Saint Νikodemos the Sanctified of Tismana, Romania

Our most holy and venerable Father Νikodemos (Νικόdēmos) the Sanctified was from Prilep, in southern Serbia. He was born in 1320, and his parents raised him in the Orthodox Faith. After receiving the holy and angelic monastic Schema and the grace of the priesthood, he wandered through many places, including Mount Athos and Constantinople, acquiring virtues through his love of labor.

Eventually, he came to the Romanian Principalities (Țara Românească, or Valakhia), enduring many trials and spiritual struggles, praying unceasingly in the mountains. Saint Νikodemos founded several monasteries; first by the water of Motru, then the Monastery of Vodiţa, which is dedicated to Saint Anthony the Great (January 17). There he established the cenobitic Rule for the many Fathers and brethren, and he lived in that monastery for a long time.

Later, prompted by divine revelation, he settled in a place called Tismana. By God’s will, he founded a monastery and dedicated it to the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. Later, a great multitude of monks gathered where Saint Νikodemos lived with his brothers in Christ. He himself was an example of good works as he led them on the path of salvation. Receiving grace from God to perform miracles, and to have power over unclean spirits, he worked many miracles during his lifetime. He cast out demons and healed all manner of sicknesses and infirmities. It is said that he even walked into a fire and remained unharmed. The fire touched neither his clothing nor the hairs of his head.

Saint Νikodemos also performed other miracles by the power of Christ. After a life of holiness, he reached an advanced age, passing from this temporal life to the heavenly and immortal life on December 26, 1406. His relics and other holy objects were buried at Tismana Monastery, where he had performed the services.

After God had glorified his relics with the fragrance of myrrh, and the grace of working miracles, they were removed from the tomb and placed in the church, along with the relics of Saint Gregory the Decapolite (November 20) in the holy Monastery of Bistriţa. After many years, a certain ruler of the country wanted to take the relics of Saint Νikodemos from Tismana Monastery and keep them in Bucharest. It was not the Saint's will, however, that his relics should be removed from his monastery. It was a miracle that the man gave up his idea. Saint Νikodemos appeared in a vision to one of the monks, commanding him to tell the Igoumen to hide his relics, and to take only a finger from his hand, and to prevent the man from carrying out his intention. Saint Νikodemos also appeared in the same way to the Igoumen and told him the same things. A finger was taken from the Saint's hand and some myrrh from his relics, which were entrusted to the care of the Igoumen.

The finger and the holy myrrh were placed in a tin vessel, together with a cross made of lead which the Saint had worn around his neck, and they are kept in the holy monastery to this day as precious spiritual treasures. No one is permitted to take any of the holy myrrh. It is permissible to kiss the vessel, however, which fills everything with an indescribable spiritual fragrance. The Saint's relics were hidden to prevent them from being removed from the monastery, and that place is known only to the Igoumen and one other monk.

The aforementioned sacred items suffice for the consolation of the monks and the other Christian inhabitants. They still perform countless miracles. Unclean spirits are cast out by calling on the name of the Saint; healing of many kinds of illnesses is given to those who have recourse to the Saint with faith. The world and the country are protected by the prayers of Saint Νikodemos; and the holy Tismana Monastery, which preserves these treasures, is always defended from the attacks of visible and invisible enemies.

Following the decision of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the first Service in honor of Saint Νikodemos took place in the Metropolitan cathedral of Oltenia in Craiova on October 28, 1955. His annual Feast Day is December 26.