{"id":535818,"date":"2025-07-23T17:41:07","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T14:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=535818"},"modified":"2025-07-24T11:32:25","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T08:32:25","slug":"romanian-patriarch-reliquaries-saints-paisius-cleopas-sihastria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/romanian-patriarch-reliquaries-saints-paisius-cleopas-sihastria\/","title":{"rendered":"Romanian Patriarch blesses reliquaries of Saints Paisius and Cleopas of Sih\u0103stria"},"content":{"rendered":"

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel blessed on Wednesday the reliquaries designated for the holy relics of Saints Paisius (Olaru) and Cleopas (Ilie) of Sih\u0103stria.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The blessing service took place at the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest, in the presence of Archimandrite Arsenie Popa, abbot of Sih\u0103stria Monastery in Neam\u021b County.<\/p>\n

The reliquaries were crafted from silver at the Workshops of the Romanian Patriarchate.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese two reliquaries were prepared for the two venerable elders from Sih\u0103stria, Paisius Olaru and Cleopas Ilie. They are intended for the local proclamation of their canonization, which will take place this year on August 7th at Sih\u0103stria Monastery,\u201d explained Patriarch Daniel.<\/p>\n

His Beatitude noted that the two monastics were great confessors of the faith and spiritual guides.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese reliquaries will be taken to the monastery and will house the holy relics of the two venerable saints, who were outstanding confessors of the faith, spiritual fathers, and guides for thousands of pilgrims. During the communist regime, many came to the monastery to pray, confess, and receive spiritual counsel.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saints Loved by the People<\/h2>\n

Patriarch Daniel noted that Saints Paisius and Cleopas were contemporaries and greatly loved by the faithful.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were contemporary saints and are deeply beloved by the people. Therefore, the local proclamation of their canonization will be a special event. On this occasion, we will delegate the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploie\u0219ti to represent us at Sih\u0103stria, since he was born in the Boto\u0219ani area, just like Elders Paisius and Cleopas, and he used to confess to them during seminary.\u201d<\/p>\n

His Beatitude recalled that Sih\u0103stria Monastery was home to many gifted monks:
\n\u201cOne was gifted in iconography\u2014Father Vartolomeu Florea; another in publishing\u2014Father Ioanichie B\u0103lan; but in spiritual guidance, the most gifted were Elder Paisius and Elder Cleopas, who was also a great preacher.\u201d<\/p>\n

Saint Paisius Olaru is considered one of the greatest hesychasts of the 20th century.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis became evident during the exhumation of their remains, when the sweet fragrance from their relics spread not only around the grave but throughout the entire cemetery at Sih\u0103stria. Father Paisius was extremely humble and discreet, resembling the 14th-century Athonite hermits and the 18th-century hesychasts from the time of Saint Paisius Velichkovsky of Neam\u021b.\u201d<\/p>\n

Patriarch Daniel also thanked Archimandrite Dionisie Constantin, coordinator of the Patriarchal Workshops, and Archimandrite Ciprian Gr\u0103dinaru, who helped facilitate the donation of the reliquaries.<\/p>\n

As a token of gratitude, the monastic community of Sih\u0103stria Monastery gifted Patriarch Daniel an icon depicting Saints Paisius and Cleopas of Sih\u0103stria.<\/p>\n