Iași, June 20, 2025
Schemanun Maura of Mount Ceahlău. Photo: doxlogia.ro
Hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church have proposed four women ascetics and a confessor of the communist period for canonization.
Last year, the Romanian Church canonized 16 male martyrs, confessors, and ascetics of the 20th century, and 2026 has already been designated as the Commemorative Year of Holy Women (Myrrh-bearers, Martyrs, ascetics, wives, and mothers), which will be marked by several canonizations.
On Thursday, the Synod of the Metropolis of Moldavia and Bukovina and the Synod of the Metropolis of Bessarabia met separately and jointly in Iași. As part of their work, the hierarchs of Moldavia and Bukovina put forth four venerated nuns for possible canonization:
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Schemanun Maura of Mount Ceahlău (17th-18th centuries), a great hesychast hermit
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Schemanun Nazaria, first abbess of Văratec Monastery—disciple of St. Basil of Poiana Mărului, St. Paisius Velichkovsky of Neamț, and St. Joseph of Văratec
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Schemanun Olimpiada, founder and benefactor of Văratec Monastery (1757-1842)—disciple of St. Paisius Velichkovsky of Neamț, St. Joseph of Văratec, and Venerable Nazaria of Văratec
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Schemanun Elisabeta (Safta) Brâncoveanu, resident of Văratec Monastery
Schemanun Elisabeta (Safta) Brâncoveanu. Photo: basilica.ro
And in their joint session, the hierarchs of the two metropolises endorsed for canonization the teacher Blondina Gobjilă (1906-1971), also known as Mama Blondina, a confessor from the communist period who was exiled to Siberia for 15 years.
The relevant documentation on all the proposed saints will be forwarded for approval to the Holy Synod of the entire Romanian Orthodox Church.
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