Who are the 16 Romanian women who are among the saints today? The canonization ceremony, officiated by Patriarch Daniel

The ceremony of the general proclamation of the canonization of 16 Romanian women with a holy life will be officiated by the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Blessed Father Daniel, surrounded by the hierarchs of the Holy Synod, on Friday, at the Patriarchal Cathedral.

The program will begin at 7:45 with the procession of the holy relics from the Patriarchal Cathedral – of Saint Venerable Demetrius the New, of Saints Emperors Constantine and Elena and of Saint Hierarch Nectarius of Aegina – as well as those of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine from the Patriarchal Residence, to be placed in the Baldachin of the Saints, in order to facilitate pilgrims' access to worship, according to a press release from the Romanian Patriarchate, quoted by Agerpres.

Between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., the Holy Liturgy will be celebrated in the Patriarchal Cathedral by His Beatitude Father Patriarch Daniel, together with the members of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Towards the end, before the end of the Holy Liturgy, the solemnity of the general proclamation of the canonization of the 16 Romanian women with holy lives will take place by the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Blessed Father Daniel, surrounded by the hierarchs of the Holy Synod.

Who are the 16 Romanian women with holy lives?

Last year, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church approved the canonization of 16 women with holy lives (martyrs, monks, wives of rulers, mothers of saints and confessors).

It is about:

• Mrs. Maria Brâncoveanu (1661 – 1729), wife of the Holy Voivode Martyr Constantin Brâncoveanu, with the title of Holy Lady Maria Brâncoveanu and with honor on August 16;
• Schimonahia Filofteia Antonescu from Pasărea Monastery (half of the 18th century – 1833), with the title of Saint Pious Filofteia from Pasărea, mother of the Saint Hierarch Calinic from Cernica and honored on April 12;
• The Martyr Nun Evloghia Șârlea from the Samurcășești-Ciorogârla Monastery (1908 – 1949), with the title of Holy Pious Martyr Evloghia from Samurcășești and honored on December 19;
• Bishop Elisabeta Lazăr from Pasărea Monastery (1970 – 2014), with the title of Saint Elisabeta from Pasărea and honored on June 5;
• The Platonida Nun (1487-1554), the wife of the Holy Voivode Neagoe Basarab, with the title of Saint Pious Platonida from Argeș (formerly Despina Milița, the voivode's wife) and with honor on September 26;
• Măndălina Cătălinici (1895-1962) with the title of Saint Magdalena from Mălainita and with honor on October 15;
• Schimonahia Mavra from Ceahlău mountain (17th-18th century) with the title of Saint Pious Mavra from Ceahlău and with honor on May 4;
• Schimonahia Nazaria, the first abbess of the Văratic Monastery (1697-1814), with the title of Saint Pious Nazaria from Văratic and honored on August 17;
• Schimonahia Olimpiada, founder of the Varatic Monastery (1757-1842), with the title of Saint Pious Olimpiada from Văratic and honored on August 17;
• Olimpia Tănase (1880-1967), mother of Reverend Petroniu from Prodromu, with the title of Saint Olimpia from Fărcașa and with honor on the 4th of July;
• Blandina Gobjila (1906-1971), teacher, deported to Siberia for 15 years, with the title of Holy Confessor Blandina from Iasi and honored on May 24;
• Nun Elisabeta (Safta) Brâncoveanu (1776-1857), with the title of Saint Elisabeta (Safta) Brâncoveanu and with honor on August 17;
• Anastasia Șaguna (1785-1836), mother of Saint Hierarch Andrei Șaguna, with the title of Saint Anastasia Șaguna, mother of Saint Hierarch Andrei Șaguna and with honor on December 1;
• Nun Philotimia Manolache from Râmeț Monastery (1896-1989), mother of Saint Pious Dometie the Merciful from Râmeț, with the title of Saint Pious Philotimia from Râmeț, mother of Saint Pious Dometie the Merciful and with honor on July 6;
• Nun Antonina Diaconu from Tismana Monastery (1923-2011), with the title of Saint Antonina from Tismana and honored on December 23;
• The nun Matrona Ciupelea, abbess of the Hurezi Monastery (1852-1935), with the title of Saint Pious Matrona of Hurezi and honored on May 5.