Ianache Văcărescu

Saint Ianache Văcărescu, martyr (about 1650 to 15/26 August 1714), was grand treasurer of Wallachia in the time of Constantin Brâncoveanu, a man of the prince's trust, killed at Constantinople with him and his four sons. He was canonized by the Romanian Orthodox Church in 1992, together with Brâncoveanu and his sons, with the feast on 16 August, so as not to coincide with the Dormition of the Mother of God (15 August).

Family and beginnings

Ianache came from the boyar family Văcărescu, a son of the sword-⁠bearer Negoiță Văcărescu and of Necșuța Bucșanu. He had a younger brother, Ivan. His mother separated from Negoiță "for his foolish deeds", as a document of Prince Antonie Vodă says, and married again Neagu, son of Antonie of Popești; from this marriage four more children were born, among them Maria, the future wife of Constantin Brâncoveanu. A frequently repeated mistake, stemming from the "General History of Dacia" of Dionisie Fotino (1859), shows him as the prince's son-⁠in-⁠law, but in fact he was his brother-⁠in-⁠law, half-⁠brother of Princess Maria Brâncoveanu.

His offices

In 1688 he received from the new prince, Constantin Brâncoveanu, an order to build a bridge for the Ottoman army, then at war with the imperials. As master of the court pages he was given the mission of seizing the steward Ștefan Cioran, accused of having supported Constantin Bălăceanu, the prince's adversary. He is also mentioned at the time of the uprising of 1693 of Staico the cupbearer and other captains: after the boyars were handed over to the prince, at Snagov he was beaten "on the soles" by the captain of the paid troops Văcărescu, to learn the names of other conspirators, and one was hanged by him at Rușii de Vede. When Brâncoveanu had to leave his seat to meet the sultan, in 1695, at Dimirkapi, Târgoviște remained under the guard of the steward Constantin Cantacuzino and the grand aga Ianache Văcărescu. From 1703 he was Brâncoveanu's capuchehaia at Constantinople for several years and made several journeys in the prince's name, in 1706 and 1707, for the lowering of the tribute. He was also grand treasurer. He also had a share in the restoration of holy places: he was supervisor of the repair of the princely church at Târgoviște (1698 to 1699), of the church of Saint George the New at Bucharest (finished in 1699) and of the rebuilding of the One-⁠Day Church (1702). Together with his wife and some of the children he is among the founders of the Metropolitan Church of Târgoviște.

Martyrdom

In 1714 Brâncoveanu received word that he would be deposed, but, as Del Chiaro notes, some boyars, among them one who was executed beside him, probably Văcărescu, disregarded the news, taking it for an attempt by its sender to get money at Pascha. Ianache Văcărescu was tortured, sent to Constantinople and on 15/26 August 1714 was beheaded before the sultan and the representatives of foreign embassies.

Family

He was married to Stanca, daughter of the boyar Cojescu, and had eight children: four daughters (Maria, Ilinca, Bălașa and Neacșa) and four sons (Radu, Constantin, Barbu and Ștefan). Through Ștefan he is grandfather of the historian and poet Ienăchiță Văcărescu; through Radu, grandfather of Barbu and Constantin Văcărescu. He was the first notable member of the Văcărescu family, whose descendants contributed much to Romanian grammar and literature.