The Romanian Orthodox Church has formally proclaimed the local canonization of Venerable Martyr Eulogia of Samurcășești, a nun and missionary who died in 1949 after being brutally beaten for her religious activities.

The proclamation took place on October 4 at Samurcășești Monastery in Ilfov County. The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church approved her canonization in 2025 and designated December 19 as her feast day.

Ahead of the ceremony, a reliquary containing Eulogia’s relics was brought to the monastery, where an all-night vigil was celebrated in her honor. Following the Divine Liturgy on October 4, the synodal tomos formally proclaiming her canonization was read aloud. An icon of the newly canonized saint was also presented, and her troparion was sung.

In his homily, a Romanian bishop described Eulogia as an example of selfless service to the Church. He said that her ministry extended far beyond monastic life: for decades, she traveled through villages in Wallachia, worked with children, taught people Orthodox hymns, preached the Gospel and assisted those in need.

Eulogia was born in 1908 in northern Greece into an Aromanian family and was given the name Catherine at baptism.

Her childhood was marked by hardship. She lost her mother at an early age and, after suffering a spinal injury, spent several years almost completely immobile. According to her church biography, in 1927 she became seriously ill with peritonitis and experienced an apparition of the Virgin Mary and the Great Martyr Catherine. She subsequently recovered.

Catherine then devoted herself to religious activity. She became involved in Orthodox missionary work, traveling from village to village, distributing religious literature and icons, and encouraging people to repentance and participation in Church life.

She arrived at Samurcășești Monastery in 1939 and took monastic vows in 1942, receiving the name Eulogia. She continued her missionary work from the monastery, paying particular attention to the poor and sick, helping children and collecting donations for people in need and for churches.

Following the devastating earthquake of 1940, she also helped collect funds to repair damaged monastery buildings.

Eulogia continued preaching after the establishment of Romania's communist regime. Despite pressure and threats, she traveled to villages, distributed prayer books and icons, and continued her religious ministry.

In December 1949, she was severely beaten in the village of Ulmeni. She was taken to Brâncovenesc Hospital in Bucharest, but reportedly asked to be returned to the monastery.

Back at Samurcășești, she received confession and Holy Communion. She died on December 19, 1949.

The Romanian Orthodox Church regards her death as martyrdom, linking it to her refusal to abandon her missionary activities amid religious persecution.

In January 2026, Eulogia's remains were exhumed at Samurcășești Monastery. The Church has presented her as an example of devoted service to others and steadfast faith during a period of persecution.