Days before the Saint Paraskeva holiday, the Romanian city of Iași is transformed into a vibrant tapestry of colors. Tens of thousands of chrysanthemums, autumn arrangements, and fragrant arches adorn the city as pilgrims flock to pray at the relics of the ascetic saint who is said to have had visions of the Virgin Mary.
Every year, devotees line up at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Iași, where the relics of Saint Paraskeva are housed. To create the stunning floral displays that grace the city, preparations began this spring in Romanian greenhouses. Crafting the heart- or peacock-shaped arrangements that embellish Iași requires up to five days of meticulous work.
"There is a lot of work involved, as you can see," explained Petronela Trofin, an employee of the Iași Public Services. "It must be covered as beautifully as possible, then colored, and finally, covered with flowers." Over the past six years, all the flowers used in the municipality of Iași have been cultivated in greenhouses spanning nearly 5,000 square meters. The production has steadily increased each year, with an estimated 1.5 million flowers grown in 2024.
The holiday festivities span from 8 to 15 October. For more details and footage of the celebration, check out the video above.
