The Romanian Orthodox Church is getting ready for the inaugural liturgical observance of the Synaxis of Romanian Women Saints, a newly added feast to the Orthodox calendar following the Holy Synod’s decision on March 27, 2025.
The feast will be observed on the third Sunday after Holy Pascha, which is also dedicated to the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women.
Services at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest will follow the usual schedule: Great Vespers with Artoklasia will be served Saturday at 4 p.m., followed by the Divine Liturgy on Sunday morning at 9 a.m.
Patriarch Daniel’s message
In a message issued for the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women and the Synaxis of Romanian Women Saints, Patriarch Daniel said the Romanian holy women, “through their virtuous lives and courage have followed the example of the Myrrh-bearing Women, confessing the Risen Christ through prayer, word and deed.”
Reflecting on their spiritual witness, His Beatitude noted they shone “through deep humility, steadfast faith, sacrificial love, patience in trials and fearless confession of Christ in times of persecution,” recalling martyrs, confessors, monastics, wives, mothers, noblewomen and simple women of the people, known and unknown, as well as holy women whose relics are found in Romania.
Last year, the Holy Synod canonised sixteen Romanian women with a holy life, including martyrs, nuns and mothers of saints. Their solemn canonisation proclamation took place on February 6, 2026, at the Patriarchal Cathedral, with local proclamations to follow.
New saints from the Archdiocese of Bucharest
Among the newly canonised women from the Archdiocese of Bucharest are:
- Saint Maria Brâncoveanu, whose relics are kept at Saint George-New Church in Bucharest;
- Saint Philothea of Pasărea, mother of Saint Callinicus of Cernica;
- Venerable Martyr Eulogia of Samurcășești, whose relics rest at Samurcășești Monastery;
- Saint Elizabeth of Pasărea, whose relics are at Pasărea Monastery.
This year, the relics of two of these saints were exhumed at the monasteries of Pasărea and Samurcășești. Additionally, the relics of the Holy Princess Maria Brâncoveanu were exhumed at St George-New Church in Bucharest.
Year dedicated to holy women
The Holy Synod has designated 2026 as the Commemorative Year of Holy Women—myrrh-bearers, martyrs, monastics, wives and mothers.
In this context, the icon of the Synaxis of Romanian Women Saints has also become the icon of the commemorative year in the Romanian Patriarchate.
It depicts four groups of Romanian women saints: martyrs, monastics, simple women from among the faithful, and noblewomen or princesses.
Troparion of the Synaxis of Romanian Holy Women, tone 1:
Let us honour, O faithful, the holy women, the fruitful branches of the Gospel, the adornments of Romania, following their zeal for virtue and their spiritual struggles. Let us praise the martyrs, the venerable mothers, and the princely daughters, crying out: Glory to Him Who has crowned you! Glory to Him Who has sanctified you! Glory to Him Who through you is glorified on earth and in heaven!
Read more: Small Digital Matericon: Romanian Women Who Loved God
Photo: Basilica.ro / Raluca-Emanuela Ene
