Romanian Church adds “Burning Bush” Icon to its liturgical calendar

The “Burning Bush” Icon of the Mother of God, kept at St. Anthim Monastery in Bucharest. Photo: Basilica.ro

The Romanian Orthodox Church has included the “Burning Bush” Icon of the Mother of God in its liturgical calendar. The decision was adopted by hierarchs at a Synod meeting on July 2, 2026, Basilica.ro reports.

September 4 was chosen as the annual day of veneration for the icon. The date coincides with the Church commemoration of the holy Prophet Moses, whose vision of the burning bush on Mount Sinai became the basis for the iconographic theme.

The especially revered icon is kept at St. Anthim Monastery in Bucharest. In the early 20th century, monks brought the image from Russia, and in 1929 it passed to the future hieroschemamonk Daniil (Sandu Tudor). Archimandrite Antipa (Burghelia) recalled the story of Tudor’s miraculous escape in 1941: during an assassination attempt, attackers fired 16 bullets through the window of his room, but he was unharmed, as only a few hours earlier he had unexpectedly moved his bed directly beneath the icon.

The iconography of the “Burning Bush” depicts the Virgin Mary at the center of an eight-pointed star, surrounded by angels and Old Testament prefigurations of the Theotokos. For centuries, the faithful have venerated the icon as protection from fires and natural disasters. In Romania, the icon also became a symbol of “urban hesychasm” – a movement calling clergy and laypeople to preserve inner prayer and Christian witness amid the everyday cares of the modern world.

Hieroschemamonk Daniil Sandu Tudor composed an akathist in honor of the icon, expressing humanity’s longing for God. Under the Synod’s decision, the new feast has now officially entered the Romanian calendar.

As the UOJ reported, the Romanian Church is also set to include St. Gabriel Urgebadze in its calendar.

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