Bocșa, Caraș-Severin County, Romania, March 13, 2025
Photo: episcopiacaransebesului.ro
The relics of one of the Romanian Orthodox Church’s newly canonized saints were uncovered this week.
Last July, the Romanian Holy Synod canonized 16 martyrs, confessors, and ascetics of the 20th century, including St. Calistrat of Timișeni and Vasiova. And on Tuesday, his remains were unearthed at the Holy Prophet Elijah-Vasiova Monastery in a rite led by His Grace Bishop Lucian of Caransebeș, the Basilica News Agency reports.
The precious relics were then placed in the monastery’s winter chapel.
“Our joy is complete as we perform this extraordinary rite during Great Lent. St. Calistrat was born on March 15, 1900, and reposed in the Lord on May 10, 1975. Now, just four days before his birthday, we have carried out this unique and special service here at Vasiova Monastery, particularly meaningful for us in the Banat region,” said Bp. Lucian.
“It’s essential to emphasize that Fr. Calistrat Bobu was a man of prayer and service, a man of confession, and one who listened with great love to all the faithful,” the bishop added.
“He served for over 25 years in this monastery here in Bocșa Vasiova, as well as in other monasteries of the Metropolis of Banat, including Timișeni, Săraca, and Partoș. Fr. Calistrat Bobu was buried behind the church’s altar, as he had wished—to be laid to rest near the holy altar, where he spent much of his time, both during the divine services and in prolonged prayer between services.”
The video below shows scenes from the uncovering of St. Calistrat’s relics:
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St. Calistrat of Timișeni and Vasiova (1900–1975), originally from Burdujeni, Suceava, was tonsured a monk at the Sihăstria Neamțului Monastery in 1925.
Photo: basilica.ro
In 1942, he was sent as a missionary priest to Banat, where he founded the Timișeni Monastery and renewed monastic life at the Săraca, Partoș and Vasiova Monasteries.
He reposed in the Lord on Holy Pascha 1975 and was buried near the altar of the Vasiova Monastery.
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