Athonite Elders

Athens to host International Symposium honouring Athonite Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra

The St Maximos the Greek Institute of Vatopedi Monastery and the Ormylia Foundation of Simonopetra Monastery on Mount Athos will organise the International Theological Symposium “In Memory and Honour of Elder Aimilianos of Simonos Petras: A Witness to the Glory of God and a Guide in the Spirit” in Athens from 8–10 May 2026. The…

Mar 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate donates gilded silver reliquaries to Mount Athos for newly canonized Romanian Saints

The holy relics of Saint Petronius the Prodromite and Saint Dionysius of Vatopedi will be preserved on Mount Athos in gilded silver reliquaries donated by the Romanian Patriarchate. The reliquaries will be delivered to the Cell of Saint George at Colciu and to the Romanian Skete of the Honourable Forerunner (Prodromos Skete) by Athonite monks…

Oct 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Two Romanian Athonite elders canonised by Ecumenical Patriarchate

Two Romanian elders from Mount Athos have been added to the synaxarion by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. They are Hieroschemamonk Niphon (Ionescu), the founder of Prodromos Skete, and Venerable Nectarios (Crețu) the Protopsaltis, also known as the Nightingale of Mount Athos. The canonisations were approved during the Holy Synod meeting of the…

Oct 20, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church proposes new feast: Sunday of All Athonite Saints

The Romanian Orthodox Church may soon add a new feast day to its liturgical calendar: the Sunday of the Athonite Saints. The proposed date for this commemoration is the third Sunday after Pentecost, following the Sunday of All Saints and the Sunday of the Romanian Saints—two feasts that already occur after Pentecost. The proposal was…

Jul 1, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Athonite monks present Patriarch Daniel with relic of Ven. Dionisie Ignat

On Saturday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed two hieroschemamonks from St George – Colciu cell on Mount Athos: Fr Dionisie Alb, the cell’s hegumen, and Fr. Dionisie Florea. The Athonite fathers presented the Patriarch of Romania with a fragment of the honourable head of Elder Dionisie Ignat. Patriarch Daniel granted them the second highest distinction…

May 22, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Relics of soon-to-be canonised Romanian Athonite Elder exhumed

The Patriarch of Romania delegated Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova to attend the exhumation ceremony of the relics of Elder Dionisie Ignat, which took place at St George Cell of Colciu Skete on Mount Athos last week. The monks of Vatopedi Monastery, on whose territory the cell where Father Dionisie Ignat lived, unearthed the relics…

Nov 22, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Muntenia bishops analyse texts for future canonisation of Romanian Athonite Elders Dionisie Ignat, Petroniu Tănase

The Assembly of Bishops of the Metropolis of Muntenia and Dobruja on Wednesday analysed the Romanian translation of the liturgical texts that will accompany the proposal of canonisation of the Venerable Elders Dionisie Ignat and Petroniu Tanase. The proposal will be submitted to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople since the two Romanian elders laboured and…

Sep 29, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Elders Paisie Olaru, Ilie Cleopa and Dionisie Ignat proposed for canonization: Metropolitan Teofan

Elders Paisie Olaru, Ilie Cleopa and Dionisie the Blind from the Colciu Cell of Vatopaidi Monastery are proposed for canonization, announced Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina on Friday. The declaration was offered during the hierarch’s visit to a church in the city of Botoşani. „We hope that some time – because we do not…

Aug 3, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Elder Joseph of Vatopedi’s 100th birth anniversary, 12 years since his “smile from eternity”

A century has passed since the birth of Elder Joseph of Vatopedi and 12 years since his blessed repose in the Lord. One of the most beloved elders of the Holy Mountain, Father Joseph fell asleep in the Lord, on his birthday, on July 1, 2009. A miracle happened immediately after his passing into eternity:…

Jul 1, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Three Athonite Elders officially included in the calendar of the Church

The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate officially included in the calendar of the Church Saints Joseph the Hesychast (Elder Joseph), Ephraim of Katounakia and Daniil of Katounakia. The Synod made the official announcement on Monday, March 09. Their official glorification comes after an unofficial announcement made by Patriarch Bartholomew while visiting the Holy Mountain in…

Mar 10, 2020Sorin Ioniţe

Four Athonite Elders will be canonized, Ecumenical Patriarch announces

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew has announced that four Athonite Elders will be canonized and will have official feast days in the calendar of the Orthodox Church. The list of elders include Fr. Daniel of Katounakia, Fr. Ieronymos of Simonopetra, Elder Joseph the Hesychast, and Elder Ephraim of Katounakia. The Patriarch made the announcement on Sunday, October…

Oct 21, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu