Publishing House Mitropolia Olteniei, Craiova, 2019, ISBN 978-606-731-069-6
The work was written by the Deacon. Drd. Alexandru Vanciu and published at the Mitropolia Olteniei Publishing House in Craiova, in 2019.
The shepherd Petrache Lupu, as described by Eminence Irineu, Archbishop of Craiova and Metropolitan of Oltenia, was “a man without cunning before God”, humble and aware of the divine grace he was entitled to after the discovery of “the stump in the holy forest ”. He remained faithful to the mission entrusted to him by God. His activity was strengthened “by signs and wonders”, in the area of Maglavit, Dolj County, and later in all places visited by him. The sufferings endured as a result of the message conveyed have made them remain in the memory of the people under the name of “Holy” or “God’s chosen one”.
Hard to speak, but zealous in his work, the shepherd Petrache Lupu managed to awaken in the hearts of many people the feeling of repentance and love. All his life he answered his call, gaining fame and appreciation from his peers and contemporaries.
This book aims to be a chronological exposition of the events of the past 84 years since the events in the acacia forest of Maglavit village, in the Danube meadow. The book was structured in 8 chapters. To begin with, the reader is brought to know some general information about the past of the locality, as well as about the historical period in which the missionary shepherd was born, in order to make it easier to understand the events narrated in the following chapters
Chapters IV-V give the essence of its miracle and the effects it had on the people, on the village and on the liturgical life in the Oltenia area. The involvement of the hierarchs in the intensification of the missionary activities within the monastery, through the establishment of the “Petrache Lupu Evangelical Settlement”, is an additional proof of the veracity of the events.
Clearly, the book highlights the fruitful activity carried out for the reopening and organization of the monastery after 1990, of the two scholarly hierarchs of Oltenia: His Eminence Nestor Vornicescu and His Eminence Irineu Popa, under whose blessing the place of workship was completed. Through the work of all the living, it was possible to bring to the newly founded monastery a brilliance similar to the Lainici and Tismana Monasteries.
At the end of the book we want to leave the reader free to form his own opinion and to perceive the message of the shepherd Petrache Lupu, by thinking about the opinions of the people of culture of the twentieth century, as well as the letters from ordinary people, from every corner of the globe, addressing the simple shepherd at various times of trial.
The characterization of this work is made, in words that remain in our minds, by His Eminence Irineu, Archbishop of Craiova and Metropolitan of Oltenia, who says: “The work is current through its simple message and understood by all …we recommend this book to all our believers, hoping that through its message God will enter deeper and deeper into their life and activity”.