Today, March 3, 2022, at the Monastery of Sihăstria Râșcăi, the synaxis of the abbots, abbesses and spiritual directors of monasteries and hermitages of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuților took place. The meeting, which aimed to reinvigorate and strengthen monastic life, was chaired by His Eminence Calinic and was held in the „St. John of Râșca” Hall in the monastic establishment.
The event was attended by the Most Rev. Paraschiv Dabija, administrative vicar, arch. Melchisedec Velnic, exarch of the monasteries, protos. Dosoftei Dijmărescu, cultural exarch, and area exarchs, arch. Nectarie Clinici and arhim. Mihail Balan, as well as Fr. Aurel Goraș, dean of the Câmpulung Moldovenesc Deanery, and Fr. Adrian Dulgheriu, dean of the Fălticeni Deanery.
The meeting started with a prayer Heavenly King, The roll call was followed by the presentation of the paper „The Actuality of Saints Simeon the New Theologian, Gregory Palamas and Paisios of Neamt in the life of monks; the importance of prayer”, presented by the priest Gherasim Soca from Putna Monastery. The paper aimed to bring to the attention of those present important aspects of the lives of the three saints and to emphasize that their teachings are still relevant today. At the same time, the importance of the moments of prayer in the life of a monk and the path to asceticism was emphasized.
„In the life of our Church we are gifted by God, at a time well known to Him, with great spiritual fathers who become landmarks of ascetical, dogmatic and liturgical awareness. Some stand out for the depth of their theological thought, others for their ability to guide Christian communities, lay or monastic, others for their mystical experience of prayer. But all are guided and permeated by the same Holy Spirit who makes Christ present in their hearts. It is through them that God guides us through the ages, until the mystery of eternal life is revealed, which will take place in its fullness at the end of the ages. Among these great Fathers and Saints we have Saints Simeon the New Theologian, Gregory Palamas and Paisie Velicicovski, to whom the 2022 anniversary year has been dedicated. There is much we can learn from the parables of their lives and their writings. (...) Keeping before our eyes the parable of such saints and sharing in their prayers, as those who stand as intercessors for the whole world before the Most Blessed Trinity, we also hope that we may share at least a little of their gifts and experience, to our salvation and to the glory and joy of God.”
This was followed by the screening of the film „Spiritual Words from Contemporary Romanian Fathers”, which synthesizes the edifying words of the great Romanian spiritual fathers of the last decades. The audio-video began with the words of Arch. Arsenie Papacioc, emphasizing the importance of living the presence of Christ. This was followed by Arch. Cleopa Ilie, speaking on the connection between the guard of the mind and the Prayer of Jesus, and saving exhortations from the Holy Fathers were delivered by Arch. Iachint Unciuleac. Next, Archpriest Sofian Boghiu explained why we fail to acquire Prayer his Jesus, Dumitru Stăniloae spoke about the beauty of Orthodoxy. The closing words of blessing from Arch. Paisie Olaru.
His Eminence Archbishop Calinic recalled that the steps have begun to start the construction of a hermitage in Vadu Negrilesei, near the place of hermitage of the hermit Cleopa Ilie. Given that the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church is taking steps for the canonization of the great spiritual leader in 2025, the monastic settlement will be dedicated to Fathers Cleopa and Paisie from the Neamț Monastery. At the same time, the hierarch announced that this year will be rich in spiritual, cultural, theological events, celebrating anniversary events at the monasteries of St. John the New, Solca and Părhăuți.
In the second part, discussions were held on spiritual and administrative issues, including the necessary steps to obtain funds for the construction or restoration of monastic settlements and annexes, the improvement of monastery premises and their condition. An important point of these discussions was the project to support Ukrainian refugees. Archbishop Paraschiv Dabija presented a summary of the actions undertaken by the Archdiocese of Suceva and Rădăuților to help those affected by the military conflict in the neighboring country. Many concrete aspects of the current situation in the two humanitarian support centers, both at the Siret border crossing point and at the Burdujeni railway station in Suceava, were presented. At the same time, data were presented on the humanitarian aid sent by our diocese to Ukraine.
His Eminence thanked all those who responded positively to the appeal launched by the archdiocese since February 24 and urged them to continue in this vast philanthropic endeavor. The monasteries of the diocese have made available to the Ukrainian refugees numerous places of accommodation, warm meals, food and above all spiritual assistance, so necessary for the bereaved hearts of those who arrive in Romania. Furthermore, His Eminence Calinic announced that the Eparchial Center of Suceava will send out a circular tomorrow a circular through which in every place of worship in the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuților special prayers will be recited during the ectensia for the peace of the whole world.
His Eminence the Most Reverend Father Damaschin Dorneanul urged both the abbots and abbesses, as well as the confessors, to work to strengthen the monastic community, in recent years noting a decrease in the number of those who choose the monastic path.
At the end, there was a prize-giving ceremony for the monastic establishments declared winners in the eparchial competition „The best-kept cemetery”. The representatives of the monasteries of Putna and Slatina, as well as of the Monastery „The Entrance of the Mother of God into the Church” Rădăuți received from His Eminence Calinic Order „Saint Worshippers Daniil The hermit”, since „they followed the example of St. Daniil the Hermit, a lover of God and neighbor, a harsh and wise teacher, a lover of prayer and isychesis, who strengthened the spiritual life of Bucovina and spiritually formed many monks and believers.”
Each participant received a copy of the volumes of sermons signed by His Eminence the Most Reverend Father Calinic, the commentary on the Paraclete of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as well as the volume „Tanatology and Immortality”, recently republished by the Crimca Publishing House of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuților.
