Bucharest, July 24, 2025
Photo: basilica.ro
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania blessed reliquaries on Wednesday that will house the holy relics of Sts. Paisie and Cleopa from Sihăstria Monastery in Neamț County.
The blessing service took place at the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest, in the presence of Archimandrite Arsenie Popa, abbot of Sihăstria, reports the Basilica News Agency.
The reliquaries were crafted at the Romanian Patriarchate’s workshops and made of silver.
His Beatitude emphasized that the two saints from Sihăstria Monastery were great spiritual fathers and confessors of the faith.
“These reliquaries will be taken to the monastery and the holy relics of the two venerable saints will be placed in them, who were great confessors of the faith, spiritual fathers and guides for the thousands of pilgrims who, during the communist regime, came to the monastery and prayed, confessed and were guided and helped,” he said.
The Patriarchate previously shared photos of the design for St. Cleopa’s reliquary:
Photo: basilica.ro
Patriarch Daniel highlighted that Sts. Paisie and Cleopa were contemporaries and greatly beloved by the people.
“They were contemporary saints and are very beloved among the people. Therefore, the local proclamation of their canonization will be a special event,” the Patriarch noted.
His Beatitude recalled that Sihăstria had several monks with multiple gifts, “but Fr. Paisie and Fr. Cleopa, who was also a great preacher, were especially gifted with spiritual guidance.”
St. Paisie Olaru was one of the greatest hesychasts of the 20th century, the Romanian Patriarch emphasized.
“This was seen at the uncovering of the remains of the two venerable fathers, when the Heavenly fragrance that emanated from their holy relics spread not only around the tomb, but throughout the entire cemetery at Sihăstria. Fr. Paisie was very humble and very discreet. Therefore, he resembled the hermits of the 14th century from Mt. Athos and from many Balkan countries and the hesychasts of the 18th century, from the time of St. Paisius of Neamț,” he said.
Photo: basilica.ro
In gratitude, the community of Sihăstria Monastery offered the Romanian Patriarch an icon depicting Sts. Paisie and Cleopa of Sihăstria.
The local canonization ceremony for the two saints is scheduled to take place on August 7, at Sihăstria.
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