A ceremony marking the local proclamation of the canonization of Romanian priest and martyr Constantin Sârbu was held in Bucharest on October 23. Known for helping people in need and resisting pressure from the communist authorities, Sârbu was commemorated during a solemn service at Mihai Vodă Monastery, according to the Romanian Orthodox Church’s Basilica news agency.

In a message marking the occasion, Romanian Patriarch Daniel highlighted the priest’s quiet dedication to charitable work. Sârbu sought out elderly residents of Bucharest who had been left without pensions or family support and regularly provided them with financial assistance. At the same time, he opposed turning charitable aid distributed by the Church into a form of begging, while ensuring that those in need were not abandoned.

Patriarch Daniel also emphasized the close connection Sârbu maintained between charity and constant prayer. The priest encouraged his spiritual disciples to preserve a spirit of prayer even amid their everyday responsibilities.

Constantin Sârbu was born on January 10, 1905, in the village of Cavadinești, in what is now Galați County, Romania. He lost his mother during childhood, and after his father suffered a serious injury, the family was no longer able to provide for the children independently.

Sârbu received his theological education in Galați and Bucharest and was ordained a priest in 1934. He initially served in the city of Huși, where he took part in charitable initiatives, including assistance for elderly people.

In 1938, he moved to Bucharest and became the parish priest of Parcul Călărași. During his ministry there, he oversaw the construction of the Church of Saints Constantine and Helen and helped build a close-knit local parish community.

Following the establishment of communist rule in Romania, Sârbu faced persecution for his religious convictions. He was arrested in January 1954 and sentenced to eight years and three months in prison. During his imprisonment, he was held in several prisons and forced-labor camps, including Jilava, Gherla and Poarta Albă.

According to Romanian Church sources, the authorities attempted to pressure Sârbu into cooperating with the regime, including by demanding that he disclose information protected by the sacramental seal of confession. He refused to abandon his convictions despite the pressure.

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church approved Sârbu’s canonization in July 2024, recognizing him as a holy priest-martyr. His feast day was established for October 23.

During the October 23 ceremony in Bucharest, an icon of the newly recognized saint was presented to the faithful. Reliquary icons containing particles of his relics were also distributed to church communities associated with his life and ministry.

The commemoration highlights Sârbu’s legacy of charitable service, pastoral devotion and steadfastness in the face of religious persecution under Romania’s communist regime.