His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania sent a letter of gratitude to His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I on Monday, following a ceremony at the Phanar over the weekend to sign the canonisation acts for four Romanian Athonite saints.
„In particular, the canonization of the four Athonite Fathers of Romanian origin – Hieromonk Niphon, Monk Nectarios the Protopsaltis, Hieromonk Dionysius of Kolitsou, and Hieromonk Petronius – is a reason of profound gratitude to God for the Romanian Orthodox Church”.
The Patriarch of Romania highlighted the role of the saints in strengthening relations among the sister Orthodox Churches: „The newly canonized Romanian Athonite Saints strengthen the communion among the Orthodox Churches and contribute to the deepening of pan-Orthodox fraternal relationships”.
„May the Heavenly Father pour out His grace and blessing upon Your Holiness and upon the Holy Church of Constantinople, and may the newly canonized Athonite Saints intercede before the Most Holy Trinity for the peace, unity, and well-being of the Orthodox Church”, transmitted His Beatitude.
Please find below Patriarch Daniel’s message.
His Holiness Bartholomew,
Archbishop of Constantinople – New Rome
and Ecumenical Patriarch
Your Holiness,
With profound spiritual joy in our Lord Jesus Christ, we received the news of the significant event that took place on Saturday, 29 August 2026, in the Patriarchal Church at the Phanar, following the conclusion of the proceedings of the Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, when the Patriarchal and Synodal Acts concerning the canonization of six Athonite Fathers were signed.
We are deeply moved and impressed by the spiritual significance of this blessed event. In particular, the canonization of the four Athonite Fathers of Romanian origin – Hieromonk Niphon, Monk Nectarios the Protopsaltis, Hieromonk Dionysius of Kolitsou, and Hieromonk Petronius – is a reason of profound gratitude to God for the Romanian Orthodox Church.
At the same time, we express to Your Holiness and to the members of the Holy Synod our heartfelt gratitude for this blessed event, which carries such profound spiritual and ecclesial significance.
We are fully assured that the liturgical commemoration and veneration of these newly canonized Romanian Athonite Saints will bring abundant spiritual benefit to the entire Orthodox world. Through their prayers before the Throne of the Most Holy Trinity and through the example of their holy lives, the newly canonized Romanian Athonite Saints strengthen the communion among the Orthodox Churches and contribute to the deepening of pan-Orthodox fraternal relationships.
On this blessed occasion, we convey to Your Holiness our fraternal wishes of good health, strength and abundant help from God in the pastoral and missionary work that you carry out in the service of the Ecumenical Patriarchate.
May the Heavenly Father pour out His grace and blessing upon Your Holiness and upon the Holy Church of Constantinople, and may the newly canonized Athonite Saints intercede before the Most Holy Trinity for the peace, unity, and well-being of the Orthodox Church.
With high esteem and fraternal embrace in our Lord Jesus Christ,
† Daniel
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Photo: Basilica.ro / Raluca-Emanuela Ene
