The ceremony for the general proclamation of the canonization of 16 Romanian women with holy lives will be celebrated on February 6 at the Patriarchal Cathedral by the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Daniel, together with the hierarchs of the Holy Synod, the Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate announced on Wednesday.

The liturgical events at the Patriarchal Cathedral 'Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen' will follow this schedule:

* Thursday, February 5, 5:00 p.m. - After Vespers, the final memorial service for the 16 Romanian women with holy lives (martyrs, nuns, wives of rulers, mothers of saints and confessors) will be celebrated at the Patriarchal Cathedral.

* Friday, February 6 - The program begins at 7:45 a.m. with the procession of the holy relics from the Patriarchal Cathedral - those of Saint Demetrius the New, Saints Constantine and Helen, and Saint Hierarch Nectarios of Aegina - as well as the relics of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine from the Patriarchal Residence. The relics will be placed in the Canopy of the Saints to facilitate the pilgrims' access for veneration.

Between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., the Holy Liturgy will be celebrated in the Patriarchal Cathedral by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel together with the members of the Holy Synod.

Before the conclusion of the Liturgy, the Patriarch will solemnly proclaim the general canonization of the 16 Romanian women with holy lives, the Patriarchate added.

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The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church approved last year the canonization of 16 women with a holy lives (martyrs, nuns, wives of rulers, mothers of saints and confessors).

The women that will be admitted to sainthood are:

* Lady Maria Brancoveanu (1661 - 1729), wife of the Holy Martyr Voivode Constantin Brancoveanu, canonized as Holy Lady Maria Brancoveanu, with the feast day set on August 16;

* Schemanun Filofteia Antonescu from Pasarea Monastery (mid-18th century - 1833), canonized under the title Saint Pious Philothea of Pasarea, mother of Saint Callinicus of Cernica, with the feast day set on April 12;

* Martyr nun Evloghia Tarlea of Samurcasesti-Ciorogarla Monastery (1908 - 1949), canonized under the title of Holy Venerable Martyr Evloghia of Samurcasesti, with the feast day set on December 19;

* Schemanun Elisabeta Lazar of Pasarea Monastery (1970 - 2014), canonized under the title Saint Elisabeta of Pasarea, with the feast day on June 5;

* Nun Platonida (1487 - 1554), wife of the Holy Voivode Neagoe Basarab, canonized under the title of Saint Pious Platonida of Arges (formerly Despina Milita), with the feast day set on September 26;

* Mandalina Catalinici (1895 - 1962), canonized as Saint Magdalena of Malainita, with the feast day set on October 15;

* Schemanun Mavra of Mount Ceahlau (17th - 18th century), canonized as Saint Pious Mavra of Ceahlau, with the feast day set on May 4;

* Schemanun Nazaria, the first abbess of the Varatic Monastery (1697 - 1814), canonized as Saint Pious Nazaria of Varatic, with the feast day set on August 17;

* Schemanun Olimpiada, foundress of Varatic Monastery (1757 - 1842), canonized as Saint Venerable Olimpiada of Varatic, with the feast day set on August 17;

* Olimpia Tanase (1880 - 1967), mother of Elder Petroniu of Prodromos Skete, canonized as Saint Olimpiada of Farcasa, with the feast day set on July 4;

* Blandina Gobjila (1906 - 1971), teacher, deported to Siberia for 15 years, canonized as Saint Blandina the Confessor of Iasi, with the feast day set on May 24;

* Nun Elisabeta (Safta) Brancoveanu (1776 - 1857), canonized as Saint Pious Elisabeta (Safta) Brancoveanu, with the feast day set on August 17;

* Anastasia Saguna (1785 - 1836), mother of Saint Hierarch Andrei Saguna, canonized as Saint Anastasia Saguna, mother of Saint Hierarch Andrei Saguna, with the feast day set on December 1;

* Nun Filotimia Manolache of Ramet Monastery (1896 - 1989), mother of Saint Dometius the Merciful of Ramet, canonized as Saint Philotimia of Ramet, mother of Saint Dometius the Merciful, with the feast day set on July 6;

* Nun Antonina Diaconu of Tismana Monastery (1923 - 2011), canonized as Saint Antonina of Tismana, with the feast day set on December 23;

* Nun Matrona Ciupelea, abbess of Hurezi Monastery (1852 - 1935), canonized as Saint Pious Matrona of Hurezi, with the feast day set on May 5. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Daniel Popescu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)