Holy Synod approves canonization of 16 modern-day saints

On July 11-12, The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church held its working sessions at Patriarch Teoctist Aula Magna of the Patriarchal Palace under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.

The main new decisions of the Holy Synod are as follows:

a) Approval of the canonization of 16 Romanian saints, with some liturgical texts to be completed and all to be revised at a future session of the Holy Synod. These saints include:

Archimandrite Sofian Boghiu, abbot of St Anthimos Monastery in Bucharest, with the title Confessor Saint Sofian of St Anthimos Monastery, commemorated on September 16;
Father Dumitru Stăniloae, theology professor in Sibiu and Bucharest, with the title the Holy Confessor Priest Dumitru Stăniloae, commemorated on October 4;
Father Constantin Sârbu, with the title the Holy Priest-Martyr Constantine Sârbu, commemorated on October 23;
Protosyncellus Arsenie Boca, with the title Confessor Saint Arsenius of Prislop, commemorated on November 28;
Father Ilie Lăcătușu, with the title the Holy Confessor Priest Elijah Lăcătușu, commemorated on July 22;
Hieroschemamonk Paisie Olaru, confessor of Sihăstria Monastery, with the title Saint Paisius of Sihăstria, commemorated on December 2;
Archimandrite Cleopa Ilie, abbot of Sihăstria Monastery, with the title Saint Cleopas of Sihăstria, commemorated on December 2;
Archimandrite Dometie Manolache, with the title Saint Dometius the Merciful of Râmeț, commemorated on July 6;
Archimandrite Serafim Popescu, abbot of Sâmbăta de Sus Monastery, with the title Saint Seraphim the Enduring of Sâmbăta de Sus, commemorated on December 20;
Father Liviu Galaction Munteanu, theology professor in Cluj-Napoca, with the title the Holy Priest-Martyr Liviu Galaction of Cluj, commemorated on March 8;
Archimandrite Gherasim Iscu, abbot of Tismana Monastery, with the title Venerable Martyr Gerasimus of Tismana, commemorated on December 26;
Archimandrite Visarion Toia, abbot of Lainici Monastery, with the title Venerable Martyr Bessarion of Lainici, commemorated on November 10;
Protosyncellus Calistrat Bobu, confessor at Timișeni Monastery and Vasiova Monastery, with the title Saint Callistratus of Timișeni and Vasiova, commemorated on May 10;
Father Ilarion Felea, theology professor in Arad, with the title the Holy Priest-Martyr Hilarion Felea, commemorated on September 18;
Protosyncellys Iraclie Flocea, exarch of the monasteries of the Archdiocese of Chișinău, with the title Saint Heraclius of Bessarabia, commemorated on August 3;
Archpriest Alexandru Baltaga with the title the Holy Priest-Martyr Alexander of Bessarabia, commemorated on August 8;

b) Approval of the drafts for the volumes of the Synodal Synaxarion of the Romanian Orthodox Church for the months of February, March, April, May, June, July, and August, as well as the thirteenth volume, dedicated to the feasts of the Triodion and the Pentecostarion;

c) Approval of the draft text of the Akathist and Supplicatory canon to Saint and Righteous Lazarus and their inclusion in the liturgical books of the Romanian Orthodox Church;

d) Elevation to the rank of Archdiocese of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Great Britain with the title of Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to respond to the realities and pastoral-missionary needs and the parental care shown towards the faithful in this region.

Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate

Photos: Lumina Newspaper / Luigi Ivanciu