Prayers in the Middle of the Night

Many years ago I was a night owl myself. Like any young man. That was a long time ago.

I live on the outskirts of town and have everything I need close to home. That makes it rare for me to go to the city center. Before the pandemic, I used to get to the area more often because of shows and plays.

I recently took a walk around the downtown area. It was strange
and unique, I almost forgot what the city was like at night. After a party with a few good friends that lasted late into the night, I had to cross a portion of the city center and I had to cross the only hill in the city, called Metropolia Hill. The highest part of Bucharest. It is called so because there is the patriarchal church of Romania and the Patriarchal Palace. The palace where the Orthodox Patriarch of Romania, the head of the Church, lives. The Church is governed by its own laws that come from antiquity and the patriarch is, in fact, a king!

I haven't been to this place for many years and at night I don't think I've ever been. This hill is in the center of town and yet not very visible. I mean what happens at the top of it, where the church and the palace are. The priests are very discreet when it comes to their activities. They seem like a secret society and this perception also gives the place a mysterious air, especially at night!

At night this place is almost deserted but we had all the time that we are carefully watched while passing through. The lack of people in that place which is crowded by definition made me enjoy this moment in silence. I was able to admire the buildings well highlighted by lighting and could photograph even though there were warnings that photography was forbidden.

The church was not closed but we did not go in. I preferred to photograph only from the outside.

I saw something that impressed me. There was actually someone else there. A woman praying, in front of the church. A woman who probably had a big problem and had come to her last hope. Prayer! I was impressed that she had come so late at night surely to seek solitude. I was sorry that perhaps I had disturbed her. I tried to be as unobtrusive as possible, took a few photos, and moved away from the place.

Anyway, the woman didn't even see me. She was so focused on her prayer that nothing around her could interrupt her.

I left the place, not before taking a few more photos. I left that place happy that chance had brought me there at that moment.

There is a stillness and peace that you can't help but feel on this hill, especially at night. Probably because of the many prayers they do there. The church is almost five hundred years old. I had a good time and will come back.