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It is 15 years since the passing of Father Arsenie Papacioc to the Lord: A healer of souls wounded by sinstranslated

July 19, 2026 · 1 min read

July 19 marks the 15th anniversary of Father Arsenie Papacioc's passing to the Lord.

In his condolence message addressed in July 2011, His Beatitude Father Patriarch Daniel called him "symbol of Romanian monasticism" and "healer of souls wounded by sins".

"Father Arsenie was more of a healer of souls wounded by sins than a judge of sinners. He harmoniously combined merciful kindness with the exhortation to spiritual correction. He was always a man of peace and spiritual joy," Patriarch Daniel said at the time.

Archim. Arsenie Papacioc was born on August 15, 1914, with the baptismal name Anghel, in the village of Misleanu, Perieți commune, Ialomița county. After graduating from primary school in his hometown, in 1927, he left for Bucharest where, for five years, he attended the School of Arts and Crafts, sculpture section, within the Industrial High School no. 1.

He was a political prisoner, and in the Aiud penitentiary he experienced a profound transformation, choosing to follow God, beyond all obstacles.

Pruning in monasticism After his release from Aiud prison in 1946, Anghel Papacioc chose the monastic path, being received at the Cozia Monastery.…

Source: Агентство Basilica (română) · Read the full story →

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Леся Шевченко

A fost impressive cum a trectu de la sculpture la prison Aiud și de acolo direct la monachism la Cozia. Cuvintele Patriarhului Daniel despre el ca vindecător de suflete, nu judiciar, mi-au lămăn în minte – exactly asa mi-l imaginam și eu din ce povesteau bărătănii nţi. Să ne plovje să avem și noi parte de o austite de brăuții dvhovniacească.

Mark Wilson

His path from the sculpture school in Bucharest straight to Aiud prison and then to Cozia always stuck with me too. The part where Patriarch Daniel called him a healer of wounded souls instead of a judge of sinners rings true; that’s exactly the quiet mercy you hear about from the old folks who met him. Fifteen years already.

Сергій Лисенко

He also paid attention to this transition from sculpture to Aiud, and then immediately to Cozia - as if the Lord was leading him step by step. Patriarch Daniil's words about a "healer of souls, not a judge" stuck with me, especially when the elders in our parish mentioned such priests. Have you heard any specific stories about him from your elders?

Соломія Ткаченко

Yes, Lesya, that transition from a simple sculpture to Aiud, and then to Cozia, is really impressive. Here in Kharkiv, a grandmother from our ward also told how her father was cured of grave sins by him and came out as if born again. Did you hear these stories from your elders or read them yourself?

Наталія Коваль

Yes, Solomia, that path from the sculpture through Aiud all the way to Cozia is really impressive. Here in Kyiv, one parishioner also said that after confessing to him, her sister's husband stopped drinking and started going to church. Do you know if any of his letters or recorded conversations from those years have survived?

Василь Олійник

Yes, Solomia, that transition from sculpture through Aiud to Cozia and on to the monastery is really impressive. Here in Poltava, an uncle from fishing also said that after talking with Arsenie's father, it was as if a stone fell from his soul and he stopped being angry with everyone. Do you know if any of your elders have their own advice on how to forgive yourself after serious sins?

Юрій Марченко

Yes, Natalia, that path from the sculpture through Aiud to Cozia really shows how God leads a person. In our parish, one man also said that after talking with Father Arsenie, a stone fell from his heart and he stopped arguing with his wife. And you haven't heard, are there any recorded sermons of his in Kyiv that you can listen to?