Bucharest, May 22, 2023
Photo: basilica.ro
In October, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church resolved to canonize the Holy Hierarch Metropolitan Neofit the Cretan (†1753).
And yesterday, Sunday, May 21, the liturgical proclamation of this canonization was proclaimed during the service at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, reports the Basilica News Agency.
Photo: basilica.ro
The tomos of canonization was read out by His Grace Bishop Varlaam of Ploieşteanu, vicar to the Patriarch, then the troparion to St. Neofit was sung while the hierarchs, clergy, and people venerated icons of the new saint.
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Metropolitan Neofit the Cretan was born in 1690, and traveled to Wallachia when he was already a hieromonk and served for a time as teacher of the children of the ruler Constantin Mavrocordat.
He was elected titular bishop of the Metropolis of Mirelor Lichiei in 1737 and was later appointed to the Metropolis of Ungrovlahia.
Although he was a Greek, he proved to be a very good leader for the Romanians. He defended them against the abuses of a Phanariot ruler, increased the Metropolis’ income, freed the Roma slaves, directed the country’s schools, and established schools of his own, where peasant children could learn for free. He also founded and endowed the Metropolitan Library.
He reposed in the Lord in Bucharest on June 16, 1753.
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