“Today, a new spiritual jewel enters the sacred treasury of Râmeț Monastery: the honourable relics of Venerable Philotimia,” said Archbishop Irineu of Alba Iulia. “They will be venerated alongside those of Gelasius of Râmeț and Dometius the Merciful of Râmeț.”
The archbishop made the remarks at Râmeț Monastery on Thursday during the exhumation of the relics of Saint Philotimia, the mother of St Dometius the Merciful of Râmeț, who was also canonised by the Romanian Orthodox Church in 2024.
“From Venerable Philotimia, we learn to persevere in the struggle of life and to be kind and gracious to those around us. From her we also learn to accept patiently the pains, hardships and trials that come upon us, with the certainty that only on the narrow path of the Cross can we reach the Kingdom of the Holy Trinity,” the archbishop said.
“Now the spirit of St Philotimia, who rejoices together with the angels, says to the nuns here, with the words of Paul the Apostle: ‘Follow my example.’ And now her gentle soul tells all of us faithful, with the Apostle Peter: ‘Be holy in all your conduct; live the days of your earthly life in the fear of God.’”
The exhumation began in the early hours of the morning following the Divine Liturgy and was carried out in accordance with the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church’s guidelines and regulations, under the supervision of specialists in medicine and anthropology.
Relics of St Philotimia Placed Beside Those of Her Son at Râmeț Monastery
Following the exhumation, the relics were carried in procession to the church of Râmeț Monastery, where the liturgical rite concluded.
“Today we experienced moments of great joy at Râmeț Monastery, because the family of the Saints of Râmeț has been enriched with another saint, Venerable Philotimia, the mother of Dometius the Merciful of Râmeț,” Fr Oliviu Botoi, cultural adviser of the Archdiocese of Alba Iulia, told Radio Reîntregirea.
The relics will be permanently placed for veneration in the main church of Râmeț Monastery, beside those of the saint’s son, St Dometius the Merciful of Râmeț.
Saintly Discretion
Fr Oliviu Botoi recalled that the first part of the Venerable Philotimia’s life was closely connected with her family, whom she cared for with great responsibility as the mother of 12 children. She raised and educated them in the fear of God, many of them later becoming servants of the Church.
“She was a mother whose soul endured many sufferings, especially after the early passing of several of the children she had given birth to,” the adviser said.
“She also went through an illness and suffering from which God raised and miraculously healed her. In the second part of her life, after she was widowed, she drew closer to holy things and dedicated herself entirely to prayer and ascetic struggle at Râmeț Monastery, together with her son, Saint Dometius the Merciful of Râmeț, and her daughter, nun Eudoxia.”
“She lived in prayer and ascetic labour, but with a discretion characteristic of feminine holiness, until 1989, when she fell asleep in the Lord,” added the cultural adviser of the Archdiocese of Alba Iulia.
Patient and Prayerful
Stavrophore Apolinaria Barb, abbess of Râmeț Monastery, personally knew the saint.
“She had a radiant countenance that reflected kindness, gentleness, love and compassion for the monastery’s community and for all those around her. Since old age no longer allowed her to perform the monastery’s obediences, she prayed constantly in her cell, repeating ‘Lord Jesus’ or other short prayers flowing from a heart full of gentleness and goodness,” Abbess Apolinaria Barb said.
The abbess also recalled that Saint Dometius the Merciful of Râmeț, the saint’s son, praised his mother in a letter written in 1959, comparing her to a martyr.
“For us, the community of Râmeț Monastery, sister Philotimia was a model of a mother and monastic—full of patience, faith in God, devotion and love,” Abbess Apolinaria Barb added.
“I could say that both parents of Dometius the Merciful of Râmeț were very merciful people, even though they did not possess great material wealth. Their greatest treasure was faith and hope in the Good God and the Mother of God, which overcame all the trials of life.”
Nun Philotimia Manolache (1896–1989), the mother of Saint Dometius the Merciful of Râmeț, was canonised by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church in 2025 with the title Venerable Philotimia of Râmeț, Mother of St Dometius the Merciful, with her feast day established on 6 July.
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