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On 15th August 2019, the Feast Day of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos in the Romanian Orthodox Church, the Putna Monastery celebrated its patronal feast.

The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas (Romanian Orthodox Church), Metropolitan Ignatius of France, Western and Southern Europe (Orthodox Church of Antioch), and Archbishop Pimen of Suceava and Rădăuţi.

With the blessing of His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, Bishop Foma of Bronnitsy, abbot of the Donskoy Stavropegic Monastery in Moscow, attended the celebrations.

As a gift from the Donskoy abode, Bishop Foma presented the Putna Monastery with a set of embroidered chalice covers, a ‘Don’ Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos and an icon of St. Tikhon the Patriarch of All Russia, website of the Donskoy Monastery reports.

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The Putna Monastery is known as the “Jerusalem of the Romanian people.” Kept there are the relics of St. Stephen the Great, one of the most venerated Romanian princes. Stephen the Great ruled from 1457 to 1504 – the longest reign in the Romanian history. Of all the princes he alone was called Tsar by the Moldavian chronicle. During his reign Stephen the Great won 34 out of 36 battles. To mark each victory he would found a monastery or build a church.

Putna was the first and most famous abode built by the holy ruler in 1469. His spiritual father, St. Daniel the Hermit, lived in a stone cave two kilometers from the monastery. His cell still attracts numerous pilgrims. For over 500 years Putna has been the most important religious, historical and cultural centre of Romania. Three times – in 1871, 1904 and 2004 – it hosted nation-wide celebrations.

DECR Communication Service