The Romanian Orthodox Church on Friday marks 40 years since the repose of Patriarch Iustin Moisescu, one of its most distinguished scholars and a major contributor to Romanian theological culture.
Patriarch Iustin Moisescu was born on 5 March 1910 in the village of Cândești, Argeș County, Romania. He studied at the War Orphans’ Seminary in Câmpulung-Muscel, followed by the Faculty of Theology in Athens. He later continued his studies in Strasbourg and returned to Athens, where he earned a doctorate in theology with a dissertation titled “Evagrius Ponticus: His Life, Writings and Teaching.”
He enjoyed a distinguished academic career, teaching Latin at the Nifon Seminary in Bucharest and New Testament at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Warsaw, before becoming Professor of New Testament Exegesis at the theological faculties in Chernivtsi and Bucharest.
In 1956, he was ordained a celibate priest and elected Archbishop of Sibiu and Metropolitan of Transylvania. A year later, he became Archbishop of Iași and Metropolitan of Moldavia and Suceava, a position he held for two decades.
Patriarch of Romania
On 12 June 1977, he was elected Archbishop of Bucharest, Metropolitan of Ungro-Wallachia and Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and was enthroned on 19 June.
Widely regarded as one of the Romanian Orthodox Church’s most learned hierarchs, Patriarch Iustin promoted inter-Church dialogue and represented the Romanian Orthodox Church at numerous official visits and ecumenical gatherings.
He also devoted particular attention to theological publishing. During his patriarchate, he launched the “Church Fathers and Writers” collection, envisioned as a 90-volume series, as well as the “Christian Art in Romania” collection.
Under his leadership, the Church published a new Synodal edition of the Bible (1982), a new edition of the New Testament (1979), textbooks for theological education, liturgical books and numerous scholarly works.
“Let there be no dwelling place for evil thoughts”
In one of his pastoral messages, Patriarch Iustin urged the faithful:
“Let there be no dwelling place for evil thoughts in our souls. Rather, let our minds always be directed towards whatever is true, whatever is humble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is honourable” (Philippians 4:8).
Patriarch Iustin Moisescu reposed in the Lord on 31 July 1986 and is buried in the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, where an annual memorial service is held in his memory.
In 2019, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church designated the year as the Commemorative Year of Patriarchs Nicodim Munteanu and Iustin Moisescu and of Translators of Church Books, in recognition of their contribution to the life and culture of the Church.
Photo: Basilica.ro / Raluca-Emanuela Ene
