Head of St. George to Be Brought to Romania for Pantocrator Monastery Feast
Pantocrator Monastery will host the head of St. George from Mt. Athos during its April 2026 feast celebrations, continuing a major national pilgrimage tradition.
DRĂGĂNEȘTI-VLAȘCA, ROMANIA — Pantocrator Monastery will mark a major pilgrimage feast in a special manner this year, as the venerable head of the Holy Great Martyr George the Trophy-Bearer will be brought to Romania from the Athonite Monastery of Xenophontos. The precious relic will be available for veneration at the monastery from April 22–28, 2026, accompanied by an Athonite delegation led by Archimandrite Alexios, abbot of Xenophontos Monastery.
The pilgrimage coincides with the long-standing celebrations held on the Sunday of the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women, an 11-year tradition at Pantocrator Monastery that draws thousands of faithful from across the country. On April 26, His Eminence Meter. Panteleimon of Veria, Naousa, and Kampania of the Church of Greece is expected to officiate at the liturgical services.
According to Archimandrite Serafim Baciu, eparchial vicar of the Diocese of Alexandria and Teleorman, the arrival of St. George's relics highlights both his universal veneration and his spiritual witness of sacrificial faith. This will mark the first time the saint's head has been brought to Romania.
Previously, the UOJ reported that Constantinople canonized two more Romanian Athonites.
