The local proclamation of the canonisation of Saints Philothea and Elizabeth of Pasărea took place on Friday at Pasărea Monastery.
The solemn event was held following the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Archbishop Nifon of Târgoviște, Honorary Metropolitan and Patriarchal Exarch, together with Archbishop Calinic of Argeș and Muscel, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishops Varlaam of Ploiești and Paisie of Sinaia, and the Assistant Bishop to the Bucharest Archdiocese, Timotei of Prahova.
The Synodal Tomoi proclaiming the canonisation of the two saints were read by Bishop Paisie of Sinaia and Bishop Timotei of Prahova.
Through these official acts, the two nuns were formally enrolled among the saints of the Church and appointed to be commemorated with hymns of praise on their feast days—12 April for St Philothea and 5 June for St Elizabeth. Their names will also be included in the Synaxarion, liturgical books and the calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
A message from Patriarch Daniel was presented on the occasion by Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești.
“Sincere and Generous Love”
In his message, Patriarch Daniel reflected on the lives of the two saints, noting that although they lived in different centuries and circumstances, “both were providentially called to have their monastic home and the place of their repose at Pasărea Monastery, attaining spiritual perfection through their monastic labours.”
“The sincere and generous love of these two venerable mothers was also revealed through their humility, which sought nothing for itself but only the good of others. They lived in complete simplicity. Even from the poverty they freely embraced, they shared what they had with those around them, revealing their merciful love.”
“The deeds of these two venerable mothers show us that authentic Christian life is undoubtedly a continual self-denial that gradually becomes a source of spiritual life for helping others. It was precisely this readiness for self-giving that made them, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, chosen vessels through whom many miracles were accomplished.”
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the abbesses of the monasteries of Corlățeni-Pojorâta and Mestecăniș in Suceava County received from Patriarch Daniel two of the three reliquary icons of St Elizabeth of Pasărea.
St Philothea of Pasărea
St Philothea of Pasărea, the mother of St Callinicus of Cernica, was born in Bucharest. She married at a young age and, together with her husband, Antonie, established a devout Christian family in the St. Visarion district of Bucharest, where they raised their four sons in the love of God and country.
After becoming a widow, she embraced monastic life at Pasărea Monastery and later received the Great Schema.
Distinguished by virtue, love, humility, prayer and obedience, St Philothea reposed in the Lord on 8 November 1833 and was buried in the monastery cemetery.
St Elizabeth of Pasărea
St Elizabeth of Pasărea was born on 16 July 1970 in Moldova-Sulița, Suceava County, and received the baptismal name Rodica.
At the age of 16, she entered the community of Pasărea Monastery following a pilgrimage undertaken with two cousins and after seeking guidance from several spiritual fathers.
In 1996, she was assigned to the Romanian Settlement in Jerusalem, where she served as a chapel attendant and church singer. During this period, she endured a serious illness that brought her closer to God.
After returning to Romania, she embraced the eremitic life in the Giumalău and Neamț Mountains, spending many years in prayer and ascetic struggle.
She reposed in the Lord on 5 June 2014, at the age of 44, and was buried at the monastery where she had begun her monastic life.
The general proclamation of the canonisation of the two saints, approved by the Holy Synod in 2025, took place on 6 February at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest.
Photo: Basilica.ro / Raluca-Emanuela Ene
