‘We ascribe glory to God for answering the wish of Suzana Monastery to have two new reliquaries containing the relics of Hieromartyr Charalampos, and the Holy Great-Martyrs Theodore Tiron and Menas.’
These three martyrs are ‘the protectors of the monastery, but also the helpers of all pilgrims who will bow down before the icons of these holy martyrs and kiss the particles of their relics,’ His Beatitude said.
In his speech, the patriarch referred to the wide-spread veneration of holy relics especially over the last years.
‘We need models, but even more, we need more intercessors,’ the Patriarch noted.
His Beatitude underscored that martyrs are the most numerous saints in the calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
He noted that relics of martyrs are placed inside the altar table and in the antimins when a church is consecrated.
‘Martyrs are the most close to Christ’s sacrificial love,’ he said.
The veneration of Saints, the Patriarch added, ‘is a way to strengthen the spiritual life of the Church, but also to strengthen the devotion of every believer.’
Suzana Monastery was founded in 1740.
