Hieromonk Dimitrie Plans to Establish Romania's First Phytotherapy Clinic

Nikolay Zabov, BTA correspondent Martina Gancheva

Hieromonk Dimitrie in Ramnicu Valcea, October 2, 2024 (BTA Photo/Martina Gancheva)

Ramnicu Valcea, Romania,

05.10.2024 12:55

(BTA)

Hieromonk Dimitrie of the Archdiocese of Ramnic in Romania has turned a local church garden in the city centre into something of an oasis, with various herbs, flowers, fruits and vegetables growing there. Dimitrie plans to establish the country's first phytotherapy clinic, which will employ doctors but will not operate under the Health Ministry. The monk has already collected some RON 3 million (about BGN 1.18 million) in funding, which he will contribute to the clinic.

The plants that Dimitrie grows include tomatoes, strawberries, roses, rosemary, lavender, artichoke, eucalyptus, olives and even bananas. Nothing makes him happier than having a return visitor confess that they felt relief after using ointment or tincture made from the garden's flora. He shares further: "God willing, I keep exploring medicinal plants. [...] Anything can be cured, even cancer in its initial phase."

Dimitrie's plants also find use in his kitchen. The monk told BTA's correspondent: "Cooking is a kind of relaxation to me. I have cooked for a hundred people. It doesn't stress me out. I've been doing this since I was little. My mother was a cook for 50 years. I learned a lot from her. And from the monks. If you survive a year in the kitchen, you can survive in the monastery too."

When asked whether salt or soul is more important whilst preparing a meal, the monk is adamant: "If you put soul in the food, the meal needs no salt."

Visiting the Archdiocese of Ramnic was part of the Attractive Romania project.

/NZ/