“Today, with devotion, we duly honour Saint Maria Brâncoveanu, wife of the Holy Martyr Prince Constantine Brâncoveanu, Princess of Wallachia and mother of eleven children. In the life of this holy woman, we see the radiant image of a faithful wife and mother, a model of martyr-like patience in suffering and an example of generous love for the Church and the people. Thus, in Saint Maria Brâncoveanu, we see that her love for God strengthened her to bear an incomparable sorrow with faith, becoming a source of hope for her daughters and sons-in-law.
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“In the life of this holy woman, we see the luminous image of a faithful wife and mother, a model of martyr-like patience in suffering and an example of generous love towards the Church and the people. Thus, in Saint Maria Brâncoveanu we see that her love for God strengthened her to bear an incomparable sorrow with faith, becoming a foundation of hope for her daughters and sons-in-law
“Saint Maria Brâncoveanu as a model of Christian faith and courage whose trust in God enabled her to endure the martyrdom of her husband and four sons, years of captivity and exile without falling into despair.
“Saint Maria Brâncoveanu is an example of martyr-like endurance: passing through suffering without losing hope and enduring hardship without falling into despair.
“Saint Maria Brâncoveanu was a devout Christian who demonstrated her love for God and the Church by founding places of worship.
“Saint Maria Brâncoveanu endured imprisonment, contempt, hunger and deprivation, but she did not fall into despair; rather, she was strengthened through prayer and hope in God
“The Holy Princess Maria Brâncoveanu was not only hardworking and wise, but also extremely generous. She learnt to be temperate and merciful, and very often, with great discretion, performed many acts of charity and helped many people who were in need,
“It was only in 1716 that Lady Maria was able to return to Wallachia, with the help of Prince John Mavrocordatos. Secretly and with great devotion, she brought the relics of the Brâncoveanu Martyrs from the island of Halki, where several devout Christians had buried them, and placed them in the New St George Church in Bucharest, their foundation. Above the tomb, she placed a vigil lamp which continues to burn to this day in memory of the Holy Martyr Prince.
“So that the devotion of right-believing Christians may increase through the veneration of and prayerful appeals to Saint Maria Brâncoveanu, she shall also become the patron saint of new or restored churches.