Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești on Sunday highlighted the decisive role of Patriarch Justinian in the history of Romanian Orthodoxy, saying he “was called by God to guide the ship of the Church in its most turbulent times.”
Bishop Varlaam delivered the remarks during a memorial service marking 125 years since the birth of the third Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Justinian Marina.
The Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop outlined several achievements of Patriarch Justinian during his tenure.
“While in other communist countries churches were being demolished — in Russia, tens of thousands of churches fell victim to proletarian fury and atheistic leadership — during the time of Patriarch Justinian in our country 302 new churches were built and 2,345 were restored, an easy detail to remember because they are successive numbers, of which 999 were historic monuments and 120 were monastic churches,” he said.
He also noted that the first canonisations of Romanian Saints took place during Patriarch Justinian’s leadership.
2027 to Be Dedicated to Patriarchs Justinian and Teoctist
Bishop Varlaam further pointed out that Patriarch Justinian succeeded in publishing multiple editions of the Bible and the New Testament.
“Textbooks for theological faculties and seminaries were also published, candle factories continued to operate, and so forth — things that did not happen anywhere else. All this flourishing of the Church was due to the wisdom, balance and rich experience of Patriarch Justinian Marina of blessed memory, whom we commemorate today, 125 years after his birth,” the bishop said.
The Romanian Orthodox Church has formally recognised the merits of Patriarch Justinian and has declared 2027 the “Commemorative Year of Patriarchs Justinian Marina and Teoctist Arăpașu.”
That year will mark 50 years since the repose of Patriarch Justinian and 20 years since the passing of Patriarch Teoctist.
Photo: Ramnic Archdiocese files
