Over 200,000 pilgrims visit Iasi, Romania to worship St.Parascheva's relics

Crowds of pilgrims worshiping the relics of St Parascheva in Iasi reached rock festival proportions over the weekend. Over 44,000 arrived on Saturday (October 13 ) and on Sunday the number reached 200,000 pilgrims. The crowds that came to the religious festival at the Metropolitan Church in Iasi ate 65,000 'sarmale' (stuffed cabbage leaves), which were provided by the municipality. On Saturday 44,000 pilgrims, coming in groups or as individuals from all over the country, formed a four kilometer queue and waited up to seven hours in the rain to attend the event. St. Parascheva is the patron saint of Moldova region of Romania, whose relics arrived in Iasi in the 17th century, after staying in churches in Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia. The 11th century saint is also known in Romania as Sfanta Vineri (in translation, Saint Friday). Her entire body preserved and wrapped, placed in a casket with a glass top, is on display at the Iasi church, where people from all over Romania come and pray for miracles. The hungry and thirsty pilgrims also consumed 500 liters of wine, 300 liters of beer, 135 liters of juice and 300 kilograms of apples. A group of priests, headed by Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church, with PF Hristofor, of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, gave the Holy Liturgy for St. Parascheva on Sunday in Iasi. Romania's Prime Minister Victor Ponta, as well as other national and local officials attended the service. Ioana Toader, ioana.toader@romania-insider.com