The relics of Saints Paisius (Olaru) and Cleopas (Ilie) of Sihăstria were exhumed on Monday and placed in specially crafted reliquaries.
The special exhumation service was officiated by Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia and Assistant Bishop Nichifor of Botoșani from the Archdiocese of Iași.
The personal belongings of the two revered monks, preserved in their graves, were placed in specially prepared boxes. At the end of the service, the holy relics were carried in procession and placed inside the main church of Sihăstria Monastery, where the rite was completed.
The exhumation followed the church’s canonical rules, ensuring the proper preparation of the holy relics, which will soon be placed into newly crafted reliquaries.
The local proclamation of their canonization is scheduled for August 7 during a solemn ceremony.
A Historic Year for the Romanian Orthodox Church
The year 2025 has been declared by the Romanian Patriarchate as the Solemn Year of the Patriarchate’s Centennial and the Commemorative Year of Romanian Orthodox Spiritual Fathers and Confessors of the 20th Century, marking an important milestone in the history of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Saints Paisie Olaru and Cleopa Ilie were canonized by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church in July 2024, and their feast day is set for December 2.
Photo: Doxologia.ro / Mihail Vrăjitoru
