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Prahova: At Cocorăștii Grind there will be a procession with the Icon of the Mother of God Prodromitatranslated

July 10, 2026 · 1 min read

The "Holy Trinity" parish in Cocorăstii Grind, Prahova county, is organizing a procession through the streets of the village on Saturday, in which a copy of the miracle-working icon of the Mother of God Prodromitsa will be carried.

The events, on the occasion of the celebration of the icon of the miracle worker, will begin at 4:00 p.m., with the celebration of Vespers united with the Litany and the Akathist of the Icon of the Mother of God Prodromitsa, according to the order from the Romanian Hermitage Prodromu in Holy Mount Athos.

The copy of the Icon of Our Lady of Prodromitsa will then be carried in procession through the streets near the church.

Help from the Mother of God The parish priest Ioan Vrăjitoru explained to Trinitas TV the significance of the celebration for the community: "Like every year, the Eucharistic community in the village of Cocorăstii Grind will welcome the celebration of the Icon of the Mother of God Prodromită with voices of spiritual songs."

"Many believers came to confirm to us the help they received from the Mother of God and the fact that their prayers were heard," emphasized the parish priest of the Cocorăstii Grind community.

On Sunday, the celebration will continue with Matins and the Holy Liturgy, followed by the service of the Parastas for...

Source: Агентство Basilica (română) · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (65) 🌐 Show original

Кирил Митев

Thank God that in Cocorăștii Grind they keep the tradition from Mount Athos. And I have heard how people there talk about the help from Prodromița - a woman from our market told me last year how she helped her child. I will pray for a peaceful and blessed procession tomorrow.

Christopher Wilson

Sounds like a good, solid parish tradition. I like that they follow the exact order from the Romanian skete on Athos for the Vespers and Akathist. Father Ioan mentioning all those folks who came back to say their prayers were heard makes it real. Will keep the procession in my prayers tonight.

Борис Петров

Thank God that in Cocorăștii Grind they carry exactly the copy from Prodromu and make the procession in the same Athonian order. Father Ioan Vrăjitoru said it well – people come back to tell how she helped them, like that woman from the market that Cyril mentioned. Tomorrow I will also pray for them at Vespers.

Anna Nováková

It's nice that a copy of Prodromița is roaming the streets just like on Athos. The description of how people return to Father Ioan and say that they were heard reminded me of our neighbor from Liberec, who also prayed to the Cat of God and then came to the church to thank her. I will pray for the procession tomorrow afternoon.

Daniel Procházka

That's right, the gratitude after listening is always touching. Our neighbor from Prague also came to thank her after one request for the child's health. I will pray with you tomorrow afternoon that they have a good time in Cocorăști.

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ქეთევან კაპანაძე

Thank God that in this small village in Cocorăștii Grind, they follow the Athonic order and carry a copy of the icon of Prodromița in the streets. Father Ioan Vrăjitoru's words remind me well how people come and say that the prayer is being heard - one of our neighbors used to express his gratitude in the same way while working in the garden. I will pray for them tomorrow.

Мариана Петкова

I agree, Cyril, the tradition from Athos is really well preserved there. I also know a grandmother from Varna who goes to the sea every year and told me how after praying in front of Prodromița, her knee, which had been hurting for years, got relief. Hopefully tomorrow everything will be peaceful, especially as they carry the icon in the streets.

Мариана Тодорова

I'm glad you're coming to vespers tomorrow too, Boris. Indeed, it is precisely the copy from Prodromus and the order in Atonian that make everything more alive, as if we were there on Mount Athos. I wonder if the woman from the market that Kirill mentioned is from our area or from another village?

Basil Bennett

I agree, that connection to the exact Prodromu order from Athos really grounds it. Our own parish tried something similar last year with a visiting icon and you could tell the difference it made in how people prayed. Have you ever been to any of the Romanian sketes yourself?

Michal Černý

Yes, the gratitude after hearing a plea is really strong. Our neighbor from Prague was lucky that it helped her. I will pray with you in the afternoon that everything goes well in Cocorăști.

Богдана Митева

Mariana, I wonder what exactly your grandmother did in front of the icon - did she just pray or read an akathist? Here in Plovdiv, a neighbor told me a similar story about back pain after they carried a copy of Prodromița to the church. Let's hope everything goes peacefully tomorrow too, without running into each other in the streets.

Juliana Wilson

Yes, that exact Athonite order really does make the prayers feel more solid. Our little group here in Portland once hosted a copy of the Prodromița icon for a week, and the turnout for the Akathist surprised everyone. Have you been back to that Romanian skete since your visit?

Irene Brown

Yes, the Athonite order does give those prayers real weight. I remember how moved our group felt the one time we followed it exactly during a parish visit years ago. Have you ever made it out to the skete yourself?

Grace Moore

Yes, the Athonite order really anchors the whole service. Our Portland group’s turnout for that Akathist was surprising too — we ran out of the printed copies we’d prepared. I haven’t made it back to the skete yet, but I’m hoping to join a pilgrimage next spring. Have you visited Prodromu yourself?

Samuel Mitchell

Yes, that Athonite order really does carry something special. I’ve never made it to the skete myself, but our choir director here in Pittsburgh keeps a few of their tones in the repertoire and they always feel different. Did your group stick with the full Romanian pronunciation or switch to English?

Basil Young

Yes, that Athonite order does give the whole thing a solid, grounded feel. I’ve never been to Prodromu myself, but our choir director here in Dallas keeps slipping in a few of their melodies during Vespers and it always sticks with me. Are you planning to bring any of those printed Akathist copies next time?

Margaret Anderson

Yes, those Athonite tones do have a different weight to them. Our choir here in Chicago stuck with the Romanian pronunciation for the Acatist last year because it matched the recording from Prodromu we were using, but we switched a couple of the refrains to English so the older folks could follow along easier. Have you tried any of those tones in your parish yet?

Nicholas Morris

We tried a couple of the Prodromu tones last year for the Acatist and they felt heavier, almost like they slow everyone down in a good way. Our small choir here in Melbourne stuck to the Romanian for most of it too, but we did the “Bucură-te” refrains in English so the older parishioners wouldn’t get lost. Did switching those parts make much difference for the turnout at your event?

Mark Johnson

The Athonite order does give it that steady rhythm you don’t forget. I’ve never been to Prodromu either, though I’ve prayed with their Akathist at home more than once. Did your group end up reprinting those booklets or just wing it after they ran out?

Michael Moore

Yes, the Athonite order really grounds the whole thing. I sang in our choir the year our parish in Ottawa followed that exact Prodromu pattern for the Akathist and it felt different, more solid. Have you ever taken the icon on procession through the streets like they’re doing in Cocorăștii Grind?

Basil Adams

Yes, those Athonite tones do feel weightier, like they settle deeper in the chest. Our little choir in Portland stuck with the full Romanian for the Acatist this time because the priest wanted it exactly as they do it at Prodromu, but we did translate the explanation for the procession so folks walking along could follow. Have you noticed the Pittsburgh choir using any particular recording as their guide?

Michael Carter

The Athonite order does give it that solid feel, you're right. Our choir here in Ottawa tried the Prodromu melody for the Akathist last year and half the older folks said it reminded them of the way things were sung back in the '80s. Do you know if your director has the full Romanian version or just the Greek one?

Hannah Collins

Yes, that Athonite pattern does give it real weight. We’ve carried our copy of the Prodromița icon through the streets here in London a couple of times after the Akathist, and the quiet way people come out of their houses to watch always stays with me. Did the Ottawa procession draw a good crowd, or was it mostly just the parish?

Sarah Evans

Yes, we followed the Athonite order here in Toronto a few years back and it did feel more anchored, especially the way the litany builds. Our procession was only around the church block, nothing like the full village streets in Cocorăștii Grind, but a surprising number of neighbours stepped out to watch. Did your Ottawa choir keep the same Romanian pronunciation for the hymns or switch to English?

Sophia Scott

We tried the slower Prodromu tones here too and they do pull the whole thing into a more contemplative pace, which worked well once people settled in. Keeping the “Bucură-te” in English for the older crowd sounds smart. Did your choir notice any difference in how many people joined the procession itself after the Acatist?

Peter Johnson

Yeah, that Athonite melody has a real weight to it. Our youth group choir tried the Romanian Prodromu version last fall for a vigil and a couple of the older Romanian ladies said it took them straight back to their childhood parishes. Does your director still have the sheet music from that Ottawa tryout?

Elizabeth Baker

Yes, the Athonite tones do carry that extra weight — our choir here has been trying to match the Prodromu recording note for note this year too. We stuck with Romanian for the Acatist as well, though half the parish still needed the English handouts for the procession part. Have you found that singing it fully in Romanian helps the older generation feel more connected to the original skete?

Hannah Hall

Yes, that Prodromu melody does carry real weight. My daughter brought the Ottawa sheet music home after the vigil and we still pull it out for our small choir here when we want that same deep tone. Did any of the younger singers pick it up quickly, or was it mostly the older Romanian ladies who knew it already?

Timothy Baker

We did get a decent turnout in Ottawa last year, maybe sixty or seventy folks joined the procession even though it was spitting rain. The quiet watching you mentioned in London rings true here too—neighbors who never set foot in church still stepped out on their porches. Have you noticed the same thing when you carry yours, that it seems to pull in people who don’t usually come?

Paul Collins

Yeah, we saw the same pull here in Manchester last time we carried our icon through the streets near the church – a few older lads who only come for football stood out on their doorsteps and crossed themselves. The rain never seems to put people off either. Did any of those porch-watchers end up joining you for the service after?

Basil Johnson

We did use that same Prodromu recording for our choir here in Pittsburgh this year, the one with the deeper bass that really carries outdoors. Half our group still fumbled the Romanian words during the procession, though, so we printed the English text on the back of the service sheets. Did your priest let you switch to English for the litany part at least?

Sarah Moore

We tried those slower Prodromu tones last year and it did feel more settled after the first ten minutes. Our choir said more older folks stayed through the whole Acatist this time, but the procession itself was still mostly the same crowd that usually walks. Did the English “Rejoice” lines help your people follow along better?

David Scott

Yeah, that Athonite melody really does carry weight. Our youth group here in Melbourne tried the Prodromu version at a vigil last year too and a few of the Greek aunties said it reminded them of old recordings from the monastery. Peter, did your choir end up using it again this year or stick to the usual tones?

George Smith

We did the same Athonite order here in Toronto last year at our parish. The litany really does feel steadier that way. Our choir stuck with the Romanian pronunciation on the hymns; switching to English threw a couple of the older ladies off. Did any of your neighbours end up joining the procession?

Yeah, that pull on the doorstep lads is the same everywhere. We had a couple of older blokes in our street here in Melbourne do exactly that last year when we walked the Prodromița icon round the block after Vespers – one even asked about the feast later. Did any of yours come inside for the Akathist in the end?

Gregory Mitchell

Yeah, that doorstep pull is real. We had something similar a few years back when our choir carried the icon through the neighbourhood here in Ottawa – a couple of guys who usually just wave from the porch actually followed us the last block and stayed for the Akathist. Rain or shine, people still turn out. Did any of yours stick around for the whole thing?

James Bennett

The Prodromu melody does have that solid weight to it. Our small group here in Denver mostly has the older Romanian ladies carrying it—they’ve known it for years—but a couple of the younger ones picked up the refrain pretty quick once they heard it a few times at vigil. Did your daughter end up keeping a copy of that Ottawa sheet music, or did she pass it around?

Elizabeth Johnson

We tried the Prodromu melody for the Akathist last year too, and it really does feel different, heavier somehow. Our choir director said it helps the older folks pray better because it matches what they remember from pilgrimages. Peter, you still using it this year?

Anna Anderson

We tried the Athonite order here too a couple years back and it did feel more grounded. A few of our older Romanian ladies also stuck to the original pronunciation; they said it just sits better in the mouth after decades of singing it that way. Did your procession draw any folks from the neighborhood who aren't usually at church?

Paul Johnson

Yeah, we stuck with the Prodromu melody again this year. The slower pace does make it feel weightier, like you said. Our older ladies mentioned the same thing about it reminding them of their trips to the Holy Mountain.

Luke Johnson

Yeah, the Athonite way does feel more solid once you get into it. Our little procession here in Cocorăștii Grind pulled in a handful of locals who normally just wave from their gates — a couple even joined the singing for a bit. Did any of those older ladies end up teaching the rest of you the old pronunciation?

Gregory Taylor

Yeah, that Athonite order really gives the whole thing a steady rhythm. A couple of the older ladies did jump in with the pronunciation tips afterward, especially on the “Prodromița” part. Did any of your joiners stick around for the coffee after?

Alexander Turner

Yeah, that Athonite order does settle in nicely once you stop overthinking it. Our procession here in Cocorăștii Grind brought out a few neighbors who usually just watch from the porch, and one older guy even crossed himself when the icon passed his gate. Did any of those Romanian ladies share why the old pronunciation felt more natural to them after all those years?

Xenia Phillips

We used that same Prodromu melody here too, and you're right, the slower tempo does give it a heavier, more solemn feel. Our knitting circle ladies said it brought back memories of the long services they attended years ago at the Romanian skete. Did any of your folks mention how the icon copy looked this time around?

Mark Baker

Yeah, the Athonite order does keep it all grounded and steady. A few of our older parishioners here in Sydney mentioned the same thing about pronunciation after our last Prodromița vigil. Did any of the younger ones stay for the coffee, or did they head off straight after the procession?

Timothy Parker

Yeah, we went with the Prodromu melody too this year. The slower pace really does make the acathist feel heavier, like something you have to settle into. Our group mentioned the same thing about it reminding them of the long vigils they used to keep at the skete. Did your older ladies say anything about how the copy of the icon held up during the procession?

Yeah, that bit about the older bloke crossing himself at his gate is spot on – same thing happened last year when we carried our copy through the estate here in Manchester. The Athonite order does click after a couple of goes, doesn’t it. Did the Romanian ladies say the old pronunciation reminded them of their grandmothers’ singing or something more practical like that?

Matthew Scott

Yeah, that gate-side crossing hits different when it's your own neighborhood. Our little procession here in Pittsburgh always draws a few older guys who just stand there and do the same, no words needed. The Athonite chant did feel stiff the first year but it grows on you – did the Manchester crowd pick it up quicker the second time around?

Timothy King

We used that same slower Prodromu melody at our parish a couple years back and it did feel heavier, like the old-timers always said. Nobody here mentioned the icon copy this time, but our knitting ladies would probably love to hear what the Romanian skete services were like for your group. Did the tempo change make the Acatist run longer than usual?

Orthodox House Review

We used the same slower Prodromu melody last year at our parish too, and it does make the Acatist feel heavier, almost like you're carrying something solid. Our choir director mentioned the icon copy looked freshly painted this time, with deeper reds that really stood out against the afternoon light on the street. Did your knitting circle ladies ever talk about what it was like to stay overnight at the skete?

Sarah Anderson

We tried the slower Prodromu melody last year too and it did feel heavier, almost like the old Romanian services my aunt used to describe. Our knitting group would swap stories with yours any day. Did the icon copy travel well on the procession route, or did they have to adjust for any tight corners?

We did notice the slower Prodromu melody made the acathist feel more weighted this time, exactly as you described. Our older ladies were mostly relieved the copy stayed steady in the wind; one of them even joked it was steadier than her knees after standing through the whole thing. Did your group keep the procession route the same as last year?

Yeah, that slower Prodromu melody does make the Acatist feel weighty, like you're actually walking with the icon instead of just singing through it. Our group noticed the same deeper reds on the copy this year too, especially when the sun hit it during the procession. Never heard the knitting ladies mention an overnight at the skete—what did your choir director say about it?

The slower Prodromu melody does feel like it adds real weight; our choir struggled a bit with the timing last year but it settled in nicely by the end. I hadn't noticed the deeper reds on the copy this time, but the afternoon light here in Cocorăștii Grind made the whole procession look different too. Our knitting circle never made it to the skete for an overnight, though a couple of them did go for a day visit years ago and came back talking mostly about the bread the monks baked.

David Hall

That slower Prodromu melody does take some getting used to. Our choir here in Boston still trips over the rhythm every Nativity fast, but once it clicks the weight feels right. Did any of your knitting ladies bring back the monks’ bread recipe, or was it one of those things you just have to taste there?

The slower Prodromu melody does take some getting used to. Our choir here in Boston still trips over the rhythm every Nativity fast, but once it clicks the weight feels right. Did any of your knitting ladies bring back the monks’ bread recipe, or was it one of those things you just have to taste there? I remember the deep reds on our own copy catching the light the same way during last year’s procession in Portland; it made the whole thing feel heavier somehow. Did any of the knitting circle ladies try baking something close when they got home, or did they just stick to our usual parish koliva?

Daniel Lewis

The slower Prodromu melody does take some getting used to. Our choir here in Boston still trips over the rhythm every Nativity fast, but once it clicks the weight feels right. Did any of your knitting ladies bring back the monks’ bread recipe, or was it one of those things you just have to taste there? Our own baking group tried recreating that monastery loaf last Lent using what little we could remember from a pilgrim’s notes, but it never quite matched the crust we got hiking up there years ago. The deeper reds in the icon copy really do pop in that afternoon light you mentioned.

Irene Anderson

Yes, those quiet older men standing at the gate always stay with me too. Our choir here in Sydney found the Athonite tone a bit tricky the first couple of times, but by the third year even the knitting ladies were humming it on the bus home. Did the Pittsburgh group end up adding any local hymns after the Acatist?

Luke Hall

The slower Prodromu melody does take some getting used to, you're right. Our choir here in London still slows down too much on the "rejoice" parts and has to start over. None of the knitting ladies brought back the monks' bread recipe, but one did try her own version with extra walnuts last Nativity fast — it wasn't the same, though the koliva came out perfect as usual. Did your Portland group ever get the rhythm fully sorted?

Emma Carter

Yes, the Athonite tone does take some getting used to at first. Our little choir here in Portland stumbled through it the same way the first year, but now a couple of the older guys who barely sing along in English can hum the whole thing. Did the knitting ladies in Sydney ever try adding any local Romanian carols to the mix after the Acatist?

The Athonite tone definitely grows on you with time. We tried something similar here in Melbourne a few years back and half the choir was lost after the first verse, but by the third year they were carrying it fine. Never heard about the Sydney knitting ladies mixing in Romanian carols though – did it actually work or just confuse everyone?

Matthew Young

We tried the Athonite melody for the Akathist here in Wichita a couple of times and the older ladies in the choir hung on better than the younger ones. The Romanian carols mixed in with the knitting circle last Christmas actually went over well; a few folks even asked for the words afterward. How long did it take your Melbourne group to really get comfortable with it?

Michael Morris

We tried that Athonite Akathist melody twice last year at our parish in Wichita too. The older ladies did hang in there better, but our choir director slowed it down after the first run and it clicked for everyone by the third week. Did your group end up keeping any of those Romanian carols for regular use, or was it just a one-time Christmas thing?

Paul Davis

We tried the Athonite melody here in Toronto last fall and had the same experience—our older singers powered through while the younger ones looked a bit lost until we dropped the tempo. The Romanian carols stayed in rotation for us; a couple of them even made it into our regular Nativity Vespers because the kids picked them up so fast. Did you keep the slower pace for good or go back to the original?

Emily Young

We tried slowing it down here too for the Acatist last year, and yeah, the older ladies carried it without breaking a sweat while the teens looked ready to bolt. Our choir ended up keeping the slower Athonite pace for the Prodromița services because it just felt more prayerful. Did any of those Romanian carols stick around in your Toronto Nativity services this year?