{"id":556382,"date":"2026-01-20T12:44:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T10:44:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/?p=556382"},"modified":"2026-01-20T12:44:32","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T10:44:32","slug":"relics-saint-eulogia-samurcasesti-exhumed-example-of-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basilica.ro\/en\/relics-saint-eulogia-samurcasesti-exhumed-example-of-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Relics of Saint Eulogia of Samurc\u0103\u0219e\u0219ti exhumed, Bishop calls her an example of service"},"content":{"rendered":"

Venerable Evloghia \u021a\u00e2rlea is, for the nuns of this monastery and for nuns throughout the Orthodox Church\u2014especially within the Romanian Orthodox Church\u2014\u201can example of service,\u201d Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova said last Thursday as the relics of St Eulogia were exhumed at Samurc\u0103\u0219e\u0219ti-Ciorog\u00e2rla Monastery in Ilfov County.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The saint, canonised<\/a> last year by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, was an example \u201cin word, in deed, and in her final witness, since, following a brutal beating, her death was caused,\u201d Assistant Bishop Timotei recalled.<\/p>\n

\u201cSamurc\u0103\u0219e\u0219ti-Ciorog\u00e2rla Monastery now receives, in one of its churches and then, with God\u2019s help, in the main church\u2014after the other rites have been fulfilled\u2014the relics of a confessor nun, of a person who devoted herself to serving her neighbour, of someone who prayed much, of a nun who, as all sources say, was truly a bride of Christ,\u201d the hierarch said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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The relics of Saint Eulogia were exhumed at Samurc\u0103\u0219e\u0219ti-Ciorog\u00e2rla Monastery on Thursday, January 15, 2026. Photo: Basilica.ro \/ Raluca Ene<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe pray to St Eulogia and to all the striving nuns of this place, whose deeds have remained unknown and who, perhaps one day, will also be brought into the light, to help us follow this beautiful journey of their lives, which they fulfilled with abundant fruit and with blessing from Christ the Lord, the Saviour of our souls,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

Written testimonies are of crucial importance<\/h2>\n

The bishop particularly stressed the importance of recording good deeds by those who lived around the saints.<\/p>\n

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The special exhumation service was officiated by His Grace Timotei of Prahova, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest, Jan. 15, 2026. Photo: Basilica.ro \/ Raluca Ene<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cWe see how important it is to record certain events, even those which, at first glance, seem insignificant,\u201d the assistant bishop said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are a few cases\u2014some individuals\u2014who saved such heroes of the faith from being forgotten. And in our case, the one to whom we owe thanks is Father Nicodim Bujor.\u201d<\/p>\n

Protosyncellys Nicodim Bujor of Cernica Monastery recorded, over several pages, the miracles performed by Mother Eulogia for others and for himself.<\/p>\n

Commemorative year of holy women<\/h2>\n
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2026 was declared by the Romanian Patriarchate a Commemorative Year of the Holy Women in the church calendar. Photo: Basilica.ro \/ Raluca Ene<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Those attending the exhumation included Archimandrite Nectarie \u0218ofelea, Exarch of Monasteries of the Archdiocese of Bucharest; Protosyncellus Simeon Cu\u021bui, cultural exarch of the archdiocese; Fr \u0218tefan Zar\u0103, diocesan adviser in the Culture and Media Communications Department; R\u0103zvan Mihai Clipici, patriarchal adviser in the Culture, Painting and Restoration Department of the Patriarchal Administration; as well as the nuns and spiritual fathers of the Samurc\u0103\u0219e\u0219ti-Ciorog\u00e2rla community.<\/p>\n

Last year, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church announced the canonisation of 16 holy women\u2014nuns, wives and mothers (martyrs, monastics, wives of rulers, mothers of saints and confessors).<\/p>\n

Their canonisation will be proclaimed this year, designated by the Romanian Patriarchate as the Commemorative Year of Holy Women in the Church calendar (myrrh-bearing women, martyrs, monastics, wives and mothers).<\/p>\n

The life of St Eulogia of Samurc\u0103\u0219e\u0219ti<\/a><\/h2>\n
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Mosaic inside the National Cathedral in Bucharest depicting Saint Eulogia of Samurc\u0103\u0219e\u0219ti. Photo: Basilica.ro \/ Raluca Ene<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Venerable Martyr Eulogia of Samurc\u0103\u0219e\u0219ti (December 19) was born on 24 November 1908 in Nimfeo, within a historic Vlach community in northern Greece, receiving the baptismal name Ecaterina.<\/p>\n

She soon became motherless and endured many hardships at the hands of her stepmother, who one day pushed her off a haystack. The child fractured her spine and was left disabled for nine years.<\/p>\n

Sent to relatives in Bucharest, she went through difficult years of suffering and illness. In 1927, when she fell ill with peritonitis and all her relatives believed she would die, the Mother of God and St Catherine the Great Martyr appeared to her and healed her.<\/p>\n

Later, she responded to the Saviour\u2019s calling, heard in a dream, and began missionary work, preaching the faith. In 1939, she entered the monastic community at Samurc\u0103\u0219e\u0219ti, where she helped restore the monastery after the 1940 earthquake.<\/p>\n

She continued her preaching during the persecution of the atheistic communist regime, which ultimately led to her martyrdom. Beaten savagely for preaching goodness in a village in C\u0103l\u0103ra\u0219i County, she fell asleep in the Lord at her monastery on 19 December 1949.<\/p>\n

See also:<\/p>\n