Orte, Viterbo, Italy, November 7, 2024
Photo: basilica.ro
A new Romanian Orthodox parish has been established in the Italian town of Orte, Viterbo, under the patronage of Sts. Cleopa and Paise of Sihăstria.
St. Cleopa and his spiritual father St. Paisie are among the 16 confessors and ascetics of the 20th-century canonized by the Romanian Holy Synod in July. St. Cleopa has long been known and loved by the English-speaking Orthodox world thanks to translations of his life and teachings.
The newly established parish will oversee the spiritual, pastoral, and social life of Romanians in the town of Orte and its surroundings. It falls within the jurisdiction of the Romanian Orthodox Church’s Diocese of Italy, reports the Basilica News Agency.
Photo: episcopia-italiei.it
The first service took place on Sunday, November 3, celebrated by Fr. Alexandru Cosma.
In February 2022, Sts. Cleopa and Paisie were named the patrons of the residential building at Coșula Monastery in Western Moldavia.
A monastery named for them is being built in Vadu Negrilesei, Suceava, near one of the sites where Elder Cleopa labored for years in hermitic asceticism due to the persecutions of the communist authorities. His cell at the site, which was restored in 2015, was consecrated on December 2021.
Follow OrthoChristian on Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!