Onuphrius the Hermit of Tazlau

Onuphrius was a hermit and priest, a disciple of Saint Cyriacus of Tazlău, who lived more than thirty years on a mountain hill called Onuphrius's Hill, in the seventeenth century. 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.

In the seventeenth century the hesychast life around Tazlău Monastery reached its height. Onuphrius learned the spiritual struggle in the community and became a disciple of Saint Cyriacus of Tazlău, whom he served faithfully to the end of his life. Then he received priesthood and withdrew to a harsh hermit life on a ridge above the monastery, called to this day Onuphrius's Hill. A princely charter of 1617 mentions several hermits of Tazlău, among them him.

He remained there more than thirty years, growing in fasting, prayer and humility. The Paterikon says he became clairvoyant and a wonderworker, that for the holiness of his life he knew people's thoughts and spoke of things to come. He was a confessor with many sons and disciples, the best known of his time in the Tazlău Mountains; the hermits of the area, the monks of the community and believers from the villages confessed to him. Sick people also came from the villages and, according to tradition, were healed by his prayer and blessing.

Onuphrius left behind many hermits and spiritual children and passed to the Lord in peace, being counted among the venerable fathers.