+) Hieromartyr Theodosius of Brazi monastery, metropolitan of Moldova; Hieromartyr Phocas, bishop of Sinope

Orthodox Calendar, September 22 Hieromartyr Theodosius of Brazi He was born in Vrancea region, Romania, in the first half of the seventeenth century, and because he loved the monastic life from his youth, he acquitted himself worthily in the angelic state.

Meditating day and night on the Law of God and learning all beneficial teachings from the experienced spiritual teachers from the monasteries of Southern Moldavia, he was elected abbot of Bogdana Monastery, in Bacau County, where he rebuilt this holy place of worship.

For his worthiness and his commitment to monastic rules, he was ordained Bishop of Rădăuți in 1670, and the next year he was appointed Bishop of Roman.

Because he truly loved God’s holy places, he greatly helped the sketes and monasteries in his diocese, and supported Christians passing through tribulations or poverty.

In 1647, the Holy and Learned Metropolitan Dositheus (Dosoftei) was forced to withdraw to Poland together with the Moldavian Ruler Prince Ştefan Petriceicu. At that time, Moldavia was oppressed by the Turkish and Tatar armies, who named a member of the Cantacuzine family, Dumitrascu, to the throne of Moldavia.

The new prince, observing…