In the jubilee year marking “10 Years since the Canonization” of Saint Blessed Agafia of Cușelăuca, on Monday, June 22, 2026, the Primate of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir, presided over the Holy and Divine Liturgy at the Dormition of the Mother of God Monastery in Cușelăuca village, Șoldănești District.
Joining the Primate in prayer were His Eminence Longhin, Metropolitan of Bănceni; His Eminence Marchel, Archbishop of Bălți and Fălești; His Eminence Ioan, Archbishop of Soroca and Drochia; the Auxiliary Bishops, His Grace Siluan of Orhei and His Grace Filaret of Căpriana; Archpriest Vadim Cheibaș, Metropolitan Secretary; Archpriest Nicolae Craveț, Diocesan Secretary and Dean of Soroca; Archpriest Petru Spinei, spiritual father of the host monastery; deans, abbots, more than one hundred clergy from throughout the Metropolis of Moldova; Very Reverend Abbess Vera (Spinei), Mother Superior of the monastery; abbesses of monasteries; and numerous faithful who came to glorify Blessed Agafia, the swift helper and intercessor before the throne of the Most Holy Trinity.
In recognition of her diligent work for the benefit of the monastery, its pilgrims, and the Orthodox Church of Moldova, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir granted Mother Superior Abbess Vera the right to wear a second cross adorned with precious stones. In addition, Archpriest Rodion Zgureanu, parish priest of the Church of the Miracle of Saint Archangel Michael in Olișcani village, Șoldănești District, was granted the right to wear the Mitre. Among the clergy of the monastery, Priest Dionisie Tonu was granted the right to wear a cross with precious stones; Deacon David Spinei was granted the right to wear the double orarion; and Archpriest Mitred Petru Spinei was awarded the Second Degree Order of Saint Hierarch Gavriil Bănulescu-Bodoni.
The liturgical responses during the service were offered by the Episcopal Choir of Curchi Monastery under the direction of Mr. Dumitru Buga.
At the conclusion of the Divine Liturgy, His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir prayed before the reliquary containing the holy relics of Saint Blessed Agafia, after which he addressed the faithful, speaking about the life of the Saint and congratulating the monastic community of Cușelăuca Monastery, the concelebrating clergy, and the many faithful gathered for this celebration.
In closing, Metropolitan Longhin presented to His Eminence Metropolitan Vladimir a distinction awarded by His Beatitude Metropolitan Onufriy, Primate of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine — the Order of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine of Saint Venerable Anthony and Theodosius of the Kyiv Caves.
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Saint Blessed Agafia was born in 1819 into the family of Ioan and Eudochia Maranciuc. Paralyzed from early childhood, she was brought by her parents to Cușelăuca Monastery at the age of twelve in hopes of healing. Although she was not physically healed, through a heavenly vision of the Mother of God she learned that she would be granted the gift of healing others. Having grown to love the monastery, she remained there until her repose in 1873.
Considering the exemplary life of Saint Blessed Agafia and her spiritual struggles devoted to the service of Christ and His Church, following the report of His Eminence Vladimir, Metropolitan of Chișinău and All Moldova, together with the Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova, the Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church, during its session of July 15, 2016, on the feast day of the Holy Right-Believing Voivode Stephen the Great, under Journal No. 68, decided to include Blessed Agafia among the saints for local veneration in our Church and country.
It was also established that the feast day of Saint Blessed Agafia (Maranciuc) would be observed on June 9/22, the day of her repose. She is also commemorated on September 24, the day of her canonization.
Saint Blessed Agafia, pray to God for us!
Synodal Department for Institutional Communication and Media Relations
