The Romanian Orthodox Church has canonized sixteen new saints during the synodal sessions held on July 11-12. Among these, Venerable Sofian of St Anthimos Monastery stands out as the first Orthodox saint to have lived in the 21st century.

Saint Sofian Boghiu

Saint Sofian (Serghei Boghiu) was born on October 7, 1912, in Cuconeștii Vechi, Bălți County, Bessarabia, and reposed in the Lord on September 14, 2002, at Saint Anthimos Monastery in Bucharest, also known as Antim Monastery.

Elder Sofian became a novice at Rughi Monastery, Soroca County, in 1926 at the age of 14. He later studied at the Chanters’ School of Dobrușa Monastery, the Monastic Seminary at Cernica Monastery (1932-1940), the Academy of Fine Arts in Bucharest (1940-1945), and the Faculty of Theology in Bucharest (1942-1946).

He took monastic vows at Dobrușa Monastery, receiving the name Sofian in 1937. He was ordained a hierodeacon in 1939 and then a hieromonk in 1945 for Antim Monastery in Bucharest, where he served as abbot from 1950-1955 and again in the last years of his life.

In 1958, he was arrested among the members of the “Burning Bush” hesychast movement and sentenced to 15 years in prison. He was released in 1964.

He remained at St Anthimos Monastery until the end of his earthly life and was buried at Căldărușani Monastery.

Saint Sofian Boghiu also painted several churches, including Deir-el Harf Monastery in Lebanon, Homs Cathedral in Syria, a church in Hama, Radu Vodă Monastery, and Darvari Skete.

The Next 21st-century Orthodox Saints may also be Romanians

The following Orthodox saints who lived in the 21st century may also be two Romanians, but the Ecumenical Patriarchate will decide their canonization, as they lived on Mount Athos. They are Hieroschemamonk Dionisie Ignat (1909-2004) and Archimandrite Petroniu Tănase (1914-2011).

If the process is completed, their canonization will be proclaimed in 2025, along with the other sixteen saints canonized by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church last week.

In 2025, the Romanian Orthodox Church will celebrate 140 years since the recognition of its autocephaly and 100 years since its elevation to the rank of Patriarchate.

Photo: Basilica.ro