Valea Mănăstirii, Alba County, Romania, July 2, 2026
Photo: basilica.ro
The local proclamation of St. Filotimia of Râmeț one of the 16 holy women canonized by the Romanian Orthodox Church in 2025, was celebrated on Monday at Râmeț Monastery in Alba County.
Before the Divine Liturgy, a procession was held with the relics of St. Filotimia and her son St. Dometie the Merciful, with whom she shares a feast day of July 6, from the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul to a specially prepared canopy near the monastery’s outdoor altar, reports the Basilica News Agency.
Her relics were solemnly uncovered at Râmeț Monastery in March.
The local proclamation took place at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Laurențiu together with eight other hierarchs from Romania and the Romanian diaspora.
Thousands of faithful from across Romania attended the celebration.
Photo: basilica.ro
Met. Laurențiu reflected on the continuing relevance of St. Filotimia’s life, saying that God had ordained a work in the life of her family that the Church is called to fulfill today, at a time when the Christian family is under attack and increasingly disregarded. He said the saint’s 43 years of married life constituted an offering she brought to Christ. He recalled that St. Filotimia and her husband raised 12 children, four of whom dedicated their lives to the service of the Church, while eight predeceased their mother, a sorrow she endured with patience and faith.
Patriarchal Counsellor Răzvan Mihai Clipici recalled the testimony of St. Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia, who, shortly after Mother Filotimia’s repose, said that she had ascended to Heaven like a Seraphim. He added that the saint was distinguished by exceptional humility, deep devotion to the Church’s services and to prayer, and that she lived the life of a hesychast, calling her an exemplary Christian and mother who planted in her children’s hearts the love of God and neighbor.
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Photo: basilica.ro
St. Filotimia of Râmeț was born Filofteia on April 30, 1896, in the village of Bălănești, Buzău County, Romania. Together with her husband, Ioan Manolache, she raised 12 children in the fear of God, obedience, and a strong sense of responsibility.
Following her husband’s death in 1959, she entered the Râmeț Monastery community. On April 30, 1974, she was tonsured into monasticism by her own son, St. Dometie, receiving the name Filotimia.
Shortly before her repose, St. Filotimia told her cell attendant that St. Dometie had appeared to her and announced that her earthly life was drawing to an end. Having prepared herself through Confession and Holy Communion, she bade farewell to the monastic community and fell asleep in the Lord on July 22, 1989.
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