The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece has called on all metropolises across the country to honour four Athonite Elders of Romanian origin, canonised this year by the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
According to a document issued on Monday in Athens, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople proclaimed the saints “in full accordance with the practice and canonical order of our Holy Church,” following the issuance of a Patriarchal and Synodal Act.
The Romanian-born Athonite saints who have now been included in the Synaxarion of the Church of Greece are:
- Saint Dionysius of Vatopedi from Colciu (May 11);
- Saint Petronius the Prodromite (February 24);
- Saint Niphon the Prodromite (July 13), founder of the Romanian Skete of the Honourable Forerunner;
- Saint Nectarios the Protopsaltes (November 18), also from the brotherhood of the Prodromos Skete.
In the notification signed by Bishop Ioannis of Skiathos, Secretary General of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece, hierarchs are urged to inform clergy and faithful of this canonical decision and to honour the newly canonised saints “through sacred services and annual commemorations.”
The document highlights the liturgical and spiritual significance of the recognition, stating that the Romanian Athonite fathers are to be glorified “with hymns of praise, having their intercession before God at all times.”
The inclusion of the four Romanian elders in the Synaxarion of the Church of Greece affirms the significant contribution of Romanian monasticism to the spiritual life of Mount Athos.
Photo: Lumina Newspaper / Luigi Ivanciu
