Over 25,000 faithful pray at Romanian Nicula Monastery on Dormition feast

Tens of thousands of believers made a pilgrimage to a Romanian monastery. Photo: the Archdiocese of Cluj, Maramureș and Sălaj

More than 25,000 pilgrims took part in the festive Divine Liturgy at the Romanian Nicula Monastery on the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos on August 15, 2026, according to the new calendar. Law enforcement authorities estimated that over 70,000 faithful visited the monastery in the days leading up to the patronal feast, reports Basilica.ro.

Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj, Maramureș and Sălaj celebrated the Divine Liturgy with Bishop Nestor of Deva and Hunedoara and Bishop Nectarie of Ireland and Iceland.

The concelebrating clergy included Archimandrite Dumitru Cobzaru, Exarch of the Monasteries of the Archdiocese of Cluj; Father Dumitru Boca, Administrative Vicar of the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj; Archimandrite Andrei Coroian, former abbot of Nicula Monastery (2008–2012) and currently Honorary Diocesan Vicar of the Diocese of Deva and Hunedoara; Archimandrite Iustin Miron, Abbot of Nicula Monastery; and Archdeacon Claudiu Grama, diocesan counsellor.

Metropolitan Andrei offered prayers for rain and peace. In his sermon, he spoke to the faithful about prayer and work, two dimensions that should be intertwined in Christian life and especially within the Christian family.

"We can conclude that in today’s Gospel Mary symbolises prayer, while Martha symbolises work," Metropolitan Andrei addressed the faithful. "These two symbols go very well together. Prayer and work, work and prayer. And especially in the Christian family, the two – work and prayer – are harmoniously combined.” Metropolitan Andrei urged those present to be missionaries of Christ through their attitude and way of life.

The faithful and clergy began the celebrations on the eve of the Feast of the Dormition. On Friday, August 14, thousands of believers took part in a traditional walking pilgrimage covering about 7 kilometers from the town of Gherla to the Nicula Monastery.

During the night, organizers brought out the miraculous icon of the Mother of God for the faithful to venerate. The Orthodox priest Luke of Iclod painted the icon in 1681. According to historical accounts, the icon miraculously shed tears between February 15 and March 12, 1699.

President of the Romanian Senate Mircea Abrudean, civilian and military officials, as well as Orthodox youth from Romania and the diaspora, also took part in the solemn church service. Pilgrims dressed in traditional Romanian clothing performed festive hymns together with well-known folk musicians.

As the UOJ reported, thousands of worshippers took part in a church service at St. Ann’s Convent.

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