Sunday, 31 January 2016, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem proclaimed Ioan Iacob from Neamt as a saint.
The proclamation festivities of canonisation were led by His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem, who celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the church monastery of Saint Pious George from Hozeva in the Holy Land, together with 11 hierarchs from several Orthodox countries.
The Romanian Patriarchate was represented at this event by a delegation headed by His Grace Timotei Prahoveanul, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest.
After the Divine Liturgy the Proclamation Tomos was read.
His Grace Timotei Prahoveanul delivered a speech in which he showed that this event was of greatest importance referring to the multitude of faithful and clergy present.
“An event of overwhelming importance took place today at the Monastery of Saint George the Hosevite from Hozeva desert. Besides the holy and righteous men who lived in this part of the world there is also the first Romanian saint recognised by the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. 24 years after the Orthodox Church ranked him among the saints, the Patriarchate of Jerusalem recognised this canonisation too. Maybe never before so many faithful and also Romanians attended the Divine Liturgy as in Hozeva desert. More than 1000 faithful, tens of priests, monks and nuns, and 11 hierarchs venerated the one who – as the Patriarch of Jerusalem said – lived a harsh life in vigil, fasting and prayer”.
The decision to proclaim the canonisation of Saint Ioan Iacob from Neamt was taken during the working session of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem in the autumn of 2015.
Pious Ioan Iacob from Neamt is one of the Romanian contemporary saints. He lived for 24 years in the Holy Land, both in the Jordan Valley and in Hozeva desert. Our Church canonised him in 1992, with 5 August celebration day.
