The Romanian Orthodox Church is preparing for the solemn proclamation of the canonization of 16 Romanian women saints, including martyrs, monastics, confessors, as well as the wives of rulers and mothers of well-known saints. Festive services dedicated to the occasion will take place in early February at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest.

According to the Romanian Patriarchate, the commemorative events will begin on Thursday, 5 February, with the final memorial service for the women whose sanctity was previously affirmed by the Holy Synod. The central event will be the Divine Liturgy on Friday, 6 February, presided over by Romanian Patriarch Daniel and concelebrated by hierarchs of the Church. During the service, the formal proclamation of their canonization will take place.

Before the liturgy, a procession will be held along with the ceremonial transfer of relics, including the relics of saints especially venerated in Romania. This will allow pilgrims to venerate the holy relics freely during the services.

The decision to canonize the 16 women saints was adopted by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church in 2025. Those to be glorified represent different historical periods, ranging from princesses and monastics of the 16th–18th centuries to confessors and new martyrs of the 20th century. Among them are Blandina of Iași, a teacher who endured years of exile in Siberia; Maria Brâncoveanu, the wife of the ruler of Wallachia, who survived the execution of her husband and sons in the Ottoman Empire; as well as monastics and mothers of saints whose quiet and faithful service shaped the spiritual history of the nation.

At the end of December, the Romanian Orthodox Church presented an icon of the Synaxis of Romanian Women Saints, created in preparation for the canonization and in connection with church events planned for 2026, which has been proclaimed the Year of the Commemoration of Women Saints. The icon depicts holy women from different centuries and social backgrounds, from early Christian martyrs to modern-era confessors. At the center of the composition is the Most Holy Theotokos with the Christ Child, symbolizing the Church and spiritual unity.

The feast of the Synaxis of Romanian Women Saints has been established for the third Sunday after Pascha, the same day on which Orthodox Churches also commemorate the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women.