The Patriarchs of Romania

Patriarch Iustin Moisescu

His Beatitude Patriarch Justin, both as a teacher and patriarch, was a representative figure of Romanian Orthodoxy on the international scene. For example, when he was in Greece on an official visit he was received with the protocol of a head of state. Greece had a great respect for Hierarch Iustin Moisescu, not only because he studied in Greece and completed a brilliant doctorate on Evagrius Ponticus, but also because he spoke the universal Greek language καθαρεύουσα so well that some Greeks said: he speaks καθαρεύουσα better than we do!

Life and work

He was born on March 5, 1910, in the village of Cândeşti, Argeş County. He was baptized Ioan. He became an orphan at a young age, his father having sacrificed his life in the War for the Unification of the Country. He enrolled at the War Orphans’ Seminary in Câmpulung Muscel (1922-1930), graduating as a top student. Patriarch Miron Cristea selected him from among the graduates of all the seminaries in 1930 and sent him with a scholarship to the Faculty of Theology in Athens, which he graduated in magna cum laude in 1934. He then specialized at the Faculty of Catholic Theology in Strasbourg and later returned to Athens, where he defended his doctoral thesis titled “Evagrius of Pontus: Life, Writings, and Teachings” in 1937, which was awarded by the Academy of Sciences in Athens. He taught Latin at the “Nifon” Seminary in Bucharest (1937-1938), New Testament studies at the Orthodox Faculty of Theology at the University of Warsaw (1938-1939), and later became a full professor (1942) of New Testament Exegesis at the Faculty of Theology in Cernăuți (Suceava), transferring in 1946 to the same position at the Faculty of Theology in Bucharest. He was ordained as a celibate priest in 1956. That same year, he was elected Archbishop of Sibiu and Metropolitan of Transylvania, being enthroned on March 18. On January 10, 1957, he was elected Archbishop of Iaşi and Metropolitan of Moldavia and Suceava (enthroned on January 13), where he shepherded for 20 years.

On June 12, 1977, he was elected Archbishop of Bucharest, Metropolitan of Ungrovlahia, and Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church (enthroned on June 19, 1977), shepherding until his death on July 31, 1986. In the cultural realm, he initiated Părinți și Scriitori Bisericești (PSB) (Fathers and Church Writers) collection, the Artă Creștină în Romania (Christian Art in Romania) collection (6 volumes), and continued the publication of the Philokalia, translated by Father Dumitru Stăniloae. Additionally, a new synodal edition of the Holy Scriptures was printed (1982). He began efforts to build the new buildings of the Church Objects Workshops in Popești-Leordeni. Throughout his activity, he was a strong supporter of inter-church dialogue, making several visits to the Ecumenical Patriarchate (1978), the Romanian Orthodox Missionary Archdiocese in the United States and Canada (1979), the Russian Orthodox Church (1980), the Serbian Orthodox Church (1981), the Lutheran Church of Sweden (1981), and the Ecumenical Council of Churches in Geneva (1981).

Works

His works include: Atena, 1937; Cernăuți, 1942; Sfânta Scriptură și interpretarea ei în opera Sfântului Ioan Hrisostom Activitatea Sfântului Apostol Pavel în Atena Evagrie din Pont. Viața, scrierile și învățătura sa, Iaşi, 1946; (PhD thesis), Ierarhia bisericească în epoca apostolică, Craiova, 1955; Originalitatea parabolelor Mântuitorului, Râmnicu Vâlcea, 1945; Monumente istorice din Mitropolia Moldovei și Sucevei, Iaşi, 1974; Psaltirea în versuri a Mitropolitului Dosoftei, ediție critică de N.A. Ursu, Iaşi, 1977.

Eulogy

“His Beatitude Patriarch Justin, both as a professor and as a patriarch, was a representative figure of Romanian Orthodoxy on the international stage. For instance, during an official visit to Greece, he was received with the protocol of a head of state. Greece had profound respect for Hierarch Justin Moisescu, not only because he had studied in Greece and completed a brilliant doctorate on Evagrius Ponticus, but also because he spoke the universal Greek language καθαρεύουσα so well that some Greeks would say: He speaks καθαρεύουσα better than we do. He had a deep love for Greek culture and continued to cultivate it throughout his life. When attending working sessions of the World Council of Churches and the Conference of European Churches, he would usually speak only toward the end or in moments of conflict. With great tact, patience, and wisdom, he would intervene and mediate in situations where different Churches or groups were in a state of tension. I believe what must remain in our collective memory as a luminous model from Patriarch Justin Moisescu are three outstanding qualities: faithfulness to Orthodox tradition, solid academic training, and elegance in style, conduct, and speech. He was a majestic and sober archpastor, like a voivode, and in times of imposed silence, a fearless fighter unto death—like an unshakable pillar in the midst of the storm. More specifically, when the communist dictators attempted to relocate the Patriarchate headquarters to Văcărești Monastery in the capital, he categorically refused. It was a bold defiance, difficult for the Ceaușescus to tolerate. Patriarch Justin remains in our memory as a balanced man, an erudite theologian, and a wise shepherd—through his fidelity to Orthodox and patristic tradition, his strong academic foundation, his sobriety in human relationships, and also through his paternal kindness and generosity, often expressed discreetly but effectively.”

His Beatitude Daniel,
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church