Saint Raphael
Raphael is placed in the sixteenth century. According to some sources he was born in the village of Bursucani, in the Barlad region of Moldavia, to virtuous parents, and entered the monastic settlement of Agapia, where he served a long apprenticeship under its fathers before receiving his monastic name—understood to mean "God has healed" or "God brings healing."
The accounts describe him as a man devoted to Holy Scripture and the writings of the Fathers, concerned that the brethren not be deprived of these treasures, and they number him among the abbots of Agapia, where he is called the "Blessed Abbot Raphael." He is credited with the gift of healing and boldness in prayer, and by some traditions with casting out demons. He withdrew into solitary hesychasm in the mountains. After his death his body was reported to have been found fragrant, and it was laid in the church for veneration.
Saint Parthenius
Parthenius lived in the Agapia mountains in the seventeenth century, regarded as a successor of the earlier ascetics of the place. By tradition he received the monastic tonsure from Abbot Euphrosynus, founder of the monastery at Livada Parintilor ("the Fathers' Orchard").
Tradition relates that he practiced hesychasm on Mount Scaunele ("the Chairs"): by day he prayed in solitude, especially with the Psalter, which he knew by heart; at evening he took a little bread and boiled vegetables; and through the night he recited the Jesus Prayer while weaving baskets. He is likewise counted among the abbots of Agapia and credited with the gift of healing and boldness in prayer. The accounts place his death around 1660 and report that his body was afterward found incorrupt, with miracles related at his tomb.
Glorification
The canonization of saints associated with Neamt County, including Raphael and Parthenius of Old Agapia, was approved by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church at its working session of March 5–7, 2008. By the Synodal Tomos of 6 March 2008 the two monks were placed among the saints, with their feast appointed for July 21.
The two are venerated chiefly within the Romanian Orthodox tradition and in the region of Old Agapia; their commemoration has also been received into the calendar of other local Orthodox Churches.
