Antim Gaina

Antim Găină, born in 1894 at Prisăcani, near Iași, was a protosyncellus and confessor at Agapia Monastery, one of the choicest disciples of Vichentie Mălău. He died in 1974, at the monastery of his vows, Secu. He is venerated by the faithful, without synodal canonization.

He embraced monastic life in youth, together with his father and grandfather. In 1920 he received the schema at Secu, and a year later was ordained priest. Between 1921 and 1928 he was priest and confessor at Secu; for three years he was parish priest in the village of Pluton-⁠Pipirig, and between 1934 and 1956 confessor at Agapia. He then withdrew to the monastery of his vows, where he died in 1974, in deep humility.

His disciples tell that he wished to struggle on Athos, but his confessor, Vichentie, told him he would not give his blessing, since he would not be able to live there. After he persisted, the elder let him go, telling him that he would not stay long and that on his return a train would pass over him. After a few months he returned, and at Turnu Severin, as he crossed the railway, a train caught him; he lay down between the rails and survived, according to the account, through his confessor's prayers.

In 1928 he was sent as missionary priest to Pipirig, to set right the believers of the Old Style who would not obey the Church. At first he refused, then accepted the obedience, on his confessor's advice, and in a few years renewed the spiritual life of the village of Pluton. The people, seeing his gentleness, returned to the Church, and he taught many fasting, almsgiving and the Jesus Prayer.

At Agapia he was a priest filled with the fear of God and a sought-⁠after confessor. He thought himself unworthy of priesthood and trembled at the Liturgy; when he served he spent the time only in fasting and prayer, speaking with no one. At confession he received only those who truly wished to be saved, asked his spiritual children for silence, obedience and the Jesus Prayer and sent away those who remained in the same sins or did not fulfil their canon. His disciples were few, but advanced.