Bocșa, Caraș-Severin County, Romania, July 22, 2025
Thousands of Orthodox faithful participated in the local proclamation of the canonization of St. Calistrat of Timișeni and Vasiova on Sunday.
The celebration coincided with the patronal feast of the Holy Prophet Elijah-Vasiova Monastery, where he served and was buried. His relics were uncovered there in March.
St. Calistrat was canonized in July 2024, together with 15 other martyrs, confessors, and ascetics of the 20th century. The Romanian Patriarchate proclaimed their canonization on a Churchwide level in February.
The Liturgy at Vasiova Monastery on Sunday was celebrated by nine Romanian hierarchs, under the leadership of His Eminence Metropolitan Ioan of Banat.
At the end of the service, the Synodal tomos on the canonization of St. Calistrat was read out:
The Holy Synod, taking note of his praiseworthy zeal for prayer and for defending the true faith, and seeking the spiritual benefit of the Orthodox people who bear Christ’s name, following the Holy Tradition of the Orthodox Church and calling upon the grace of the Most Holy, consubstantial and indivisible Trinity, we decree that, from now on and forever, Venerable Calistrat of Timișeni and Vasiova shall be considered among the saints of the Church and shall be commemorated with songs of praise on his feast day, May 10, each year, with his inclusion in the calendar, synaxarion, and liturgical books.
His Grace Bishop Lucian of Caransebeș spoke about St. Calistrat’s missionary activity in Banat:
St. Calistrat, serving in this monastery for over 25 years, in difficult times of communist persecution and others, remained alone at Vasiova following Decree 410 of 1959. He kept the candle of true faith and the flame of unceasing prayer here, being appreciated by many faithful for the services performed at the monastery and for the wise counsels shared with great patience.
For the humility and gentleness of his heart, he received from God the gift of healing and casting out unclean spirits. Therefore, the faithful from the local area honored him as a true spiritual father of Banat.
At the end of the service, each hierarch and members of the local authorities present received an icon of St. Calistrat.
Follow OrthoChristian on Twitter, Vkontakte, Telegram, WhatsApp, MeWe, and Gab!
