The most precious odor of Oltenia is the spiritual shrine with the relics of St. Gregory Dekapolis from Bistrita Monastery – Valcea. Founded from the XVth century, by noblemen Craiovesti, Bistrita Monastery was an important spiritual role throughout the five centuries of existence. Spiritual heart of its work have always stood relics of Blessed Gregory Dekapolis.
Around the saint gathered monks generations of lovers of Christ who struggled for power to follow ascetic. Here ran the boyars, princes counselors and rulers themselves to pray and ask the saint. Our peasants kneeling around them loving God, and he demanded relief in diseases comfort and the useful life.
Relics of Saint Gregory are the oldest in the country after those of Suceava, and are very honest faithful, especially those in the Carpathian area. And for their faith, as for spending angelic Blessed Gregory, there are many miracles. His holy relics are intact and sweet-smelling. They are in silver shrine, the left side of the nave, where there are daily prayers of praise and demand in honor of St. Gregory, to caress the faithful.
Short history
St. Gregory Dekapolis was held in Isauria – Asia Minor, Greek ancestry, born in the eighth century. Youth, renouncing marriage, it went to the monastery and became a monk perfect. Then, at the time of iconoclasm, testified about holy icons in many cities: Byzantium, Isauria, Rome and Thessaloniki. In old age alone has climbed Mount Olympus and hermits there in large and heavy labors, the temptations and struggles of devils. Then Falling ill of hydropic, he descended the mountain and was committed to Constantinople Ninth century. Blessed Gregory, and Dekapolis said, was a priest, large hermit and invincible defender of Holy Icons. Whenever he was ready to give their lives for them.
For the sanctity of life, God glorified him with immortality of the body and the gift of miracle, both in life and after his move.
Hearing of these sacred relics, the boyars Craiovesti, Barbu, Parvu, and Radu Danciu, Bistrita Monastery Olteana founders have redeemed with money and have brought a lot of expense holy relics of Blessed Gregory, at their foundation, the last decade of the fifteenth century century (1490). Until today was miracle worker, and sacred monastery many dangers is ferrite and this land lot usage and help has, and who go to the holy humility and faith find help and healing, both in body, and soul. “
From 1490 until today the holy relics are standing strong at the Bistrita Monastery.
Due to frequent attacks and incursions by Hungarians on the Romanian Country Olteana Bistrita Monastery monks they dug in the sixteenth century a very hidden cave in the rock, one kilometer from the monastery, where the relics of St. Gregory hid in times of distress. With time in the cave was made a small chapel painted by a rare beauty, called the Chapel of St. Gregory. In hard times, here holy relics were hiding, together with his monks; and daily Mass in the chapel was made and all Codex. Last monk who was forced cave alone in Gregory was Varnava Lasconi monk, confessor Bistrita Monastery. He died in 1958.
The only time they tried resettlement holy relics of Blessed Gregory Dekapolis from Bistrita Monastery, was in the summer of 1948. The members of the Holy Synod decided that these holy relics to be displaced from the Episcopal Cathedral of Ramnicu Valcea. But believers in Bistrita and Costesti villages that are connected spiritually to Bistrita Monastery and the relics of Saint Gregory, opposed.
On the day of the procession was ready to transport the relics Ramnicu Valcea, very outraged villagers went to the priest. Women were crying along the road, while others were sitting in the midst of the drama, and the men were determined to turn back the holy relics.
It was a hard day for all! It was a day of mourning for the faithful, being threatened to remain without relics of St. Gregory, their only solace in trouble. But these things were not talked about anything. But believers do not forget! They must think, forgive and admire. They defend us stronger faith. They respect the tradition transmit, prays more like us more humble themselves suffer more and more we complain! Therefore parents need spiritual, and gentle words of comfort, much like all of us.
Relocation of the holy relics of St. Gregory Dekapolis in the summer of 1948, was not done. On the outskirts of Bistrita returned back to the foundation of the blessed Barbu Craiovescu, where they stayed for five hundred years of standing strong. Then and peasants have returned to their homes with women and children.
It made peace again in the Bistrita Monastery. But after a few years, the nuns here have been transferred to other monasteries, their council was scattered in all directions and Bistrita Monastery remained empty. In the cells of the nuns were brought hundreds of poor children and mentally impaired, to be reeducated here. Daily Mass and Codex monk stopped in 1960. The relics of Saint Gregory Dekapolis Alone, forgotten by most, permanent vigil in the church.
Today, after years of sad memory for the Romanian Orthodox Church, things have changed and the beautiful monastery of Valcea, where the holy relics of St. Gregory Decapolitul. The monastic life was reborn here, as elsewhere. Hundreds, thousands of pilgrims, from all sides, run to the holy relics of St. Gregory Dekapolis, gaining health and help.
Wonders of St. Gregory Dekapolis
The relics of St. Gregory Dekapolis were shown from the beginning miracle, especially healing and deliverance heavy disease and balances or danger. Village elders, monks and, in recent years, the nuns of the place, confess all sorts of sick came here from the neighborhood and from other regions of the country and, after prayers made to the relics of St. Gregory healed of their suffering.
One of the greatest miracles of Blessed Gregory is that with the prayers of hundreds of years has been spared Olteana Bistrita Monastery of desolation by fire, demolished, all sorts of dangers. Both her and dwellers of this holy place were guarded by great disasters that have haunted over other monasteries.
Then, with the prayers of Saint Gregory, here was fought a great spiritual life, the real monks and hermits. This relics of St. Gregory was permanently support a free and at the same time feeling a moral obligation true, then the Holy Gospel, enhancement and growth in the Spirit. Bistrita Monastery gave over five centuries of existence, the holy life monks, famous confessors, bishops and abbots great many in the past Romanian Church.
In 1913, 15 August, the patron Bistrita Monastery, was brought to the relics of St. Gregory a young woman paralyzed both legs. It was held in a village not far from Ramnicu Valcea. Already stood in the hospital six months, but to no avail. Relatives have placed her first in the Holy Gifts, then dedicated it to holy relics, passed it under scrape and Holy Unction was made and was taken home again.
After three weeks, she returned to St. Gregory, but this time it went on its feet, to thank him for miracles with her.
source: crestinortodox.ro