== Biography ==

Cleopa Ilie (lay name: Constantin) was born in [[Suliţa, Botoşani]] to a family of peasants. He was the fifth of ten children born to Alexandru Ilie. He attended the primary school in his village. Afterwards he was an apprentice for three years to the monk Paisie Olaru, who lived in [[seclusion]] at the Cozancea [[Hermitage (religious retreat)|hermitage]].