Constantinople Canonizes Two More Romanian Athonites

Ss. Nifon (left) and Nektarie (right). Photo: Basilica News Agency

ISTANBUL — The Patriarchate of Constantinople has officially canonized two revered Romanian monastics from Mount Athos: Hieroschemamonk Nifon (Ionescu), founder of the Romanian Prodromou Skete, and St. Nectarie (Crețu) the Protopsaltis, known as “the Nightingale of Athos.”

According to Basilica News Agency, the Holy Synod approved the canonizations during its meeting on Saturday, Oct. 18. The two monks were first proposed for canonization in May 2024 by the Holy Synod of the Metropolis of Muntenia and Dobrudja.

Pat. Daniel of Romania hailed the decision, describing St. Nectarie as “one of the greatest Romanian hesychasts who lived on Mount Athos,” widely venerated by monks of many nationalities.

This follows the August canonizations of two other Romanian Athonite elders — St. Dionisie (Ignat) of Kolitsou and St. Petroniu (Tănase) of Prodromou — reflecting a broader recognition of the Romanian spiritual legacy on the Holy Mountain.

St. Nifon, a disciple of Archimandrite Irinarh Roseti, left the Holy Mountain for a time and founded Bucium Skete in Romania before returning to Athos, where he lived in seclusion near the sea.

St. Nectarie, born in Huși in 1804, became renowned across Athos for his spiritual depth and mastery of Byzantine chant, considered the protopsaltis of the Holy Mountain.

Previously, UOJ reported that the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, meeting Aug. 30–31, formally canonized two Romanian elders of Mount Athos: Hieroschemamonk Dionisie (Ignat) of Colciu and Archimandrite Petroniu (Tănase) of Prodromou Skete.

Read also