The Metropolitan of Oltenia IPS Irineu is the signatory of the “document with the agreement with the curse” published on the website of the archdiocese of Râmnicului, by which all the priests who will continue to serve in the church near the monastery of Jasen are cursed: “No one dares to break this bond with the curse imposed by us, neither the bishop, nor any other hierarchical person, no matter what church rank he had.” The Patriarchate responded on Wednesday through spokesman Vasile Benescu, according to which it was a “decision aimed at increasing the degree of severity and spiritual obedience”.

The Archdiocese of Rimnica published on its website the “Document of the Accursed Agreement” signed by the Metropolitan of Oltenia Irineu and the abbot of the monastery of Fresinei in the county of Vilca, by which all priests and believers who will enter the church near the monastery are published. “cursed” Ash, which is said to have been built on a place cursed by Saint Kalinik.

“Let no one dare untie this cursed bond of ours”

According to the document, “many monks and clerics, fathers from the monastery of the holy Hierarch Kalinik violated this covenant – the very construction of the temple was carried out due to disobedience and violation of the curse of Saint Kalinik.”

We reproduce the full text of the Curse Agreement Document:

• “We, Irenaeus, by the grace of God, the Archbishop of Craiova and the Metropolitan of Oltenia, together with Abbot Protos. Onesiphorus and the members of the Spiritual Council of the Holy Monastery of Fresina (arch. Ioannichius, arch. Joakim, hier. Jachintus, hier. Victorinus, hier. Hilarion, hier. Gervasius, hier. Christopher), united in one opinion, today, January 10, 2023 year we analyzed the anti-canonical situation created against the accursed covenant made by St. Liararch Callinicus, the construction of a church on the place where the accursed covenant stone was laid.
• We found that although the stone was installed under communist-atheistic coercion, the curse remained intact. Because of this situation, many monks and clergymen, fathers from the monastery of St. Hierey of Kalynyka violated this Testament. The very construction of the church was carried out due to disobedience and violation of the curse of St. Kalinik.
• Observing with pain that the monks and clergy have committed great deceptions, manifested in time, descending to this place under the curse of St. Kalinikus,
• We decree, in the name of the Holy Trinity, that from now until the end of the age none of the monks and ordained, priests or deacons, shall ever go to this church and shall not send any church service, prayer or indulgence or Holy Sacrament and any Holy Liturgy cannot serve in this temple or in the spaces around it. Those who violate this decision will fall under the curse of Saint Kalinikus and under our curse. If they are clergymen, let them repent, and if they are laymen, let them be excommunicated, and if any priest is a layman and break this covenant, let them be condemned.
• Let no one dare to untie this bond with the curse we have imposed, neither a bishop, nor any other hierarch, no matter what ecclesiastical rank he may have.
• We seal this covenant document with our signatures and the seal of the holy abode. So may God help us and protect us Saint Kalinyk, the founder and benefactor of our holy monastery.”

Vasile Benescu: “The Metropolis of Oltenia has a natural duty to explain the correct decision more clearly”

The Patriarchate reacted on Wednesday through the spokesman Vasile Benescu in connection with the “necessarily discussed communique of the Metropolis of Oltenia regarding the decision taken to support the internal order of the Frasina monastery in Vilca”.

Benescu says that it is a “decision aimed at increasing the degree of austerity and spiritual obedience”, the decision being “essentially that the monks of the Fresina monastery must serve exclusively in the church of the monastery and not in the church”. located a few kilometers from it.”

• “Beyond the overly archaic language that is hermetic for the understanding of modern man, this decision is aimed at increasing the degree of austerity and spiritual obedience of those who have chosen an ascetic life, based on three monastic vows (obligations): obedience, chastity and voluntary poverty. Deeply reasoned conditions accepted by anyone who freely chooses to become a monk.
• The deep meaning of monasticism is to separate from the hustle and bustle of the world, not to be immersed in it, to find the peace necessary for prayer, to fight temptations more intensively and to live more strictly according to the evangelical commandments and advice.
• The curse is certainly not one of them, but expresses, in this case, in austere and anachronistic language, the authority of the present hierarch over things designed to preserve life by the decision of the holy hierarch who established the rules of monastic life. rougher in that monastery.
• The reason why women are not allowed in some monasteries (for example, on Mount Athos) is solely to protect the monks from the strongest human temptation. Of course, they still have a lot to contend with, praying for us too who don’t often have that power.
• The Metropolis of Oltenia has a natural obligation to explain more clearly the correct decision it made for the good and the internal order of the Frasina monastery, known for the strict spiritual life of the monks who wanted to live there,” says the representative of the monastery. Romanian Patriarchate.