

The Life of Saint Neagoe Basarab
The Holy Voivode Neagoe Basarab is celebrated on September 26 - the patron Saint of the Snagov Monastery.
Saint Voivode Neagoe Basarab – the righteous voivode Neagoe Basarab, was born in the last quarter of the fifteenth century (1481 or 1482). His father was from the Basarab family, and his mother was from the Craiovesti family, Neagoe being one of their four sons. He grew up in his mother's faith and learned Christian teachings and virtues from an early age, at the Bistrita Monastery in Oltenia - founded by his great- grandparents, which became a spiritual school for the pious Neagoe.
From his teacher - Saint Hierarch Nifon - Neagoe learned the mystery of hesychastic prayer, piety and vigilance of the soul, the teaching and wisdom of Christ, acquiring high spiritual growth. In 1517 he requested and obtained from the Ecumenical Patriarchate the canonization of his former teacher, Patriarch Nifon.
Endowed with special intellectual gifts, he acquired most of the science and theological culture of his time. He ascended the throne in 1512, as a descendant of the ruler of Wallachia, Basarab the Younger (November 1477 - September 1481, the second reign in November 1481 - April 1482,
when he was killed by noblemen at Glogova), son of Basarab II (December 1442 - spring 1443) and grandson of Dan II (1420-1431).
In this capacity, he encouraged the development of trade and crafts, and diplomatically he tried to maintain friendly relations with Hungary. He tried to establish diplomatic relations with Venice and Rome and even mediate the conflict between Orthodox and Catholic Christians. He continued the political objectives initiated by Stephen the Great and tried to achieve a coalition of the Eastern states against Turkish expansion. Despite his insistence to the Pope from the Vatican, through the "holy expedition against Selim, the tyrant of the Turks", Wallachia remained a vassal of the Ottoman Empire during the reign of Neagoe Basarab.
Voivode Neagoe Basarab made generous donations to the Orthodox monasteries in Wallachia and in all the Balkan countries. During his reign, the Curtea de Arges Monastery was built, where the holy relics of the voivode also rest. He was canonized by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, on October 26, 2008.
On the reliquary in which the relics were placed and which is kept in Dionysius, the Romanian lord is represented worshipping.
St. Voivode Neagoe Basarab, the ruler of Wallachia, remained in the memory of the Romanian people and of the Orthodox tradition through his work entitled "The Teachings of Neagoe Basarab to his son Theodosie" - the first creation of universal value of Romanian literature, a true spiritual, pedagogical, philosophical and encyclopedic testament.
Academic Commemoration at 500 years
On Wednesday, September 22, 2021, at the opening of the scientific session "Neagoe Basarab - 500 years since his death", academician Ioan- Aurel Pop – President of the Romanian Academy - said: "The holy Romanian ruler served his country and the Church in an exemplary manner."
The event was organized by the Romanian Academy, in partnership with the National Museum of Romanian Literature, in the "Ion Heliade Rădulescu" Amphitheater of the Romanian Academy Library.
The President of the Romanian Academy underlined:
"Saint Neagoe Basarab acted, in general, as a Christian in a Christian state of the European family. I say this because, many times, in the sixteenth century, when our history is treated elsewhere, Wallachia is passed as an Ottoman province, as if it had a ruler, an Ottoman governor at its head, which was never the case. He strove to maintain his rank of sovereign throughout this troubled reign, including the reports he will have with Venice, which are a prologue to the relationships of other rulers who followed him, up to Constantin Brâncoveanu. Neagoe Basarab was a Renaissance figure, not only of the Byzantine Renaissance model but a Renaissance figure with a western lineage. He promoted works of sumptuous art, books on political power theory, such as the famous "Teachings," and even advocated for dialogue between Catholics and Orthodox Christians. He strived to maintain his European rank, the rank of ruler of Wallachia, anointed by God as a ruler for the country and for the Orthodox Church, ensuring that these two would not be mocked by foreign tongues. Some of today’s leaders might learn from his Teachings" - Ioan- Aurel Pop. The president of the Academy also pointed out: "Neacșu’s letter from Câmpulung is the oldest testimony of a completely preserved text in the Romanian language." "The connection we make between the end of Neagoe Basarab's reign and the emergence of writing in the Romanian language ...forces us to reevaluate its entire cultural activity. Neagoe Basarab served his country and the Church in an exemplary manner" - Ioan-Aurel Pop. (Source: BASILICA)




Monastic Commemoration
On Sunday, September 26, 2021 - at the feast of Snagov Monastery the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church recalled the historical and literary role of Saint Voivode Neagoe Basarab.
"Although he reigned for only nine years, (1512-1521), Saint Prince Neagoe Basarab remains a luminous figure in the history of the Romanian people." (Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church).
One of the three patron saints of Snagov Monastery is Saint Neagoe Basarab, commemorated on September 26, with the others being Saint Antim Ivireanul (September 27) and the Annunciation of the Theotokos (March 25). Saint Prince Neagoe Basarab is the founder and protector of the monastic settlement, and a brief spiritual portrait of Saint Neagoe, was made on the ocasion of the feast of Snagov Monastery by the Romanian Patriarch Daniel :
"We came here today to thank God for all the gifts He has poured upon this monastic hearth through the founding princes who have helped this monastery. He stood out for his wisdom, piety, and generosity. He was particularly learned, being taught to know the Holy Scriptures and the writings of the Holy Fathers of the Church. His rich teaching, primarily of Christian inspiration, consists of the writing, ”The Teachings of Neagoe Basarab to his son Theodosie - a spiritual, pedagogical, cultural, military, and diplomatic guide. In this book, he teaches his son that when he becomes the ruler of the Romanian Country, he should know how to behave with the nobles, with the army, with the people, with foreign dignitaries, and what relationships to cultivate with neighboring peoples. Voivode Neagoe Basarab was peaceful and did not engage in wars. Besides being wise and peaceful, he was also very charitable. He helped many monasteries in the Romanian Land, as well as churches and monasteries occupied by the Ottomans in Greece, Syria, and especially at Mount Athos. Thus, 13 of the 20 monasteries at Mount Athos commemorate him every day, as he is their founder. Saint Neagoe Basarab was also a great founder and restorer of holy places. Dozens of monasteries in Wallachia were helped, repaired, renovated by him. In particular, his main founding church is the church of Curtea de Arges Monastery, which was consecrated in 1517 by Patriarch Theolypt of Constantinople". (Patriarch Daniel)


From the “Teachings of Neagoe Basarab to his son Teodosie”
My beloved son, first of all, you must honor and praise constantly the great and good God, our wise Creator, both day and night, at all hours and in all places.
And it is very fitting to glorify and magnify Him unceasingly, with a continuous voice and unending songs, as He who created us and brought us from darkness to light and from non-existence to existence.
Oh, how great is your mercy, Lord, and your thoughts and intentions towards us, humanity!
Oh, great and wonderful mystery!
Oh, who can declare all your powers and praise your glory!
God, for His great mercy, dwelt among us humans and manifested Himself to us. God was in heaven and man on earth, and both are perfect. And He made man His beloved Son and heir to His kingdom.
Oh, great is the mystery of your wisdom, Lord, which was toward us, humanity!
Let us therefore magnify our God and shout together With David, saying: "Shout to God, all the earth, serve God with joy, and come before Him with gladness and purity. Know that He made us, and not we ourselves, and He is our God, and we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter through His gates with confession, into His courts with songs, confess to Him and praise His name, for the Lord is good and merciful, our holy God. For His great mercy is with us forever and His kindness is abundant."
And from nothing He made us and created all the powers that are without bodies.
But why? Just to praise His name, He who made us, the Lord of lords and God of gods!
He has brought us into the manifestation and glory of His holy name, so that the angels may glorify Him in the heavens above with the name of the holy and life-giving Trinity.
Likewise, He has also fashioned our human nature and granted us mind and speech and soul dressed in flesh , and He decorated us with features and adornments, He fitted us with all the good things, and He shaped our bodies with all the limbs: with mouths, ears, legs, eyes, and hands, so that we could stretch and expand them in praise of God, and not towards filthy and vile things that are without law, which should not fall.
Prayer to Saint Voivode Neagoe Basarab
Saint Neagoe Basarab, the one chosen by God to serve the throne of Wallachia, just like the Church of Christ, please, pray to God to bless Romania and the Romanian nation, now and ever, forever and ever!
Praise be to the saints of Romania!
St. Neagoe Basarab the Merciful
"So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work."
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