Recently canonized by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Venerable Martyr Gerasimus was celebrated for the first time last week at Tismana Monastery in Gorj County, alongside Saint Nicodemus, the founder of the monastic settlement.
The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Irineu of Oltenia, who highlighted the similarities between the two saints who lived at Tismana Monastery. He emphasized their humble and sacrificial lives dedicated to God.
“Today, we honor Saint Nicodemus the Sanctified and the Holy Venerable Martyr Gerasimus of Tismana, both from this Holy Monastery. We sing and praise the pure lives of Saint Nicodemus and Saint Gerasimus,” said His Eminence.
“A life dedicated to God, consecrated to Him. A life sanctified and illuminated through sacrifice and the struggle against passions. The fight against the carnal man is the fight of saints who overcame sins and passions through their holy lives. We pray to Saint Gerasimus, Saint Nicodemus, and all the Saints of this Holy Monastery to set forth our prayers before the Heavenly Throne,” the Metropolitan added.
The liturgical program for the feast of Saints Nicodemus and Gherasim of Tismana began on Wednesday evening with the Vespers service combined with the artoklasia, Matins, and the monastic tonsure ceremony for five new nuns.
Photo: Metropolis of Oltenia
