Patriarch Iustin of Romania: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Patriarch of Romania from 1977 to 1986}}

{{Infobox patriarch

| honorific-prefix = [[His Eminence|His Beatitude]]

| name = Iustin

| patriarch_of=By God's mercy, Archbishop of Bucharest,<br /> Metropolitan of Ungro-Vlachia, <br />Locum tenens of the throne of [[Kayseri|Caesarea Cappadociae]] and <br /> [[Patriarch of All Romania]]

| honorific-suffix =

| image = Justin Moisescu.jpg

| caption =

| ordination =

| consecration =

| enthroned = 12 June 1977

| ended = 31 July 1986

| church = [[Romanian Orthodox Church]]

| see = [[Bucharest]]

| predecessor = [[Justinian Marina|Patriarch Justinian of Romania]]

| successor = [[Teoctist Arăpașu|Patriarch Teoctist of Romania]]

| other_post =

| birth_name =

| birth_date = 5 March 1910

| birth_place = [[Albeștii de Muscel|Cândești]]

| death_date = 31 July 1986

| death_place = [[Bucharest]]

| buried = [[Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral]]

| nationality = [[Romanians|Romanian]]

| religion = [[Eastern Orthodox Church|Eastern Orthodox]]

| residence =

| parents =

| spouse =

| children =

| occupation =

| profession =

| alma_mater =

| signature =

}}

[[File:IICCR LA502 Ceaușescu and Justin Moisescu.jpg|thumb|300px|[[Nicolae Ceaușescu]] meeting Justin Moisescu, after he was elected patriarch of the Orthodox Church of Romania]]

'''Iustin Moisescu''' ({{IPA-ro|jusˈtin mo.iˈsesku}}; March 5, 1910 – July 31, 1986) was [[Patriarch of All Romania|Patriarch]] of the [[Romanian Orthodox Church]] from 1977 to 1986.

== Biography ==

=== Theological preparation ===

Moisescu was born in [[Albeștii de Muscel|Cândești]], [[Argeș County]]. He studied at the war orphans’ seminary in [[Câmpulung-Muscel]] from 1922 to 1930, finishing with top honours. Patriarch [[Miron Cristea]] selected him alone, of all 1930 seminary graduates, to receive a scholarship and take his licentiate in theology at the [[National and Kapodistrian University of Athens|University of Athens]]. In 1934, he returned to Romania, having received a degree “arista” (magna cum laude).

Cristea, following Moisescu's progress, sent him (upon the recommendation of the University of Athens and of the Romanian Embassy in Greece) to continue his advanced studies at the Faculty of Roman Catholic Theology at the [[Marc Bloch University|Université des Sciences Humaines]] in [[Strasbourg]]. After two years in France (1934–36), having obtained material for his doctoral thesis, he returned to Athens in 1936. The following year he obtained his doctorate with the [[Greek language|Greek-language]] thesis “Evagrius Ponticus. Life, writings and teachings”, which received an award from the Athens Academy of Sciences. He then took equivalence examinations at the [[University of Bucharest]]’s Faculty of Theology.

There followed a quick succession of professorates, with rapid promotion: Professor of [[Latin]] at Bucharest’s Nifon Seminary (1937–38); New Testament Professor at the [[University of Warsaw]]’s Faculty of Orthodox Theology (1938–39), where he replaced the celebrated professor Nicolae Arseniev. In [[Warsaw]], he established the following [[Polish language|Polish-language]] courses: “General and specific introduction to the holy books of the New Testament”; “Exegesis of [[Paul the Apostle|Saint Paul]]’s [[Epistle to the Galatians]]”; and “Exegesis of the prologue to the [[Gospel of John]]”. These courses were examined by professors Milan Șesan and Vladimir Prelipceanu, who “determined their scientific and didactic value, as well as their full harmony with the teachings of the Orthodox Church”. During this time, he was also a member of the [[Iron Guard]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://adevarul.ro/cultura/istorie/portret-pacatele-patriarhului-iustin-moisescu-epoca-marilor-demolari-nu-salvat-manastirea-vacaresti-1_5fb8fb0a5163ec42711a49d5/index.html |title=PORTRET Păcatele patriarhului Iustin Moisescu. Epoca marilor demolări: de ce nu a salvat Mănăstirea Văcăreşti |website=adevarul.ro |date=21 November 2020 |access-date=22 November 2022}}</ref>

In 1940, he was named associate professor. In 1942, after an examination, he was named Professor of New Testament Exegesis at the [[Chernivtsi|Cernăuţi]]-[[Suceava]] Faculty of Theology. At Cernăuți and Suceava he created three more courses: “Introduction to the holy books of the New Testament”, “Exegesis” and “[[Biblical hermeneutics]]”. About his [[Romanian language|Romanian-language]] writings, the same report notes that “The author’s form of expression in Romanian is distinguished by conciseness and clarity”. In 1946 he was transferred as professor to the same department at the Faculty of Theology in Bucharest; in 1948, he began teaching at the Bucharest Theological Institute. During his time as a theology professor, he published a number of specialised works.

=== Metropolitan of Transylvania ===

Another series of promotions followed after a turn unforeseen by many at the time, but in the best tradition of precedents not only Byzantine, but also Eastern European and even Romanian, especially [[Transylvania]]n: witness [[Patriarch Photios I of Constantinople|Photius]]’ elevation to [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople|Patriarch of Constantinople]] from general, [[Ambrose]] becoming Bishop of [[Milan]] from civil administrator, professor [[Nicolae Bălan]] becoming Metropolitan of Transylvania, etc. On February 23, 1956, Vicar Bishop [[Teoctist Arăpașu]] ordained him deacon; the next day, the other Patriarchal Vicar Bishop, Antim Nica, ordained him priest, and on February 26, the National Church Council, gathered in electoral college according to its statute’s provisions, elected him Archbishop of [[Sibiu]] and Metropolitan of Transylvania. He replaced the eminent and recently deceased Nicolae Bălan.

He then spent ten days in meditation before asking God to receive him into the ranks of the monks at [[Cernica Monastery]] on March 8, 1956. Already elected metropolitan, on March 15, 1956 [[Justinian Marina|Patriarch Justinian]], Metropolitan Firmilian of [[Oltenia]] and Bishop [[Nicolae Colan]] of [[Cluj-Napoca|Cluj]] ordained him into the episcopate. Three days later, in the [[Holy Trinity Cathedral, Sibiu|Sibiu Metropolitan Cathedral]], he was given [[Andrei Șaguna]]’s [[crozier]]. During his short stay in Sibiu, among other activities, he founded the theological magazine ''Mitropolia Ardealului'' (nr. 1–2, Sep–Oct 1956) in place of the defunct ''Revista Teologică''.

=== Metropolitan of Moldavia and Suceava ===

Metropolitan Iustin spent only a short time at Sibiu. On January 10, 1957, he was elected Metropolitan of [[Moldavia]] and Suceava, and three days later he was installed in the seat once held by [[Dosoftei]], [[Varlaam (metropolitan)|Varlaam]], [[Veniamin Costache]], to name only the most prominent of his predecessors at [[Iași]].

On February 3, 1957, Metropolitan Iustin was first elected deputy to the [[Great National Assembly (Socialist Republic of Romania)|Great National Assembly]], representing [[Hârlău]]. He would be elected six more times, sitting until his death.

As Metropolitan of Moldavia, he undertook numerous activities. New buildings – veritable architectural monuments – were erected on the grounds of the Iași diocesan centre, while his [[Presentation of the Lord Cathedral, Iași|Cathedral]] and residence were redone. Numerous monasteries and churches, the diocese's historic monuments, were also restored. Museums or museum collections associated with these monuments were started for many of them. New buildings were raised at the [[Neamț Monastery]] Theological Seminary, and the old ones were modernised.

In Moldavia, along with his numerous travels and external cares, he initiated, with the talent of a born architect, the radical transformation of the Metropolitan Centre from a random assortment of run-down buildings into a modern centre fit for his time. Also endowed with an unexpected practical spirit, he had constructed, under conditions of full-blown [[Communist Romania|Communism]], three large buildings in the diocesan centre (two administrative buildings and a dormitory for priests), over 70 new churches and chapels, 52 parish houses and five archpriests’ residences. He founded ten museums of ecclesiastical art, having obtained funds from the state and from parishioners’ donations. He restored, in full or in part, over twenty monasteries and sketes: [[Putna Monastery|Putna]], [[Sucevița Monastery|Sucevița]], [[Moldovița Monastery|Moldovița]], [[Voroneț Monastery|Voroneț]], [[Arbore Monastery|Arbore]], [[Humor Monastery|Humor]], [[Slatina Monastery|Slatina]], [[Dobrovăț Monastery|Dobrovăț]], [[Cetățuia Monastery|Cetățuia]], [[Râșca Monastery|Râșca]], [[Neamț Monastery|Neamț]], [[Sihăstria Monastery|Sihăstria]], [[Secu Monastery|Secu]], [[Bistrița Monastery|Bistrița]], [[Văratec Monastery|Văratec]].

He led several Romanian Orthodox delegations visiting other churches and countries: the [[Church of England]] (1958), the [[Syriac Orthodox Church|Malabar Syriac Church]] (1961), the [[United States]] (1970), the [[Danish National Church]] (1971) and the [[Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople|Ecumenical Patriarchate]] (1974). He took part in several synodal delegations led by Patriarch Justinian and received numerous foreign delegations at Iaşi or within the Iaşi Archdiocese. As a member of the Central Committee of the [[World Council of Churches]] (1961–77), he participated in general congresses at [[New Delhi]] (1961), [[Uppsala]] (1969) and [[Nairobi]] (1975) as well as at the annual sessions of the Central Committee at [[Paris]] (1962), [[Geneva]] (1966, 1973 and 1976), [[Heraklion]] (1967), [[Canterbury]] (1969), [[Addis Ababa]] (1971), [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]] (1972), [[Berlin]] (1974), etc.

As metropolitan, he published numerous articles, pastoral letters, speeches and editorials, especially in the magazine ''Mitropolia Moldovei și Sucevei'', which appeared for twenty years under his direct supervision. In addition, the Iaşi Metropolitan Centre edited other works, among them ''Monumente istorice-bisericești din Mitropolia Moldovei și Sucevei'' (1974) and ''Psaltirea în versuri a lui Dosoftei, ediție critică'' (1975); the monographs ''Catedrala Mitropolitană din Iașui'' and ''Mănăstirea Cetățuia'' (both 1977); brochure-albums to popularise the monasteries of Moldavia, prayer books, etc.

=== Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church ===

Patriarch Justinian died in March 1977. On June 12, 1977, Metropolitan Iustin was elected Archbishop of Bucharest, Metropolitan of Ungro-Vlachia, Patriarch of All Romania. He was enthroned at the [[Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral]], Bucharest, on June 19, 1977. Iustin remained in office until he died in Bucharest on July 31, 1986, and was buried in the Patriarchal Cathedral.

Patriarch Iustin paid special attention to publishing activity. He began the great collection ''Părinți și scriitori bisericești'' (projected to span 90 volumes), as well as the six-volume set ''Arta creștină în România''. A new synod-approved edition of the Bible appeared in 1982, a new New Testament in 1979, as well as textbooks for higher theological education and for theological seminaries, doctoral theses and devotional books. The Patriarchate's magazines continued to be published, as well as those of the metropolitanates and bulletins for Romanian Orthodox communities abroad.

He helped restore some of Romania's most important churches and monasteries, continuing the work he had begun at Iași. Among the monasteries in question are [[Curtea de Argeș Cathedral|Curtea de Argeș]], [[Cheia]], Zamfira, Viforâta, Dealu, [[Cernica]], Pasărea, Țigănești, [[Căldărușani]], Sfântul Spiridon Nou and Sfântul Gheorghe. Moreover, he put work into his own Patriarchal Cathedral, as well as others.

== Offices held ==

*Professor at the Nifon Seminary, Bucharest (1937–1938)

*Professor at the University of Warsaw (1938–1939)

*Professor at the Cernăuți-Suceava Faculty of Theology (1940–1946)

*Professor at the University of Bucharest (1946–1948)

*Professor at the Bucharest Theological Institute (1948–1956)

== Selected works ==

*''Sfânta Scriptură și interpretarea ei în opera Sf. Ioan Hrisostom'' (1939–1941)

*''Originalitatea parabolelor Mântuitorului'' (1944–1945)

*''Ierarhia bisericească în epoca apostolică. Anexă: Texte biblice si patristice despre pace și muncă'' (Craiova, 1955)

*''Sfântul Pavel și viața celor mai de seamă comunități creștine din epoca apostolică'' (1951)

== Bibliography ==

* [http://biserica.org/WhosWho/DTR/M/JustinMoisescu.html Justin Moisescu] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070502103331/http://biserica.org/WhosWho/DTR/M/JustinMoisescu.html |date=2007-05-02 }} in ''Dicționarul Teologilor Români'', Mircea Păcurariu, Ed. Univers Enciclopedic, Bucharest, 1996.

* Dr. [[Antonie Plămădeală]]. [http://www.patriarh.ro/Justinian/Maret%20moment.htm "Patru trepte în cei 60 de ani de patriarhat ortodox român"], in ''Alte file de calendar de inimă românească'', Sibiu, 1988, p.&nbsp;44-69 (speech given in the Synodal Hall of the Bucharest Patriarchal Palace, 29 September 1985).

* Fr. Prof. Dr. Ioan Rămureanu. "La 70 de ani de viață ai Prea Fericitului Patriarh Iustin", in ''BOR'', yr. XCVIII, 1980, nr. 3–4, p.&nbsp;339-363.

* Fr. Prof. Dumitru Radu. "Prea Fericitul Patriarh Iustin în teologia românească", in ''BOR'', yr. XCVIII, 1980, nr. 3–4, p.&nbsp;364-383.

* Fr. Scarlat Porcescu. "Coordonate ale arhipăstoriei Prea Fericitului Patriarh Iustin în scaunul Mitropoliei Moldovei și Sucevei", in ''BOR'', yr. XCVIII, 1980, nr. 3–4, p.&nbsp;384-403.

* Fr. Dumitru Soare. "Contribuția Prea Fericitului Patriarh Iustin la dezvoltarea relațiilor ecumenice ale Bisericii Ortodoxe Române", in ''BOR'', yr. XCVIII, 1980, nr. 3–4, p.&nbsp;404-432.

* Fr. Armand Munteanu. "Bibliografia Prea Fericitului Părinte Patriarh Justin", in ''Mitropolia Olteniei'', yr. XXXII, 1980, nr. 3–6, p.&nbsp;389-401 (other articles in the same edition, p.&nbsp;265-388).

==References==

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[[Category:20th-century Romanian clergy]]

[[Category:Members of the Iron Guard]]

[[Category:Academic staff of Chernivtsi University]]

[[Category:Academic staff of Alexandru Ioan Cuza University]]