Timothy of Cernica

Timothy was an archimandrite and abbot of Cernica Monastery between 1807 and 1816, disciple and successor of Elder Gheorghe. He passed to the Lord on 3 March 1816. He is named in the Romanian Paterikon and venerated by the faithful, without synodal canonization.

He was from the Bărăgan plain. Hearing of Cernica Skete and Elder Gheorghe, he left the cares of the world in youth and came to serve Christ, becoming one of the great elder's best-⁠loved disciples. In 1784 he was tonsured together with thirty-⁠two other brothers. In 1793 he was ordained priest and appointed abbot of Cernica, after Gheorghe took some of the monks to Căldărușani. The hieromonk Timothy thus became the elder's closest collaborator, gentle, humble and obedient in all.

After Gheorghe's death the community elected him abbot on 5 April 1807 and he guided the monastery nine years, making many improvements and keeping his predecessor's rule. In the autumn of 1807 he received among the residents the young brother Constantine, the future Saint Callinicus of Cernica. In 1809 he began building a large church on Saint Nicholas Island, in place of the old one, damaged by an earthquake, and in 1813 he founded the nuns' Pasărea Monastery in the nearby forests.

Beyond renewals, he cared for the spiritual life of the community formed by Gheorghe: he increased the number of brothers, kept the order of services and obediences and held unity and love among the brothers. For the wisdom and gentleness with which he shepherded, he was loved by all as a spiritual father.