Fr Sergiu Marcel Vlad, parish priest of the only Romanian Orthodox church in Constantinople, on Wednesday described Mircea Lucescu as a “successful sportsman, brilliant manager, refined intellectual and benefactor.”
“The news of the passing into eternal life of Mr Mircea Lucescu has deeply saddened us, marking our separation from a complex personality,” the priest told Basilica.ro.
The parish priest of the Romanian community in Constantinople said that “throughout a remarkable career, he distinguished himself through professionalism, being a true leader who made an essential contribution to promoting the authentic values of sport worldwide.”
Concern for the needs of the Church
Referring to his involvement in Church life, Fr Sergiu Marcel Vlad said that Mircea Lucescu “made a significant contribution to the reopening, in 2004, of the Church of the Holy Great Martyr Paraskevi in the Hasköy district of Istanbul for the Romanian community in the city.”
“The place of worship, rebuilt from its foundations by the Holy Martyr Prince Constantine Brâncoveanu in 1692, benefited from extensive restoration works carried out through the care of Mr Mircea Lucescu and his family,” the priest added.
“He showed constant concern for the needs and challenges of the Church and of the Romanian community in Istanbul.”
He also noted that “in 2002, he intervened with local authorities in Istanbul, making a decisive contribution to obtaining a plot of land of approximately 3,000 square metres for the Romanian cemetery in the city.”
Close to community life
Fr Sergiu Marcel Vlad said that “Mr Lucescu remained close to the life of the community until his final moments, his last visit taking place in September 2025.”
Mircea Lucescu, former head coach of Romania’s national football team, reposed in the Lord on Tuesday at the age of 80.
Patriarch Daniel issued a message of condolence, praising “his pedagogical tact, his remarkable culture and his open and honest manner of communication, which earned him the respect and esteem of all who knew him.”
The body of the renowned Romanian coach will lie in state at the National Arena stadium until Friday, the day of his funeral, allowing those who wish to pay their final respects to do so according to a schedule set by the Romanian Football Federation.
Photo: Fr. Sergiu Marcel Vlad
