New Romanian saints to be officially proclaimed in May

Moscow, April 24, 2017

Photo: Basilica.ro

The Romanian Orthodox Church has announced that the official proclamation of four new saints will take place on May 14 at Putna Monastery in Suceava County.

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church announced last year on June 6 that Metropolitan Jacob Putneanul of Moldova, and the Venerable Fathers Silas, Nathan, and Paisios of Sihăstria Putnei Monastery were to be added to the calendar of the Romanian Church’s saints. Their canonization was earlier proposed by the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuțiits and approved by a session of the Synod of Moldova and Bukovina on May 20 at Neamţ Monastery.

Metropolitan Jacob (1719-1778) was the most distinguished bishop and pastor of the Moldovan Church of the eighteenth century. In 1731 he entered into the monastic ranks at Putna Monastery, being elected abbot in 1744. He served as Bishop of Radauti from 1745 to 1750, and of Moldova from 1750 to 1760, during which time he labored tirelessly to increase the spiritual level of his flock, printing spiritual literature for all ages and establishing spiritual schools. In 1760 he retired again into monastic simplicity for the remaining eighteen years of his life

The holy fathers of Sihăstria lived in the eighteenth century and labored at Sihăstria Putnei during a time of great spiritual flowering. Burning with love for God and silent prayerful contemplation, St. Silas served as abbot from 1753 to 1781 and oversaw the founding of the Church of the Annunciation; St. Nathan served from 1781 to 1784 during a time when many monasteries of the region were being abolished; and St. Paisios, a spiritual child of St. Nathan, labored as a fervent defender of Orthodoxy and clairvoyant guide for countless souls, falling asleep on December 16, 1784.

Their fragrant relics were discovered in 1990 during restoration work at Sihăstriei Putna, two hundred years after the monastery had been abolished. Until today they prayerfully protect the inhabitants and pilgrims of their monastery through the grace of their relics, and have long been considered saints of God.