Cleopa Ilie

Father Cleopa has found his place in history as the most representative elder and spiritual father of contemporary Romanian Orthodox spirituality. The last twenty years of his life, the Elder spent in increased and concentrated prayer: fourteen to fifteen hours a day. He had mystical moments when he did not want to speak to anyone, not even his cell attendant. From four until eight the Elder prayed his morning rule. Afterward he confessed monks and lay people until about four in the afternoon, when he began his evening prayer rule, consisting of the canon of repentance, canons to the Theotokos, the supplicatory canon, small compline and other services. On the eve of the Elder's departure for the next life he began to read his morning rule, when his disciple said to him: "Geronda, its evening now. These prayers should be read tomorrow morning." The Elder answered him saying, "I am reading them now because tomorrow morning I am going to my brothers." On the morning of December 2, 1998,