Elder Cleopa

Vadu Negrilesei, Romania: Building started at monastery dedicated to Elders Cleopa Ilie and Paisie Olaru

Two of the most significant Romanian elders of the 20th century were honoured on Friday with the laying of the foundation stone of a future monastery to be dedicated in their honour. The blessing of the foundation stone was officiated by Archbishop Calinic of Suceava and Rădăuți and by Auxiliary Bishop Damaschin of Dorna. His…

Dec 5, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

Elder Cleopa’s 110th birth anniversary

Considered by many people a unique “Avva” of the Romanian spirituality, as inspiringly Rev. Prof. Dr. Dumitru Staniloae called him, Elder Cleopa Ilie was born in Suliţa commune, Botoşani county, on April 10, 1912. His parents, Alexandru and Ana Ilie, called him Constantin, and he was the fifth child of the ten to this family of…

Apr 10, 2022Sorin Ioniţe

Suceava Archdiocese shows plans for future skete of Elders Paisie and Cleopa at Vadu Negrilesei: VIDEO

A new video from the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți shows the impressive plans for the future Skete of Elders Cleopa (Ilie) and Paisie (Olaru). Both of these great 20th-century ascetics are among those who will be canonized by the Romanian Holy Synod in 2025, to mark the 140th anniversary of autocephaly and the 100th…

Mar 25, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Monastic house at Coșula Monastery consecrated in honour of Elders Paisie Olaru and Cleopa Ilie

The Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina on Sunday blessed a monastic house dedicated to Elders Paisie Olaru and Cleopa Ilie at Coșula Monastery in Botosani County. The hierarch awarded the abbot and the benefactors church awards. The service was attended by many faithful from Botosani, local and county officials. Metropolitan Teofan was joined in the…

Mar 2, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

2022 priorities in Suceava Archdiocese: Hermitage to be built where Elder Cleopa hid in mountains

A priority of the Suceava and Rădăuți Archdiocese for this year is to start building a skete at Vadu Negrilesei, in Stânișoara Mountains, where Elder Cleopa Ilie withdrew for some years, away from the communist regime. As the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church is considering canonization of the elder in 2025, the Eparchy…

Jan 25, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

Sihăstria Monastery: National Cathedral artist paints entrance, Romanians from all over the world work on mosaic

Daniel Codrescu, painter of Romania’s National Cathedral, coordinated last month the painting of the vault from under the entrance tower of Sihăstria (Neamț) Monastery. The team of church painters was joined by Romanian volunteers from all over the world, who learned the mosaic technique and made mosaic icons for the exterior of the tower. Five…

Nov 4, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Elder Cleopa’s coming canonization brings joy to hearts of orthodox faithful, says Abbot of Sihăstria

News of the coming canonization of Elder Cleopa (Ilie) has brought great joy to the hearts of the Romanian Orthodox faithful, and especially those who are parishioners of Sihăstria Monastery, where the great 20th-century confessor and elder labored and is buried. “Even though many already honor Fr. Cleopa as a saint, they still wanted their…

Mar 16, 2021Gheorghe Anghel

Memorial to Elder Cleopa Ilie to be set up in his childhood home

According to a recent statement from the Metropolitan of Moldova and Bukovina of the Romanian Orthodox Church, there are plans to build a memorial to one of the greatest Orthodox elders of the 20th century in his hometown. On Sunday, February 16, His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan continued a series of visits he has been undertaking…

Feb 28, 2020Gheorghe Anghel