Cyprian of Neamt

Cyprian was a hieroschemamonk and the second abbot of Neamț Monastery, who reposed in 1373. He was the first disciple of Elder Herman and remained his fellow labourer on Mount Athos and at Neamț. He is named in the Romanian Paterikon and venerated by the faithful, without synodal canonization; the sources available to us give no day of commemoration.

After Herman's repose, Cyprian became head of the lavra and led the community for more than ten years. He raised many spiritual children, teaching them humility, prayer and love. Under his abbacy the number of monks at Neamț passed eighty. Among them was the hieroschemamonk Joseph Mușat, of the family of the Mușatin princes, whom Cyprian tonsured and left as abbot in his place.

He was a skilled spiritual father and a teacher of prayer, and in his time hesychast life flourished around the lavra. The hermits of Neamț struggled alone or in twos and threes, in dugouts and cells of earth and wood, and lived on forest fruit and on the bread they received each week from Cyprian's community. During fasts they did not come down to the monastery at all, and in the rest of the year only on feast days, to receive Communion. Their closest counsellor was the abbot himself.

Cyprian reposed in peace in 1373, entrusting the community to Archimandrite Joseph Mușat, who led it until 1386.