15th–16th century (reposed 1510)
A Bulgarian hieromonk who, fleeing the Turkish assault upon his homeland, withdrew to Wallachia and there lived out his days in ascetic struggle.
Our Venerable Father Sophronius the Bulgarian, Hieromonk of the Penkovsky Monastery
Sophronius the Bulgarian was a hieromonk who lived across the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, during the period of Ottoman rule over the Balkans. According to his commemoration, he was born in the village of Penkovts in Bulgaria, bearing the name Stephen in the world, and entered monastic life at the Penkovsky Monastery near Sofia.
When Turkish forces threatened the monastery, he withdrew across the Danube into Wallachia, in what is now Romania, where he continued his monastic struggle until his repose in 1510. He is venerated among the Bulgarian saints and commemorated on May 28.
The image of God was truly preserved in you, O Father,
for you took up the Cross and followed Christ.
By so doing you taught us to disregard the flesh for it passes away
but to care instead for the soul, since it is immortal.
Therefore your spirit, venerable Sophronios, rejoices with the angels.
Text used with permission of the Orthodox Church in America (oca.org).
Tradition holds that, following the account of his violent death at the hands of a servant, his relics were found to be incorrupt three years after his repose. He was remembered for his philanthropy and almsgiving during his lifetime.
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