Radu Vodă Monastery Begins Annual St. Nektarios Pilgrimage

BUCHAREST, ROMANIA — Prayer and devotion marked the beginning of the annual pilgrimage at Radu Vodă Monastery on Friday evening, November 6, as clergy and faithful took part in a procession carrying the relics of Sts. Nektarios of Aegina and Ephraim the New. The pilgrimage will continue through Monday, November 9, when the Orthodox Church commemorates St. Nektarios.

Bp. Timothy Prahoveanul, vicar of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, joined the procession and reflected on the enduring love Orthodox Christians have for St. Nektarios. The saint, who reposed in 1920, endured numerous trials and injustices during his earthly life, yet his example and prayers continue to offer comfort and spiritual encouragement to those facing hardship.

Bp. Timothy emphasized the special bond between St. Nektarios and the monastery, where pilgrims have gathered for decades to venerate his relics. He described the annual celebration as “like an Easter day” and “a day of unspeakable joy,” noting that it brings together faithful not only from Bucharest but also from distant places.

The veneration of St. Nektarios has also drawn Orthodox Christians from Greece, reflecting how devotion to the saint reaches beyond national borders and unites believers in the Church.

The relics of both saints will remain in a canopy in the monastery courtyard until the final pilgrim has venerated them. A Vigil is scheduled for Sunday at 6 p.m., while Monday’s services will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the Hours, followed by a service dedicated to St. Nektarios and the Divine Liturgy.

Previously, the UOJ reported that Patr. Daniel was welcomed at Mt. Athos on his first visit as Bulgarian Patriarch.