The Romanian Patriarchate will canonize 16 female saints in 2026, as part of the Commemorative Year of Holy Women in the Church Calendar, according to announcements made by Patriarch Daniel on Monday evening during the working session of the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolis of Muntenia and Dobruja.
A similar number of saints – 16 – were proclaimed during the Patriarchate’s Centennial, but this new total was not pre-determined. “The number simply resulted from the standard procedures,” Patriarch Daniel clarified.
During the synodal meeting, Patriarch Daniel presented six proposals for canonization coming from the Archdiocese of Bucharest, the Archdiocese of Argeș and Muscel, and the Diocese of Dacia Felix:
- Lady Maria Brâncoveanu, wife of Saint Constantine Brâncoveanu
- Schema-nun Filofteia Antonescu from Pasărea Monastery
- Martyr-nun Evloghia Țârlea from Samurcășești Monastery
- Schema-nun Elisabeta Lazăr from Pasărea Monastery
- Nun Platonida (Despina Milița), wife of Saint Neagoe Basarab
- Măndalina (Magdalena) Milenco, a devout laywoman from the Romanian community in Mălainița, Timok Vicariate, Serbia
The canonization files for these six women are now under review on the official agenda of the Holy Synod.
Patriarch Daniel noted that the sixteen future saints will include monastics and mothers who raised children in the Orthodox faith. Their canonization is expected to be officially proclamated on the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women in 2026.
Patriarch Daniel emphasized the importance of developing liturgical texts and icons in parallel with the canonization procedures. Reflecting on this year’s canonizations, he noted the immense joy they brought to dioceses, schools, and religious education, especially among children.
“It’s amazing how these children grow to love the saints and paint their icons, even though they never saw them in life. Why? Because this isn’t just a formal or canonical act—it bears immense spiritual and pastoral fruit. It’s not only the institution at work, but above all the grace of God through His saints. As the Psalmist says: ‘God is wondrous in His saints!’”
The Synod also discussed transferring a relic of Saint Sofian the Confessor of Antim to the Church of Manta Parish in the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia, Republic of Moldova.
Another topic included adopting ecclesiastical and regulatory measures concerning clergy from other dioceses residing permanently or occasionally within the Archdiocese of Târgoviște.
The Metropolis of Muntenia and Dobruja includes ten dioceses: Bucharest, Tomis, Târgoviște, Argeș and Muscel, Buzău and Vrancea, Lower Danube, Slobozia and Călărași, Alexandria and Teleorman, Giurgiu, and Tulcea. Bishops from the Diocese of Dacia Felix and the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Hungary also participated in the synod.
Photo: Lumina Newspaper / Mihnea Păduraru
Source: basilica.ro
