St. Joseph relics return home in Răzălăi, gathering hundreds visitors
foto: doxologia.ro
More than 200 people gathered at the church in the village of Răzălăi, Sîngerei district, to worship the relics of St. Joseph the Merciful. These were brought from Iaşi to the holy place of the native. Parishioners from several places in the north of the country came to worship the relics.
The service was officiated by a group of priests headed by the High Priest Peter, the Metropolitan of Bessarabia.
People in the locality are proud that the saint originates from Răzălăi. They say they came to pray for peace, welfare and health.
"It is a great honor for us to honor him. We are proud to have had such a personality in us."
"For the family for children and grandchildren. For good to everyone."
St. Joseph the Merciful was canonized last year in Iaşi, and after his relics were brought to Răzălăi, they will remain here.
Metropolitan Iosif Naniescu, now called St. Joseph the Merciful, was born in the village of Răzălăi in 1818. He remained a fatherless orphan, and his mother became a nun. At the age of 10 he was taken by his uncle to the Frumoasa Monastery, then to the Saint Spiridon Monastery in Iasi.
He was Metropolitan of Moldova for 27 years and died in 1902 on January 26, when he was mentioned by Christians.