Relics of Venerable Olympia of Fărcașa uncovered in Romania

The uncovering of the relics of Venerable Olympia. Photo: Doxologia Facebook page

On May 18, 2026, the rite of uncovering the relics of Venerable Olympia (Tănase) of Fărcașa took place in the Romanian village of Fărcașa, according to Romanian Orthodox Church media outlet Basilica.ro.

Participating in the solemn event were Bishop Makarie, Bishop Nichifor, Archimandrite Petroniy Marin – exarch of the monasteries of the Neamț region – as well as the grandchildren of the saintly ascetic. Immediately after the relics were raised, a moleben was served in the local Church of St. Nicholas, during which Bishop Nichifor spoke to the faithful about the saint’s life.

Venerable Olympia entered Church history not only through her own spiritual struggle, but also as the mother of the Athonite elder Petronios, the longtime abbot of the Romanian Prodromou Skete on Mount Athos. Bishop Nichifor emphasized that she became for her eight children “a firm anchor of faith.” According to the hierarch, one of the chief fruits of her spiritual upbringing was Elder Petronios himself, who “through his righteous life bore witness to the holiness of his mother” and was glorified among the saints even before her.

The life of St. Olympia was marked by strenuous physical labor and deep prayer. A physically strong woman, she mowed grass herself, cared for livestock, and every Saturday prepared donations for the needy. The final three years of her earthly life were spent in severe illness, which she endured with exceptional courage and faith.

“We found her bones exactly as we expected – her body had been a dwelling place of the Holy Spirit, and now we venerate her remains as holy relics,” Bishop Nichifor concluded.

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church canonized Olympia on July 1, 2025, establishing her feast day on July 4. Together with her, another 15 Romanian women were added to the ranks of the saints, and their glorification took place in February 2026 at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest.

As previously reported by the UOJ, believers in Zakarpattia commemorated the feast of the uncovering of the relics of Venerable Job of Uhliа. In Orthodox tradition, the rite of uncovering relics is performed after Church investigation and confirmation of the saint’s veneration among the faithful and in the liturgical life of the Church.

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