Saint John Nyaogoe Crăiovești, Basarab was born around 1459. His father was Pârvu Crăiovești, a great vornic at the Wallachian princely court. From childhood, he was raised in piety and was close to the Wallachian Metropolitan Saint Niphon, who became his spiritual mentor.
In 1512, the boyars expelled Prince Vlad the Young and placed Nyaogoe on the throne, who took the second name Basarab to legitimize his rule. He achieved stability and increased the prosperity of the country, continuing the reforms of Radu the Great and supporting trade.
Nyaogoe restored the traditions of patronage, generously donating to the construction of churches, including the cathedral of the Curtea de Argeș Monastery. In 1517, the first official canonization of a saint in Romania took place – Saint Niphon. He built the cathedral in Târgoviște and supported Orthodox monasteries, especially the Dionysiou Monastery on Mount Athos.
Under Nyaogoe, diplomatic relations were established with Poland, Venice, and the Holy Roman Empire. He maintained peace with neighbors and strengthened the internal position of the principality.
He was married to Milica Branković and had children: sons Theodosius, John, and Peter, and daughters Stana, Angelina, and Ruxandra. He left a teaching for his son Theodosius – “Words of Admonition,” the first significant work of Romanian literature.
He passed away on September 15, 1521. He was canonized by the Romanian Orthodox Church in 2008, and his name was included in the calendar of the Russian Orthodox Church in 2018.
