The monastery of Bezdin in Romania hosted a solemn Divine Liturgy to mark the beginning of the celebrations for the canonization of Saint Cyril (Cvetković), a confessor of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The holy relics of Saint Cyril rest in this ancient Serbian monastery, which is located in the Banat region of Romania.

The service was led by Metropolitan Lukijan of Budim and Timișoara from the Serbian Church, and Archbishop Timotei of Arad from the Romanian Orthodox Church, with clergy from both churches participating in the liturgy and a large congregation of faithful joining in prayer.

Following the liturgy, a memorial service for Father Cyril was held according to church traditions. Then, Metropolitan Lukijan and Archbishop Timotei signed the official canonization decree, issued by His Holiness Patriarch Porfirije of Serbia, which marked a significant moment of prayerful unity between the Serbian and Romanian Orthodox Churches.

After the liturgy, Metropolitan Lukijan expressed his gratitude to Archbishop Timotei for his love and support for the Serbian Church and the Bezdin Monastery, presenting him with a panagia as a token of remembrance for this important event.

The holy relics of Saint Cyril were then transferred to the Cathedral of the Ascension of the Lord in Timișoara, where a formal act of canonization will take place in honor of the saint.

Saint Cyril (Cvetković), originally from the Bay of Kotor, led a long life as a confessor of the faith, enduring persecution and imprisonment for his unwavering commitment to Orthodoxy under the Austrian Empire. After his release, he settled in the Bezdin Monastery, where he passed away in 1857. His steadfastness in faith became a symbol of spiritual resilience for the Serbs in Dalmatia and Banat.

The feast of Saint Cyril of Bezdin and Dalmatia-Boka will now be commemorated annually on October 12th.