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Iasi’s Celebrations. 8-15 October. The activities:. Saint Parascheva’s Celebration The festival of traditional music The Costume Parade Neighbourhood concerts The fair of leather and furrier clothes The fair of wine The fireworks.
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Iasi’s Celebrations 8-15 October
The activities: • Saint Parascheva’s Celebration • The festival of traditional music • The Costume Parade • Neighbourhood concerts • The fair of leather and furrier clothes • The fair of wine • The fireworks
The most important thing of Iasi’s Celebration is the religious one; it’s the celebration of Saint Parascheva, the protector of Moldavia.
Saint Parascheva was born at the beginning of 11th century into a wealthy, noble and pious Christian family in the town of Epivat (now in Turkey) on the shores of the Marmara Sea. At the age of ten, while attending the liturgy in the “Church of the Holly Theothokos”, she heard the words: “Whosoever will come after Me, let him deny himself and take up h`is cross, and follow Me”. The words of the Lord has a profound effect on the young girl, and that became the subject of her good deeds later earning but her parents objected, found the girl’s charity more than they could understand or support, Parascheva abandoned her wealth and privileges, left her parents, and run away to Constantinopole. There near relics of saints, she spent her time praying, meditating on the words of Christ. Her last years she lived in Constantinopole in the “Church of the Holly Apostles“, she lived the remaining two years of her life.
Legend has it that many years later an old fisherman was buried near her grave. Parascheva appeared in a dream to a local monk, showed him the place of her burial, and asked him to “take that stinky corpse away from me. I am light and sun andI cannot bear to have near me darkness and stench.” That monk with some local help listened her words and after he began to dig out the place, and when they fond the remains of the Saint, her uncorrupted body was emitting spiritual fragrances. Then they interred the Saint in the “Church of the Holly Apostles”, where she had spent the last years of her earthly existence. Later on her relics were moved to Tirnovo in Bulgaria, then to Belgrade, in Serbia, and finally to Constantinopole.
In 1641, they were given as a gift to the Prince of Moldavia, Vasile Lupu, in recognition of his support for the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. Her intact relics have remained in Iasi ever since .She is venerated as the Protector of Iasi and of all Moldavia and each year, hundreds of thousands of Orthodox faithful and hierarchs from many countries gather in Iasi to celebrate her feast day and venerate her holly relics, which continue to work miracles.
A special event organized with the occasion of the St. Parascheva Celebration, the patron saint of Moldavia. More than one million pilgrims from all over the world come to celebrate.
Thursday, 12 October, the Parascheva’s relics were taken out from Cathedral.
At the Saint Mass done at the Cathedral, in the day of Saint Parascheva redounded by 13 hierarchs, many priests and deacons.
The president of Romania, Traian Basescu preyed at the Saint Parascheva’s relics.
The pilgrims enjoy the free meal which they considered to be blessed.
The first day of the Celebrations began with a concert of folk music called “The Moldavia Rose”.
Everyone had the chance to admire the photo gallery having by their side the National Theatre`s actors wearing age suits.
Neighbourhood concerts and fireworks started in Alexandru cel Bun, Pacurari, Nicolina with regional artists like “Fara Zahar” and “Corina” and finished, after 3 days in Tatarasi.
Year by year ,in the second half of October, Iasi becomes a friendly host , closest friend or good partener for lots of guests whatever their purpose is.
A lot of artisans came to the Holiday from every part of country.
The city hall prepared 4 thousand square meters for the merchants, giving them the posibility to exhibit all their products.
The Clothes Fair was placed around of Hala Centrala. This year the Clothes Fair was very well organized because there were all type of clothes for all ages at low prices.
People were also, having fun in front of Hala Centrala. People came here with their families and friends to relax and escape from the routine. They could enjoy a glass of boiled wine or beer and eat all kind of tasty food, mainly the Romanian traditional foods: mici, sarmale, carnati.
The fireworks on evening of 14 of October gathered thousands of people in front of Cultural Place.
THE END Coordinator Teacher: Roxana Scriminti