Patronal Feast of Sihastria Putnei Monastery: In 19 years ‘the wilderness of before bloomed like a lily’

Leading the patronal feast of Sihastria Putnei Monastery, His Eminence Archbishop Pimen referred to the re-establishment of the monastic settlement noting that since 1990 ‘through the blessing of God and with the generosity of believers (…) the wilderness of before bloomed like a lily.’

‘With every small contribution was made what we see here today. After 1989 we started with little and look what we have now. So many cells, so many spaces for pilgrims, this beautiful church, and so many people coming to the monastery. Who would have thought then that we would achieve these?’ said the Archbishop during his homily on the feast day of Saints Silas, Paisios and Nathan, May 16, 2019.

The beginnings of monastic life at Sihastria Putnei go back to the middle of the fifteenth century. Unfortunately, in 1775, the monastery was abolished by the Habsburg Empire. The monastery was re-established in 1990.

Monk playing the semantron marking the beginning of the festal service. Photo: Basilica.ro / Raluca Ene

Archbishop Pimen remembered the difficulties encountered at the beginning when a priest, a chanter, and a monk came from the neighbouring Putna Monastery to hold the services.

‘The work, honour, faith, spiritual feats, all of them, by the grace of God and with your generosity, made the wilderness of before to bloom as a lily, the flower with the most powerful scent,’ he said.

At the beginning of Great Lent in 1990, a monk of Putna Monastery, who came to this location saw a heavenly light surrounding the church.

Shortly afterwards, on April 24, 1990, when the reconstruction of the monastic settlement began, the monks discovered the holy relics of the Venerable Fathers Silas, Paisios, and Nathan, spreading a wonderful fragrance throughout the area.

Archbishop Pimen blesses believers at the patronal feast of Sihăstria Putnei Monastery. Photo: Basilica.ro/Raluca Ene

Canonization of Putna Saints

On the 550^th anniversary of the foundation of Putna Monastery and the 20^th anniversary of the re-consecration of the old church of Sihastria Putnei, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church resolved to glorify the three Venerable Fathers Silas, Paisios and Nathan to be celebrated every year on May 16.

The canonization ceremony was held on May 14, 2017.