27
February 1948 – Patriarch Nicodim Munteanu of the Romanian Orthodox
Church (baptized Nicolae) passed away. Studies at “Veniamin” Seminary of
Iași (1882 – 1890). Then at the Spiritual Academy in Kiev (1890 – 1895;
with graduation in 1895). Tonsured into monasticism at Neamț Monastery,
with the name Nicodim (1894), ordained hierodeacon (1894) and hieromonk
(1896); preacher at the metropolitan cathedral in Iași (1895),
archimandrite and appointed vicar of the Metropolitan See of Moldova
(1898 – 1902), then vicar to the Diocese of Lower Danube (1902 – 1909)
and director of the Seminary of “Saint Andrew” in Galați (1908 – 1909)
and assistant hierarch to the Metropolitan See of Moldova with the title
“Băcăuanul” (1909). On 18 February 1912, elected bishop of Huși
(enthroned on 3 March 1912); then archbishop locum tenens of Chișinău
and Hotin (June 1918 – December 1919). Retired from the chair in Huși,
on 31 December 1923, he was then abbot of Neamț Monastery (1924 – 1935).
As abbot he set up a monastic Seminary at Neamț (1925 – 1928) – moved
then to Cernica – and a school for the monastery brethren (1928 – 1937),
and later on a Seminary of religious music (1937); over one hundred
books have been printed at the printing house re-equipped at Neamț. On
23 January 1935 he is elected Metropolitan of Moldova (enthroned on 4
February 1935). On 30 June 1939, he was elected Patriarch of the
Romanian Orthodox Church (enthroned on 5 June), serving till his death.
Honorable member of the Romanian Academy (5 October 1918), doctor
“honoris causa” of the Faculty of Theology of Cernăuți (1920) in 1917,
delegated by the Holy Synod to the Great Council in Moscow, which
decided the re-establishment of the Russian Orthodox Patriarchate; in
the autumn of 1946 he headed a Romanian synodal delegation to Moscow. He
is one of the translators of the Romanian Bible; he has translated and
adapted in Russian over one hundred theological works, books of sermons
or religious brochures; he has written a few original theological works,
especially of spiritual edification for faithful, speeches, pastoral
letters, books of prayers, etc.
