Romanian Synod canonizes 16 martyrs, confessors, and ascetics of the 20th-century

Bucharest, July 15, 2024

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church formally approved the canonization of more than a dozen martyrs, confessors, and ascetics of the 20th century at its session on July 11–12.

The Romanian Church has been preparing since 2021 for the canonization of a number of great elders and theologians who suffered under communism, whose names have gradually been announced over the past few years. The liturgical celebration of their canonizations will be celebrated next year, to mark the 140th anniversary of Romanian Orthodox autocephaly and the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate.

The 16 new saints are, according to the Basilica News Agency:

• Archimandrite Sofian Boghiu, abbot of St. Anthimos Monastery in Bucharest, with the title Venerable Confessor Sofian of St. Anthimos Monastery, commemorated on September 16;

• Fr. Dumitru Stăniloae, theology professor in Sibiu and Bucharest, with the title the Holy Confessor Priest Dumitru Stăniloae, commemorated on October 4;

• Fr. Constantin Sârbu, with the title Hieromartyr Constantine Sârbu, commemorated on October 23;

• Protosinghel Arsenie Boca, with the title Venerable Confessor Arsenie of Prislop, commemorated on November 28;

• Fr. Ilie Lăcătușu, with the title the Confessor Priest Ilie Lăcătușu, commemorated on July 22;

• Hieroschemamonk Paisie Olaru, confessor of Sihăstria Monastery, with the title Venerable Paisie of Sihăstria, commemorated on December 2;

• Archimandrite Cleopa Ilie, abbot of Sihăstria Monastery, with the title Venerable Cleopa of Sihăstria, commemorated on December 2;

• Archimandrite Dometie Manolache, with the title Venerable Dometie the Merciful of Râmeț, commemorated on July 6;

• Archimandrite Serafim Popescu, abbot of Sâmbăta de Sus Monastery, with the title Venerable Serafim the Long-Suffering of Sâmbăta de Sus, commemorated on December 20;

• Fr. Liviu Galaction Munteanu, theology professor in Cluj-Napoca, with the title the Hieromartyr Liviu Galaction of Cluj, commemorated on March 8;

• Archimandrite Gherasim Iscu, abbot of Tismana Monastery, with the title Venerable Martyr Gherasim of Tismana, commemorated on December 26;

• Archimandrite Visarion Toia, abbot of Lainici Monastery, with the title Venerable Martyr Visarion of Lainici, commemorated on November 10;

• Protosinghel Calistrat Bobu, confessor at Timișeni Monastery and Vasiova Monastery, with the title Venerable Calistrat of Timișeni and Vasiova, commemorated on May 10;

• Fr. Ilarion Felea, theology professor in Arad, with the title the Hieromartyr Ilarion Felea, commemorated on September 18;

• Protosinghel Iraclie Flocea, exarch of the monasteries of the Archdiocese of Chișinău, with the title Venerable Iraclie of Bessarabia, commemorated on August 3;

• Archpriest Alexandru Baltăga, with the title the Hieromartyr Alexandru of Bessarabia, commemorated on August 8

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