Romanian Orthodox Church commemorates Saint Ioan Iacob Hozevitul and his grandmother

On August 5 the Romanian Orthodox calendar marks the feast of Saint Ioan Iacob Hozevitul (1913‑1960), a monk from Crăiniceni in Botoșani County who spent 24 years in the Holy Land before his early death at 47. Archbishop Calinic of Suceava and Rădăuți compiled a Decalog highlighting the saint’s virtues, urging the faithful to emulate his spiritual discipline.

The saint’s grandmother, Maria Iacob (1848‑1923), is also celebrated for raising the orphaned Ioan Iacob, providing his early education and nurturing his religious vocation. He honored her in poetry, describing her as a “holy old woman” whose sacrifices shaped his path to priesthood. The commemoration underscores the intertwined legacy of the saint and his devoted grandmother within the Romanian Orthodox tradition.