Proterius of Trestieni

Proterius was a schemamonk at Trestieni Skete, in Buzău, of Ukrainian birth, who died after 1750. 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.

He came from Ukraine, from the Poltava region, from the town of Reshetylivka, and in the world had been a silversmith. He left the world and came to Moldavia around 1720, then became a hermit at Trestieni Skete, following Saint Basil of Poiana Mărului, who was his guide and spiritual father. He became a skilled monk and lived in stillness among the fathers of the skete. He made beautiful spoons by hand and gave them with love to visiting monks, whom he gave rest and hospitality.

The Paterikon recalls his mercy toward all creatures. He fed the birds of the air at the proper time, and they, used to the custom, gathered daily in numbers, waiting. When the time came he opened the window of his cell and the birds came in without fear, walked about the cell gathering what was given them, and he would catch one and stroke it, then release it. When he went to church the birds perched on his hands and shoulders or flew around him singing, then, when he entered the church, they settled on the roof and waited for him, and on his leaving they escorted him to his cell.

Having reached the measure of perfection in Christ and adorned with many good works, he gave up his soul in peace after the year 1750 and was counted among the venerable fathers.