The Hierarchs of the Holy Metropolis of Muntenia and Dobrudja gathered Saturday evening at the Patriarchal Residence in a working session of the Metropolitan Synod. His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, chaired the 20 May meeting in his capacity as Metropolitan of Muntenia and Dobrudja.
The Bishops approved several documents on the future canonization of Venerable Paphnutius (Pârvu) the Iconographer. Icon painter Pârvu Mutu (the Mute) was a representative of the Brancovan style who lived between 1657-1735. He was born in the town of Câmpulung Muscel as the sixth son of the Orthodox priest Ioan Pârvescu and began his career as a church painter at the age of 12. After the death of his wife, he was tonsured a monk, receiving the name of Paphnutius.
The name of ‘the Mute’ comes not from the fact that he was actually mute, the Patriarch explained, but because he always painted in prayer and silence. If it happened one day to speak, he would stop from his work and started all over again the next day. He became a monk after the death of his wife, being tonsured a monastic at Margineni Monastery in Dambovita County, and then he received the great schema at Robaia Skete in Arges. After the glorification will take place, his remains from the Skete will be venerated as holy relics.
The members of the Metropolitan Synod have made the proposal to glorify Venerable Paphnutius the Iconographer given the fact that this year the Romanian Patriarchate pays homage to the holy icons, iconographers and church painters.
During the meeting, the bishops have approved the icon of Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvia (1906-1991), before including him officially in the calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The Bishops approved several akathists and services of Romanian Saints that have already been canonized by the Holy Synod.
The hierarchs who attended the meeting included:
- His Eminence Hon Metropolitan Nifon, Archbishop of Târgoviște,
- His Eminence Calinic, Archbishop of Argeș and Muscel,
- His Eminence Ciprian, Archbishop of Buzău and Vrancea,
- His Grace Vincențiu, Bishop of Slobozia and Călărași,
- His Grace Galaction, Bishop of Alexandria and Teleorman,
- His Grace Ambrozie, Bishop of Giurgiu,
- His Grace Visarion, Bishop of Tulcea,
- His Grace Siluan, Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Hungary,
- His Grace Timotei of Prahova, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
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