Saint Cleopas of Sihăstria

Romanian Patriarch Daniel marks 39 years since monastic tonsure

His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, received the monastic tonsure 39 years ago at the age of 36. His monastic sponsor was St. Cleopas of Sihăstria, one of the great spiritual elders of Romanian Orthodoxy, who was canonised by the Holy Synod in 2024. The monastic tonsure took place at Sihăstria Monastery…

Aug 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel turns 75: Giving new meaning to the Church’s mission in an increasingly secularised world

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel has turned 75 on Wednesday, 22 July. The Romanian Patriarchate announced that the Patriarch of Romania would mark his birthday through work, taking part in a meeting dedicated to preparations for the International Meeting of Orthodox Youth (31 August–3 September 2026), a recurring event initiated by His Beatitude. Leading the Church…

Jul 22, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Hundreds join St Cleopas relics procession in northern Romania: We confess our bond with the saints

Hundreds of faithful took part Wednesday evening in a procession with the relics of Saint Cleopas Ilie of Sihăstria in the northeastern Romanian city of Botoșani, during festivities marking the patronal feast of Saint George Church. The events began with Vespers and Artoklasia, followed by a procession through the city centre led by Metropolitan Teofan…

Apr 24, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Macarie baptises Greenland youth inspired by Romanian Saint Cleopas

His Grace Bishop Macarie Drăgoi of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe baptised a young Greenlander on Thursday, who received the name of Saint Cleopas (Ilie) of Sihăstria. The bishop noted that the young man had been influenced by the writings of the Romanian saint and wished to bear his name. “Accompanied from Scandinavia…

Mar 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel remembers four hesychast saints he knew, founders of Romania’s Patriarchate

During the opening of the Autumn Pastoral-Missionary Conference of the Archdiocese of Bucharest on Tuesday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel remembered four great hesychast elders and confessors of the 20th century — Saint Cleopas Ilie, Saint Paisius Olaru, Saint Dumitru Stăniloae, and Saint Sofian of Antim — all of whom he personally knew. The Patriarch said…

Nov 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel honours Saints Paisius and Cleopas of Sihăstria as pillars of 20th century monasticism

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church marked the local proclamation of the canonisation of Saints Paisius Olaru and Cleopas Ilie on Thursday with a deeply spiritual tribute, calling them “two pillars of light between the mountains and heaven.” In a pastoral message occasioned by the celebrations at Sihăstria Monastery, the Patriarch of…

Aug 8, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Chozeva Monastery abbot visits monastic cell of Saints Cleopas and Paisius at Sihăstria

A delegation from the Holy Land has visited the monastic cell of Saints Cleopas Ilie and Paisius Olaru at Sihăstria Monastery in Neamț County, Romania. The delegation included the Very Rev. Archimandrite Constantinos Peramatzis, abbot of the Monastery of Saint George of Chozeva, and Protosyncellus Ioan Meiu, the Romanian Patriarchate’s representative to the Holy Places.…

Jul 23, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarch blesses reliquaries of Saints Paisius and Cleopas of Sihăstria

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel blessed on Wednesday the reliquaries designated for the holy relics of Saints Paisius (Olaru) and Cleopas (Ilie) of Sihăstria. The blessing service took place at the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest, in the presence of Archimandrite Arsenie Popa, abbot of Sihăstria Monastery in Neamț County. The reliquaries were crafted from silver at…

Jul 23, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Sihăstria Monastery invites faithful at local canonization of Saints Paisius and Cleopas

The local canonization of Saints Paisius and Cleopas will take place on August 7 at Sihăstria Monastery, Neamț County, during a series of festivities dedicated to local saints. The events will begin on August 5 with the commemoration of Saint John Jacob of Neamț. The relics of the two venerable elders were exhumed in late…

Jun 20, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Small Digital Matericon: Romanian Women Who Loved God (I)

In anticipation of the year 2026, declared the Commemorative Year of Holy Women in the Calendar by the Romanian Patriarchate, we turn our attention to several notable figures of Romanian women who lived their lives with deep faith and dedication to God, becoming models of holiness. These women, through their virtuous lives, left a lasting…

Jun 12, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Assistant Bishop Marc of Neamț marks 20 years of episcopal ministry in Western Europe

Assistant Bishop Marc of Neamț of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Western Europe celebrates on Wednesday 20 years since his episcopal ordination. His Grace Bishop Marc of Neamț was born in Paris in 1958 into a Catholic family, where he received a distinguished education, graduating from the Institute of Urbanism and the Faculty of Architecture…

May 7, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu