Bumbești-Jiu, Gorj County, Romania, November 11, 2025
Photo: Mitropolia Olteniei, Arhiepiscopia Craiovei
The canonization of St. Visarion of Lainici was proclaimed locally on Sunday at Lainici Monastery in Gorj County, Romania.
The proclamation ceremony took place after the Divine Liturgy, with the Synodal tomos being read by His Grace Bishop Sebastian of Slatina and Romanați, reports the Basilica News Agency.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by 13 Romanian hierarchs, led by His Eminence Metropolitan Irineu of Oltenia.
The event was broadcast live by Trinitas TV:
On Saturday, the first day of the celebrations, Met. Irineu blessed the reliquary in which the holy relics of St. Visarion of Lainici were placed.
“This is a very emotional moment, with deep spiritual significance. I knew the life of the saint, and during moments of prayer I had this spiritual exaltation, knowing that St. Visarion would be placed here for the veneration of all,” Met. Irineu said.
“Thus, by placing the relics of St. Visarion of Lainici for veneration, he seems to tell us together with the psalmist: The bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice (Psalm 50:10). Holiness is shared—it never remains closed, never remains hidden. God dwells in the saints, and holiness pours out upon all. The saints are the torches of light that God has placed in the lampstands of His Church.”
Photo: Mitropolia Olteniei, Arhiepiscopia Craiovei
“We congratulate Abbot Ioachim for his labors and we rejoice that this monastery has two great saints. St. Visarion, pray for us!”
St. Visarion was among 16 confessors, martyrs, and spiritual fathers canonized by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church in July 2024. The general proclamation of their canonization took place in Bucharest in February of this year, followed by local proclamations throughout the year in the dioceses where these saints lived and ministered.
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Photo: Mitropolia Olteniei, Arhiepiscopia Craiovei
St. Visarion was born on May 28, 1884, in Secuieni commune, to simple, pious parents.
He was tonsured into monasticism at Frăsinei Monastery in 1910, and ordained a hieromonk in 1922. In the summer of 1929, he was appointed abbot of the suffering Lainici Monastery. In addition to the managing the monastery assets, he managed to grow the community to more than 20 monks within 10 years.
He endured many hardships at the hands of the communist regime. He died in agony in 1951, following a beating suffered about a year prior by the commander of a military unit stationed in the monastery.
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