Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti on Thursday evening officiated the final memorial service for the 16 newly canonised Romanian holy women, stressing that “holiness is accessible to every Christian who desires it and seeks it at any time”.
The service was held at the Patriarchal Cathedral and was preceded by Great Vespers. Bishop Varlaam said that the year 2026—dedicated to the pastoral care of the Christian family and to the holy women of the Church calendar (myrrh-bearing women, martyrs, monastics, wives and mothers)—marks a new and significant moment of spiritual fulfilment in the life of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
“These 16 Romanian holy women each strove, in their own way, to attain salvation and union with God, which is the supreme purpose of human life,” he said.
Diversity of the saints
Bishop Varlaam underlined the diversity of these holy lives. “From a social point of view, we find an impressive diversity, from simple women to the wives of rulers,” he said.
He presented, in chronological order, the lives of the Romanian holy women, which span more than five centuries—from Saint Platonida of Argeș, born in the 15th century, to Saint Elizabeth of Pasărea, who reposed in the Lord in 2014.
“We must strengthen ourselves in faith, fill ourselves with the zeal they showed so fruitfully, and allow ourselves to be lifted up by the divine longing that carried them from earthly life to heavenly life,” the bishop said.
Cultivating holiness within the family
Bishop Varlaam added that the general proclamation of the canonisation of the 16 Romanian holy women represents “a catechesis meant to transmit, with the full power of example, the teaching of our Church about the family and about cultivating holiness within the family—capable of bringing forth saints”.
“Let us reflect on how important the family was in their lives and in their spiritual formation,” he urged.
The general proclamation of the canonisation of the 16 Romanian holy women took place on Friday at the Patriarchal Cathedral, following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy.
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