Saint Paisius of Sihăstria

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

Relics of Saints Paisius and Cleopas emerge fragrant during exhumation in Romania, Bishop calls it a “sign of divine grace”

Assistant Bishop Nichifor of Botoșani, from the Archdiocese of Iași, emphasized that the day the relics of Saints Paisius (Olaru) and Cleopas (Ilie) of Sihăstria were uncovered “will remain for us not only a historic day but one deeply engraved in our souls—a day on which we all witnessed how God works on earth even…

Apr 29, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Sihăstria Monastery hosts exhumation of Saints Paisius and Cleopas relics in view of local canonization

The relics of Saints Paisius (Olaru) and Cleopas (Ilie) of Sihăstria were exhumed on Monday and placed in specially crafted reliquaries. The special exhumation service was officiated by Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia and Assistant Bishop Nichifor of Botoșani from the Archdiocese of Iași. The personal belongings of the two revered monks, preserved in their…

Apr 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Saints Paisius Olaru and Cleopas Ilie honoured at Sihăstria Monastery

Saints Paisius Olaru and Cleopas Ilie were commemorated on Saturday at Sihăstria Monastery in Neamț County during a memorial service officiated by His Grace Assistant Bishop Nichifor of Botoșani. Although the two ascetics were declared saints on July 12 by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, memorial services remain allowed until their official…

Dec 9, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Sihăstria Monastery abbot welcomes canonization of Elders Paisie Olaru and Cleopa Ilie: They are alive and take care of us

“We are delighted by the approval of the canonization of all sixteen saints, but we especially welcome with great devotion, gratitude, and spiritual joy this decision to approve the canonization of the two fathers from Sihăstria Monastery, Venerable Paisie Olaru and Venerable Cleopa Ilie,” Archimandrite Arsenie Popa, abbot of Sihăstria Monastery, told Basilica.ro. “The pilgrims…

Jul 18, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu