Venerable (Monastic)19th century

Saint Olympias of Văratic

Also known as Schimonahia Olimpiada · Bălașa · Olimpiada of Varatec

Daughter of a priest of Iași and widowed young, she was tonsured Olimpiada at the Topolița Skete and, at the word of the elder Paisius, went with the nun Nazaria to seek a place of silence. There in 1785 she founded the skete that became Văratic Monastery, raised its great church, and twice served as abbess of a community of more than three hundred nuns.

August 17New Calendar
Feast Day
August 30Old Calendar
Their life

Daughter of a priest of Iași and widowed young, she was tonsured Olimpiada at the Topolița Skete and, at the word of the elder Paisius, went with the nun Nazaria to seek a place of silence. There in 1785 she founded the skete that became Văratic Monastery, raised its great church, and twice served as abbess of a community of more than three hundred nuns.

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Sources: Romanian Patriarchate communique, canonization of 16 women of holy life (1 July 2025); Basilica.ro; Doxologia.ro