have also venerated the relics in a special canopy set up for them, reports Doxologia.ro.
The procession was held in the lead-up to the feast of St. Parascheva on October 14, one of the largest religious events in Romania. It draws pilgrims from throughout the country and beyond over the days leading up to her feast.
Photo: doxologia.ro
Her relics have resided in Bulgaria, Serbia, and Constantinople, and she’s greatly loved throughout the Balkans and the entire Orthodox world. They’ve remained in the cathedral in Iași, working countless miracles, since 1641. Traditionally, the relics of another saint are also brought for the pilgrimage, and this year the Romanian faithful have the opportunity to venerate the relics of St. Paisie (Olaru) of Sihăstria.
His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina and His Grace Bishop Nichifor of Botoșani took part, along with clergy and faithful from across the country who came to honor the relics.
At the end of the event, Metropolitan Teofan gave a blessing address, thanking the faithful who’d come from all over the country for making the effort to reach Iași and spend a few moments near the saints.
Photo: doxologia.ro
“Glory to God for everything!” he said. “It was a beautiful evening. God was with us and is with us, through the prayers of St. Parascheva and St. Paisie of Sihăstria.”
Metropolitan Teofan said the two saints lived in different eras but teach one thing: that a person who goes to the essence of things acquires holy simplicity, a reality free of approximate, confused, gray, lukewarm things. He said the faithful sense something special in St. Parascheva in particular, probably her prayer, her sacrifice, her capacity for patience, and above all her power to carry the world’s suffering in her prayers.
He urged the pilgrims to rejoice for a moment in the presence of the saints and to take them home, telling those they meet along the way and those at home that “the Lord is good and sweet, wondrous in His saints.”
Pilgrims are expected again on Wednesday, October 14, for the feast of St. Parascheva.
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