Pilgrimage of Flowers today in Bucharest. The program of the procession that will impose traffic restrictions

Hierarchs, priests, monks, nuns and lay believers from the Capital and from Ilfov county will participate, on Saturday, in the Flower Pilgrimage organized by the Romanian Patriarchate and the Archdiocese of Bucharest, according to Agerpres.

This religious-missionary event will take place in Bucharest, with the support of the Basilica Press Center of the Romanian Patriarchate, on the eve of the great celebration of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (Floriile), informs, on Tuesday, the Press Office of the Patriarchate.

The pilgrimage will start at the National Cathedral and will take place along the following route: Strada Izvor, Chapel of the National Cathedral (first stop), Calea 13 Septembrie, Bulevardul Libertății, Piata Constituției, Bulevardul Unirii, Piata Unirii (west side), Crucea Brâncovenească (second stop), Colina Bucuriei, Patriarchal Cathedral.

The procession will end at the Patriarchal Cathedral, where the pilgrims will be welcomed by Blessed Father Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

The moments of the Florii pilgrimage

According to the quoted source, the main moments of the pilgrimage will be the following:

• Vespers Service at the National Cathedral (3:00 p.m.);
• The consecration of willow branches will take place at the National Cathedral, which will then be offered to the believers present (4:00 p.m.);
• Departure in procession from the National Cathedral to the Patriarchal Cathedral (16:15);
• First stop – at the Chapel of the National Cathedral (16:30);
• Second stop – at Crucea Brancoveneasc at the base of Colina Bucuriai (17:30);
• Departure to the Patriarchal Cathedral (17:35);
• Arrival at the Patriarchal Cathedral, where the pilgrims will be greeted by Blessed Father Daniel, the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, who will consecrate the icon of the feast of the 'Entering of the Lord into Jerusalem', will say the blessing prayer for the pilgrims and will address a word of instruction (17:45).

Traffic restrictions in Bucharest

Saturday's religious procession will bring changes in road traffic in the center of Bucharest, writes B365.ro.

The route includes Strada Izvor, continuing on Calea 13 Septembrie and passing through Libertății Boulevard and Constituției Square.

The Bucharest Road Brigade will apply dynamic traffic restriction measures along the entire route.

The police recommend Bucharest drivers to avoid the perimeter adjacent to the event and to use the following detour routes:

• Panduri Road – Thudor Vladimirescu Bldg – Viilor Road.
• Panduri Road – Str. Prof. Dr. Iosif Rainer – Bd. Heroes – Bd. Heroes Sanitari – Splaiul Independentei.

Palm Sunday

The Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Greek Catholic faithful celebrate the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem – the Flowers – on Sunday.

According to Church tradition, Jesus Christ's Entry into Jerusalem is the only moment in His earthly life in which He accepted to be hailed as King. This time he prepares his own entrance, according to Old Testament prophecies, to be recognized by the law as the Messiah, the Savior of the world. The people welcome Jesus with palm and olive branches, shouting: 'Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord'. By these words, people felt that God himself had come into the world to bring its salvation. Entering Jerusalem as King, Jesus anticipates His imminent victory over death, as well as the victory of all mankind which He carried within Himself.

On Florii, people go to church to consecrate willow branches that they put on windows, doors or gates. In some parts of the country, village residents burn themselves with willow branches across the middle. The belief says that this ritual protects them from diseases and makes them more robust. It also defends the house from evil and protects it from unpleasant events.

The willow branches that are distributed in the church on Palm Sunday symbolize the palm branches with which the crowds in Jerusalem greeted Jesus.

Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the last week of Easter Lent, called Passion Week, in which Christians prepare to welcome the great celebration of the Resurrection of the Savior Jesus Christ.