The National School for Prison Officers in Târgu Ocna, Romania, hosts two days of celebrations dedicated to the consecration of the Church of Martyrs and Confessors of Communist Prisons. Five hierarchs will officiate on Saturday the consecration of the church built near the prison where Valeriu Gafencu, surnamed “the saint of the prisons”, reposed. The institution will also inaugurate the Prison Museum and a monument dedicated to Prince Martyr Constantine Brâncoveanu.
The celebrations started on Friday evening with the reconsecration of the institution chapel, followed by a concert of religious and lay music interpreted by Raluca Angel, the choir of the “Annunciation” Parish in Târgu Ocna and graduates of the National School for Prison Officers.
Five hierarchs will consecrate the Church dedicated to the martyrs and confessors of Communist prisons: His Eminence Ioachim, Archbishop of Roman and Bacău, His Eminence Varlaam of Ploiești, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop, His Eminence Teodosie, Archbishop of Tomis, His Grace Andrei, Bishop of Covasna and Harghita, His Grace Emilian of Criș, Auxiliary Bishop of Arad.
On these days, two reliquaries are brought from Nechit Monastery and displayed near the new church, to be honoured by the faithful. They contain parts of the holy relics of the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste and parts of the relics of the Brâncoveanu Martyrs.
