Pious Saints Joseph (15th Century) and Kyriakos (17th Century) of Bisericani (1 October)

Iulian Dumitrascu – Basilica News Agency – October 2016

Venerable Joseph from Bisericani was born in a village in Neamţ region, in the 15^thcentury. He wished to join the monastic life since he was young, so that he joined the community of Bistriţa Monastery. He was tonsured in monasticism there and learned the spiritual life, fasting and permanent prayer from the old fathers. Later on, Venerable Joseph received his igumen’s blessing to go to pray at the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Then, he retired into the desert in the Jordan Valley where he became a famous hermit in only a few years. There he lived in a cave, first alone, and then with a few disciples, suffering many temptations from the evil one. He lived a life of great spirituality and gathered 17 hermits around him,setting up the first Romanian monastic community in the Holy Land. But, after the Arabs invaded the Holy Places causing much turmoil, Venerable Joseph took his disciples and went to Moldavia, to Bistriţa Monastery. Thus, Joseph’s hermitage moved from the Jordan Valley to Moldavia, to Bisericani Mount.

After the number of disciples grew, he raised a small church dedicated to theAnnunciation, building also cells around it. He settled the akoimati (sleepless) order for the monastic community over there, according to the model of theStudites’ Monastery of Constantinople, which meant permanent prayer in the church and cells, fasting, bowing, psalm singing and obedience.

When the Turks invaded the country burning down the church, the monks decided to leave for the Holy Mount Athos. But the Holy Mother of God appeared on their way to Athos in an oak tree and asked them: “Where are you going?”. When they saw this wonderful sight, they said: “We are going to your garden!”. Then, the Mother of God told them: “Go back, because this is my garden too!”. They put an icon of the Mother of God at that place in the memory of this miracle. Later on, the Skete of Venerable Joseph was called “Bisericani Skete”, namely of those who always prayed in the church, because the monks were praying day and night, with tears in their eyes and many faithful were healed of diseases, through the prayer and blessing of Venerable Joseph. Thus, he piously lived to an old age, made miracles and passed away in peace.

Venerable Kyriakos from Bisericani lived as a monk at the beginning of the 17^thcentury at Bisericani Monastery, which numbered over 100 monks at the time. He retreated in wilderness, into a cave of Mount Simon, where he lived alone in austere conditions, for 60 years. He was staying in the mountains, in summer and winter, without proper clothing, in pure prayer, overcoming with the power of Christ the helplessness of nature and temptation of the devil.

Saint Hierarch Dosoftei, metropolitan of Moldavia, had met Venerable Kyriakos and, later on, after he fell asleep into the Lord he venerated his holy relics in the cave where he had lived, a cave that can still be seen today and where a chapel was raised in his honour.

Given their holy lives, on 6 March 2008, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church canonised Venerables Joseph and Kyriakos, being celebrated on 1 October.

Through their holy prayers, Christ, our God, have mercy on us. Amen.

Troparion, tone 1:

Advisors of the hermits, protectors of those in need and comforters of the saddened, oh, Pious Saints Joseph and Kyriakos, as the ones who achieved the fiery prayer and became chosen vessels of the Holy Spirit, pray to God to grant our souls peace and great mercy!

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