Sixteen Romanian Holy Women Proclaimed Saints in Bucharest

Photo: basilica.ro

BUCHAREST — On Friday, the Romanian Orthodox Church formally proclaimed the canonization of 16 Romanian Holy Women during a solemn ceremony at the Patriarchal Cathedral, celebrated at the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy presided over by His Beatitude Patr. Daniel together with members of the Holy Synod.

The official act of proclamation was presented by Patriarchal Vicar Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, Secretary of the Holy Synod. In the Synodal Tomos, the newly canonized saints are described as “spiritual mothers of the Romanian nation,” praised for their humility, faith, and endurance through persecution and hardship.

In his address, Patr. Daniel emphasized their enduring significance, stating: “The 16 Romanian Holy Women, canonized in 2025 and proclaimed today in the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, are important spiritual landmarks . . . who show us, as spiritual mothers of the Romanian people, the path that leads to Christ.” He added that they “sanctified their lives through humility and love of neighbor, through their strong faith and confessional courage.”

Many of the saints were wives and mothers who transmitted the Orthodox faith within family life, while others were nuns, martyrs, and confessors. Patr. Daniel underscored that they are “models of piety, sacrificial love, and confessional courage,” especially relevant as 2026 has been designated by the Romanian Orthodox Church as the Year of Tribute to the Christian Family and Holy Women.

Hi-res images of the proclamation and of the icons of the canonized women can be seen here: proclamation and procession; a second group of procession images; and large portrait images of the icons of each of the saints. 

Previously, the UOJ reported that Fr. Roman Braga was proposed for canonization. 

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