Saint Mandălina was born in 1895, on November 22/December 5th, the day after the feast of the Entry of the Mother of God into the Temple according to the old calendar, into a family of believers from the village of Șciubic.
Her father, Milenko Ilić, was of Serbian descent, and her mother, Milca, was a Romanian from the old Cătălinici family from Transylvania. At her baptism, performed on December 3/16, she received the name Mandălina (Magdalena), a sign of her calling to a life of humility and service.
From early childhood, she showed a love for prayer and the Church. Although in those days girls were not encouraged to study, she learned to read, receiving from God the gift of wisdom and unwavering faith.
Marriage and Widowhood: The Beginning of Sacrifice
At the age of 19, on the day of the Reception of the Lord (February 2, 1914), she got married in the neighboring Romanian village of Mălainița. But the will of God was different: her husband, Miloș, died in World War I, leaving her a widow with a small child. Then, Saint Măndălina strengthened her faith, always saying: “God sees,” a word that became a seal on her soul.
The Fight for Faith in Times of Persecution
During the Bulgarian occupation (1915-1918), priests were arrested and killed, leaving the church in Șciubic without shepherds. At that time, Saint Măndălina, by the grace of Christ, served at the church, keeping the flame of faith alive. In times of spiritual darkness, when many strayed to witches due to the incomprehensible language of the services, she, being well-versed in both Romanian and Serbian, became a bridge between peoples and a comfort for the faithful. In this way, she became both a bridge between earth and Heaven and a chosen one of God, as well as an intercessor at the Heavenly Throne.
Through frosts, storms and heat, she tirelessly walked 5 kilometers to the church to read and sing at services. The bishops, seeing her humility and zeal, allowed her to enter the altar – something unusual for women in those times.
At a time when Romanians in the Timoc Valley did not have calendars, she was the voice that reminded them of the feasts and the order of the Church. Thus, as the elder Ceda Vuiakovici (89 years old) says, “she drew the world to God.”
Her father, Milenko Ilić, was of Serbian descent, and her mother, Milca, was a Romanian from the old Cătălinici family from Transylvania. At her baptism, performed on December 3/16, she received the name Mandălina (Magdalena), a sign of her calling to a life of humility and service.
From early childhood, she showed a love for prayer and the Church. Although in those days girls were not encouraged to study, she learned to read, receiving from God the gift of wisdom and unwavering faith.
Marriage and Widowhood: The Beginning of Sacrifice
At the age of 19, on the day of the Reception of the Lord (February 2, 1914), she got married in the neighboring Romanian village of Mălainița. But the will of God was different: her husband, Miloș, died in World War I, leaving her a widow with a small child. Then, Saint Măndălina strengthened her faith, always saying: “God sees,” a word that became a seal on her soul.
The Fight for Faith in Times of Persecution
During the Bulgarian occupation (1915-1918), priests were arrested and killed, leaving the church in Șciubic without shepherds. At that time, Saint Măndălina, by the grace of Christ, served at the church, keeping the flame of faith alive. In times of spiritual darkness, when many strayed to witches due to the incomprehensible language of the services, she, being well-versed in both Romanian and Serbian, became a bridge between peoples and a comfort for the faithful. In this way, she became both a bridge between earth and Heaven and a chosen one of God, as well as an intercessor at the Heavenly Throne.
Through frosts, storms and heat, she tirelessly walked 5 kilometers to the church to read and sing at services. The bishops, seeing her humility and zeal, allowed her to enter the altar – something unusual for women in those times.
At a time when Romanians in the Timoc Valley did not have calendars, she was the voice that reminded them of the feasts and the order of the Church. Thus, as the elder Ceda Vuiakovici (89 years old) says, “she drew the world to God.”
Ascetic Life and Advice to the People
Living like a nun in the world, she always fasted, prayed at night, and guided people toward God's law. Many did not know what the feasts or fasting periods were, but she gently explained them, always saying: "God sees."
When she was tending the sheep, she would quote from the holy books, and the place where she prayed was later chosen for the building of a monastery – a sign that God had accepted her dedication.
The village elders called her, “the one who advises” – that is, the one who gives advice. She was called by her fellow villagers “the old woman who sang with the priests,” because of her ecclesiastical role.
She loved to read from the writings of the Holy Fathers, especially from Saint Isaac the Syrian, and prayer was never absent from her lips.
Gentle, quiet and humble, mother Mădalina “never confronted anyone, never argued with anyone,” confesses Binca a lui Vasa, 81 years old. When it came to meanness or harsh words, she would only answer: “Vide Bog” – “God sees.” She called herself a “simple nun,” although she never formally entered monasticism. But she lived like a nun in the middle of the world: with a lot of work, prayer, good advice and a life of sacrifice. “She had a gentle voice, and what she said to you stayed in your soul,” says Živoin Didić (of Gigi).
Living like a nun in the world, she always fasted, prayed at night, and guided people toward God's law. Many did not know what the feasts or fasting periods were, but she gently explained them, always saying: "God sees."
When she was tending the sheep, she would quote from the holy books, and the place where she prayed was later chosen for the building of a monastery – a sign that God had accepted her dedication.
The village elders called her, “the one who advises” – that is, the one who gives advice. She was called by her fellow villagers “the old woman who sang with the priests,” because of her ecclesiastical role.
She loved to read from the writings of the Holy Fathers, especially from Saint Isaac the Syrian, and prayer was never absent from her lips.
Gentle, quiet and humble, mother Mădalina “never confronted anyone, never argued with anyone,” confesses Binca a lui Vasa, 81 years old. When it came to meanness or harsh words, she would only answer: “Vide Bog” – “God sees.” She called herself a “simple nun,” although she never formally entered monasticism. But she lived like a nun in the middle of the world: with a lot of work, prayer, good advice and a life of sacrifice. “She had a gentle voice, and what she said to you stayed in your soul,” says Živoin Didić (of Gigi).
Departure to Heaven and Testimonies of Her Holiness
In her old age, due to an illness, she could no longer walk the 5-6 kilometers to the church. Then, six months before her death, she moved to Negotin, so that she could attend services until her last breath.
On October 15, 1962 (old style: October 2), with a candle in her hand and making the sign of the cross until the last moment, Saint Mandălina passed to the Lord. Her face lit up, as if she had seen Christ coming for her soul.
The testimony of an 85-year-old woman, Baba Mitra, confirms the peaceful passing of the holy eldress.
The funeral service was held in the cathedral in Negotin, with many priests and monks, and the people testified: “She was a saint! No one like her has ever been born!”
Her relics are today in the church of the Mălainița monastery, being venerated with piety by Romanian and Serbian believers.
Miracles and Signs After Death
A monastery was built on the place where she used to herd sheep and pray, and the children who hid in the bushes to see her going to church were left with the memory of her incessant prayers.
She dreamed that she was flying to Jerusalem, and God fulfilled her wish, taking her with His Spirit to the tomb of the Savior.
Father Boian Alexandrovic, a witness to the spiritual rebirth of the Romanians from Timoc, sees Mother Măndalina as a chosen vessel of God, who sanctified the place through her life. “Communism and assimilation wanted to forget her, but God ordained that a monastery be built on the spot where she lived – the first Romanian one in almost 200 years. Many people who know her today come to her grave, ask for prayers and confess that they go home refreshed. God sees,” says the father.
She was canonized as a Saint by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church in its meeting of July 1, 2025, with the title "Saint Magdalena of Mălainița" and the feast day on October 15.
In her old age, due to an illness, she could no longer walk the 5-6 kilometers to the church. Then, six months before her death, she moved to Negotin, so that she could attend services until her last breath.
On October 15, 1962 (old style: October 2), with a candle in her hand and making the sign of the cross until the last moment, Saint Mandălina passed to the Lord. Her face lit up, as if she had seen Christ coming for her soul.
The testimony of an 85-year-old woman, Baba Mitra, confirms the peaceful passing of the holy eldress.
The funeral service was held in the cathedral in Negotin, with many priests and monks, and the people testified: “She was a saint! No one like her has ever been born!”
Her relics are today in the church of the Mălainița monastery, being venerated with piety by Romanian and Serbian believers.
Miracles and Signs After Death
A monastery was built on the place where she used to herd sheep and pray, and the children who hid in the bushes to see her going to church were left with the memory of her incessant prayers.
She dreamed that she was flying to Jerusalem, and God fulfilled her wish, taking her with His Spirit to the tomb of the Savior.
Father Boian Alexandrovic, a witness to the spiritual rebirth of the Romanians from Timoc, sees Mother Măndalina as a chosen vessel of God, who sanctified the place through her life. “Communism and assimilation wanted to forget her, but God ordained that a monastery be built on the spot where she lived – the first Romanian one in almost 200 years. Many people who know her today come to her grave, ask for prayers and confess that they go home refreshed. God sees,” says the father.
She was canonized as a Saint by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church in its meeting of July 1, 2025, with the title "Saint Magdalena of Mălainița" and the feast day on October 15.
