Schema Nuns Fevronia, Sofia and Olimpiada  (19th-Century)

Agafton Monastery, Botoşani

Fevronia, Sofia and Olimpiada were three sisters who lived near Botosani—in today's North-Eastern part of Romania—at the end of the 19th-century. They were also the aunts of the greatest Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu.

The three sisters joined the Agafton Monastery one by one. The older sisters, Fevronia and Sofia, laboured mostly in their cells, reading the Psalter, fasting and making prostrations. Mother Olimpiada, the youngest, did various works in the monastery, such as working in the garden, cooking and offering hospitality to pilgrims.

The three sisters were considered by their disciples as examples to the other 150 nuns of the monastery, because they prayed and fasted together, went to church together, and lived in much humility and love.

Aside from praying and working with their hands, these three nuns also wrote and read holy books. When nuns from the monastery or women from the village would come to see them, Mother Fevronia and Mother Sofia would ask one of their disciples to read inspiriting passages from the Holy Scriptures, the Paterikon or the Lives of the Saints, to their visitors. The spiritual mothers would always comfort their female visitors so that they may be in peace.

These three sisters gave an outstanding education to their nephew, Mihai, who often stopped by their cells and spent time reading and writing.

After her older sisters had fallen asleep in the Lord, the humble nun Olimpiada Iurascu was elected abbess of the monastery. She led the congregation with much meekness and wisdom for five years, until she departed this life in 1902.

Source: http://www.sfant.ro/sfinti-romani/schimonahiile-fevronia-sofia-si-olimpiada-manastirea-agafton-bot-2.html