Hieromartyr 17th century

Saint Theodosius of Brazi

first half of the 17th century – 1694

Also known as Teodosie de la Mănăstirea Brazi

Bishop of Roman and Metropolitan of Moldavia, founder of the Brazi Monastery, who was killed during a Tatar incursion in 1694.

Feast Day
September 22
Draft
Draft — pending review. Not yet verified for publication.
Commemorated as

The Holy Hieromartyr Theodosius of Brazi, Metropolitan of Moldavia

Life

Theodosius (Romanian: Teodosie) of Brazi was a seventeenth-century Moldavian hierarch who served as Bishop of Radauti, Bishop of Roman, and Metropolitan of Moldavia, and who was killed by Tatar raiders at the Brazi Skete in 1694. He is venerated as a hieromartyr, and the Romanian Orthodox Church commemorates him on September 22.

By tradition he was born in the Vrancea region of Romania during the first half of the seventeenth century. Sources describe him as drawn to the monastic life from his youth; he is said to have studied under spiritual teachers in the monasteries of southern Moldavia before entering the monastic state. He was eventually elected abbot of Bogdana Monastery in Bacau County, where the accounts credit him with rebuilding the monastery.

He was ordained Bishop of Radauti around 1669–1670 and shortly afterward was appointed Bishop of Roman. During a turbulent period of Moldavian political life he was also called to serve as Metropolitan of Moldavia. After retiring from active hierarchical duties, he devoted himself to the Brazi Skete, near Focsani, where he oversaw the rebuilding of the monastery, the construction of a new church and monastic cells, and the ordering of its community.

In the autumn of 1694, during a Tatar incursion into Moldavia, a band of raiders came to the Brazi Skete and tortured the aged hierarch, demanding that he surrender the monastery's treasure and holy vessels. According to the accounts he refused, choosing to suffer rather than hand over the possessions and sacred vessels of the monastery, and was put to death by beheading. He was canonized by the Romanian Orthodox Church in 2003.

Timeline 5 moments Read Hide
  1. c. 1669–1670 Ordained Bishop of Radauti After serving as abbot of Bogdana Monastery, he was ordained to the episcopate of Radauti.
  2. early 1670s Bishop of Roman He was transferred to the see of Roman.
  3. 1694 Martyred at Brazi He was killed by Tatar raiders at the Brazi Skete after refusing to surrender the monastery's treasure and holy vessels.
  4. 1842 Relics discovered His relics were reported discovered and kept at Brazi Monastery.
  5. 2003 Canonized He was glorified as a saint by the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Contributions & Legacy

2 contributions Read Hide

Hierarchical Career

The sources trace a series of appointments across the Moldavian hierarchy. Theodosius began his ecclesiastical advancement as abbot of Bogdana Monastery in Bacau County, which he is credited with rebuilding. He was ordained Bishop of Radauti—sources give the year as 1669 or 1670—and was soon transferred to the see of Roman.

Several accounts also record that he served as Metropolitan of Moldavia during a difficult period, with one tradition associating his elevation with the departure of Metropolitan Dosoftei. The same tradition relates that Theodosius came into conflict with the ruling prince over the treatment of the poor, leading to a period of seclusion at a monastery in Iasi, after which he withdrew from active office and retired to Brazi.

The Brazi Skete and Martyrdom

Theodosius is closely identified with the Brazi Skete, situated near Focsani in what is today Vrancea County. The accounts credit him with rebuilding the monastery and providing it with a new church and cells.

When Tatar raiders entered the skete in the autumn of 1694 and demanded its valuables and liturgical vessels, Theodosius refused to surrender them and was killed. His relics were reported discovered in 1842 and are kept at Brazi Monastery; the Romanian Orthodox Church glorified him as a saint in 2003.

Notes

Reposed 1694 at Brazi, Moldavia. Glorified by the Romanian Orthodox Church in 2003.

Sources: Synaxar of the Romanian Saints (sfintiromani.ro); Doxologia (doxologia.ro); Romanian Orthodox Church canonization (2003)