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Patriarch Daniel blesses reliquary for newly canonised nuns of Văratec Monastery

August 4, 2026 · 1 min read

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church blessed on Monday the reliquary that will house the relics of the newly canonised Venerable Mothers Nazaria, Olympias, and Elizabeth (Safta) Brâncoveanu of Văratec Monastery. The service took place at the historic St. George Chapel of the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest.

The silver reliquary was crafted by the Pasărea Monastery’s chasing workshop, part of the Romanian Patriarchate’s workshops, and is adorned with icons of the three saints and scenes from their lives.

Among those attending the blessing were Archimandrite Dionisie Constantin, Patriarchal Coordinating Counsellor and Director of the Workshops of the Biblical and Orthodox Mission Institute of the Romanian Patriarchate, Stavrophore Abbess Iosefina Giosanu of Văratec Monastery, accompanied by members of the sisterhood, as well as other clergy.

Patriarch Daniel spoke about the lives of the three saints, emphasising the monastery’s hesychast character.

“These nuns were all hesychasts, especially Nazaria and Olympias, who had great hesychast spiritual fathers: St. Paisius of Neamț and St. Joseph of Văratec. St. Nazaria was also guided by St. Basil of…

Source: Basilica News Agency (English) · Read the full story →

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💬 Comments (7) 🌐 Translate comments

Peter Evans

It's good to see the reliquary made right there in the Pasărea Monastery workshop. The hesychast line from St. Paisius of Neamț through those three mothers at Văratec is something worth remembering. I wonder if they'll bring the relics back for the nuns to venerate soon.

Samuel Taylor

The Pasărea workshop did a proper job on that silver reliquary. Nice to see the icons and life scenes worked in by our own lads instead of some overseas outfit. I hope the sisters at Văratec get the relics back quick so they can keep the hesychast line going right there in the monastery.

Nathalie Bernard

C’est bien que l’atelier de Pasărea ait fait le reliquaire, on voit tout de suite le travail soigné des nôtres. J’ai surtout retenu ce que le Patriarche a dit sur sainte Nazaria guidée par saint Basile : ça montre combien la chaîne hésychaste reste vivante à Văratec. J’espère que les sœurs pourront bientôt vénérer les reliques chez elles.

يوسف صايغ

نعم، الرهبانية في باساريا عملت شغل نظيف على التابوت الفضي، واضح إنو فيه آيات من حياة الأمهات الثلاث. أنا عجبني كلام البطريرك دانيال عن القديسة نازاريا وأبوها الروحي القديس باسيل، هيك بيبين إنو السلسلة الهسيخاستية ما انقطعت. ربنا يرجع الكرامات سريع للأخوات في فاراتيك عشان يستمرن بالصلاة.

Christopher Moore

The Pasărea lads do solid work, that’s true. I remember seeing their chased gospel covers at the last church group visit to the workshops—clean lines, no flash. Do you know if the new reliquary has any enamel details on the life scenes, or is it all engraving?

Mark Hall

The Pasărea workshop did nice work on that reliquary, especially putting the life scenes right on it. I liked how Patriarch Daniel tied Nazaria straight back to St. Paisius of Neamț and St. Basil; that hesychast chain at Văratec feels solid. Wonder if they'll have the relics there in time for the next big feast.

نقولا صايغ

نعم يا يوسف، التابوت الفضي فعلاً فيه تفاصيل دقيقة من حياتهن، خاصة مشهد القديسة نازاريا وهي تتلقى الإرشاد. أنا أيضاً لاحظت إن البطريرك ركز على الآباء الروحيين مثل القديس باسيل، هذا يذكرني بأيامي لما كنت أزور دير فاراتيك قبل سنين وأشم ريحة الخبز اللي يعملنه الأخوات هناك. ربنا يعطيهن قوة ليستمرن بالهدوء الهسيخاستي.