Saint Iosif (Naniescu)

Holy Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu) (1818-1902)

Iosif may be spelt Joseph.

Ioan may be spelt Ioann, Iohannes, Johannes, John.

Moldavia may be spelt Moldova.

Early life of Ioan Naniescu

On 15/27 July, 1818, Ioan Naniescu was born in the village of Răzălăi in Bessarabia, Principality of Moldavia (now Bălți County, in the Republic of Moldova). He was born to the Priest Anania (Nane) Mihalache Naniescu and his wife Teodosia. He was baptised as Ioan (John).

When Ioan was at the age of 2 years, Priest Anania Naniescu fell asleep in the Lord.

Widowed Preoteasa Theodosia and the rest of the family raised Ioan to be an Orthodox Christian within the bosom of the Romanian Orthodox Church, which at that time subsisted as a dependency within the Patriarchate of Constantinople.

Ioan received the usual sort of primary education that was available at that time.

Monastic formation, 1831

In 1831, one of the uncles of Ioan, Hierodeacon Teophylact, brought him to the Saint Spiridon Monastery in Iași, in order to study literature (writing, reading, the typicon and psalter music).

Ioan was at that time 13 years of age, and the teaching he received was a secondary-level education of the sort provided in a gymnasium school.

Saint Spiridon Monastery

While he was in this monastery, he was tonsured to be a rasophor monk. He was given the name Iosif.

By 1834, Hierodeacon Teophylact had been ordained to the Holy Priesthood, and he had been assigned as Abbot of the Monastery of Holy Prophet Samuil (Samuel) in Focșani.

Holy Prophet Samuil Monastery, Focșani

In 1835, he was assigned to serve as ecclesiarch at the Diocesan Centre in Buzău (under the famous Bishop Chesarie (Căpăţână)), and he took his nephew, Rasophor Iosif with him to Wallachia.

Monastic tonsure, 1835

On 23 January, 1835, in the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Buzău, the Rasophor Ioan (Naniescu) was tonsured to be a stavrophor monk under the name of Iosif, which he had been given when he was tonsured a rasophor.

Holy Dormition Cathedral, Buzău

The monastic spiritual foundation of the Monk, Iosif (Naniescu) was rooted in the “Prayer of the Heart”, or “Jesus Prayer” which was part of the legacy of Saint Paisius (Velichkovsky) in Romania (both in Moldavia and in Wallachia), and particularly through the Dragomirna and Neamț Monasteries. This legacy remains to this day. Through his practice of the “Prayer of the Heart”, the Monk Iosif became imbued with love for Jesus Christ. This love motivated and marked his whole life.

Diaconal ordination, 1835

On 24 January, 1835, Rasophor Monk Iosif (Naniescu) was ordained to the Holy Diaconate.

Diaconal service

Hierodeacon Iosif (Naniescu) had been ordained at a very young age ; but in those days, it was not uncommon that this occur. He continued in monastic obedience, and he continued his formal education.

Higher education

As a disciple of Bishop Chesarie (Căpăţână), in 1836, Hierodeacon Iosif (Naniescu) entered the seminary in Buzău (which had just been established), in which he completed his studies in 1840.

Orthodox Seminary, Buzău

Between 1840-1847 he attended the courses of the Saint Sava College in Bucharest.

Saint Sava National College, Bucharest

In 1849, Hierodeacon Iosif (Naniescu) was assigned to serve as superior at the Şerbăneşti Morunglavului Monastery in Vâlcea county.

Presbyteral ordination, 1850

On 20 August, 1850, Hierodeacon Iosif (Naniescu) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood in Bucharest.

Pastoral service

In November, 1852, Hieromonk Iosif (Naniescu) was elevated to the dignity of protosingel by Bishop (Saint) Callinicus (Antonescu), Bishop of Râmnic.

In 1857, Protosingel Iosif (Naniescu) was assigned to serve as abbot at the Găiseni Monastery, in Dâmbovița County.

Four years later, Protosingel Iosif (Naniescu) was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite by Metropolitan Primate Nifon (Rusailă).

In 1863, Archimandrite Iosif (Naniescu) was assigned to serve as abbot at the Sărindar Monastery in Bucharest.

Archimandrite Iosif (Naniescu), 1865, wearing doctoral Cross

Between 1864-1870, Archimandrite Iosif (Naniescu) was a teacher of religion at the “Gheorghe Lazăr Gymnasium” and at the “Matei Basarab High School” in Bucharest.

During 1870-1871, he was director of the Central Seminary in Bucharest.

Episcopal ordination, 1872

On 23 April, 1872, Archimandrite Iosif (Naniescu) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate by bishops of the Church of Romania in Bucharest.

Episcopal service

Bishop Iosif (Naniescu) was assigned to serve as a Vicar-Bishop in the Diocese of Bucharest.

In January, 1873, Bishop Iosif (Naniescu) was assigned to serve as Bishop of Argeș.

Bishop Iosif (Naniescu) was enthroned in the Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral in Argeș.

He served in the Diocese of Argeș for 2 years.

Holy Dormition Cathedral, Argeș

Metropolitan of Iași, Suceava, and Moldavia

On 10 June, 1875, Bishop Iosif (Naniescu) was elected to be Metropolitan of Moldavia.

On 6 July, 1875, Bishop Iosif (Naniescu) was enthroned in the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Meeting of the Lord, Saint George, and Saint Parasceva in Iași, and he was elevated to the dignity of metropolitan.

For the next 27 years, the esteemed and venerable Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu) shepherded the Metropolitanate of Moldavia and Bucovina with rare gentleness and wisdom.

There, the virtues in which he had grown came to their zenith in the context of his spiritual, theological, pastoral, and social activity. He remains for those who follow after him a lively and good example, difficult to imitate.

Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu) of Iași, Moldavia and Bucovina

Completion of the Metropolitan Cathedral

In 1833, the construction of a new cathedral in Iași had begun. However, there was a series of events which delayed its progress. Not long after his enthronement, Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu) began to urge the authorities to complete the construction. The urging was accepted and acted upon. A new cornerstone was laid on 15 April, 1880. Architect Alexandru Orăscu, rector of the University of Bucharest, designed new plans that added 2 rows of massive pilasters to the interior, which created a rectangular basilica shape, with a central nave and 2 smaller side naves. The 4 detached side spires were kept, but the large central dome was eliminated and replaced with a system of 4 semicircular sections, separated by transverse arches.

Holy Meeting of the Lord Cathedral, Iași

The cathedral was sanctified on 23 April, 1887, in the presence of King Carol I and Queen Elisabeth, who had donated large sums for the project.

In 1889, the relics of Saint Parasceva, patron saint of Moldavia, were brought from “Trei Ierarhi” (Three Hierarchs) Monastery. From that time, every year, crowds of pilgrims arrived in order to venerate the Holy Relics, and particularly on her feast day (14 October). Her Holy Relics are located on the right side of the vestibule, as is the tomb of Metropolitan Veniamin Costache.

It was during the years of the archpastorate of Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu) that an emigration began. From Moldavia in particular (and some other parts of Romania), people began to depart for Europe and for North America. This movement was mainly for economic reasons. It was during the late 1890s that people began to arrive in Canada.

Bishop Iosif was asked to bless the moves of people, and he began to be requested to assist the Romanian Orthodox in their new lands (especially in providing Romanian-speaking priests). His successors were likewise approached for help.

Apart from the fact that he had received from God the Grace to heal the ailments of people, and to know their thoughts, Metropolitan Iosif cared for the needy to such an extent that he gave everything away for their sake.

During the time of his episcopal service (1872-1902), the Church of Romania had been led by Metropolitan-Primate Nifon (Rusailă) ; Metropolitan-Primate Calinic (Miclescu) ; Metropolitan-Primate Iosif (Gheorghian) ; Metropolitan-Primate Ghenadie (Petrescu) ; and again Metropolitan-Primate Iosif (Gheorghian).

Repose, 1902

On 26 January, 1902, Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu) "the holy and merciful one" fell asleep in the Lord.

Preparation of the body for the funeral

In accordance with the custom, the body of Metropolitan Iosif was washed, anointed, and clothed by bishops and priests. Then, his body was vested in his archpastoral vestments. After the vesting, Metropolitan Iosif's body was sat in a special chair. All the while, prayers were being said. Then, the lit dikiri and trikiri were placed in his hands for the last time, and 2 clerics moved his hands in the form of hierarchical blessing for the last time. (It is a very old custom that a bishop be interred sitting upright in a chair.)

The body of Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu) in a chair

Once this was accomplished, his body was placed in an open coffin and placed on a catafalque in the cathedral. There, his body remained while memorial services for the dead were offered frequently for the newly-departed Metropolitan Iosif. Otherwise, clergy read from the Holy Gospels until the time of the beginning of the funeral obsequies.

Memorial Hierarchical Divine Liturgy

On 28 January, the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy was celebrated early in the morning. Bishop Partenie (Clinceni) of Galați and the Lower Danube served, together with Bishop Gerasim (Sarafim) of the Diocese of Roman and and Bacău, and Bishop Conon (Băcăuanul), Vicar-Bishop of the Diocese of Roman. The assembly of serving clergy was completed by the clergy of the metropolitan cathedral and by some clerics from the diocesan chancellory.

After the end of the Divine Liturgy, the bishops Silvestru Bălănescu of Hușilor ; Calistrat (Orleanu) of Bârlăd ; Meletie (Dobrescu) of Gălățea ; and Calist (Ialomițeanu) of Botoșăni were able to arrive also.

Funeral service for the departed hierarch

At 11 o'clock, the 7 bishops, assisted by 64 priests and 8 deacons, began the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Hierarch. The service was attended by many believers, clergy, monks, nuns, and numerous students of the Theological Seminary in Iași. Present also were the delegate of the Royal House of Romania, Colonel Alecu Mavrocordat, and the delegate of the Government of Romania ; Spiru Haret, the Minister of Cults and Public Instruction ; the delegate of the Romanian Academy, Professor Constantin Erbiceanu, and other representatives of the central and local authorities.

Eulogies, Last Kiss

At the appointed time at the end of the funeral service, several speeches were given.

The first speech was given by the Minister of Cults, Spiru Haret, on behalf of the Government. He reminded those assembled about the luminous figure of the metropolitan : "Through his virtues, through his wisdom, through the perseverance he put in to complete the greatest religious monument of the country, started by another great Metropolitan, Father Iosif Naniescu wrote one of the most glorious pages in the history of the high prelates of the country. Let the dust be light !"

Constantin B Pennescu, the mayor of Iași, followed, and he reiterated the benefactions inherited from Metropolitan Iosif.

The third speech was delivered by Constantin Erbiceanu, on behalf of the Romanian Academy. The illustrious Hellenist and professor Erbiceanu, originally from the village of Erbiceni, Iași county, had countless and emotional memories of Metropolitan Iosif. In the former capital of Moldova, some time ago, they had jointly founded the "Revista Teologica" ("Theological Review") publication, in which many articles and studies written by Professor Erbiceanu came to light. That is why the speaker brought a word of gratitude, thanking Metropolitan Iosif on behalf of the supreme forum of Romanian culture for the impressive book donation made by him to the academy.

The last speech was given by the director of the Veniamin Seminary in Iași, Father Pavel Savin, from the clergy. Like his predecessors, he evoked the personality of the metropolitan, emphasising the philanthropic side, of spiritual and financial assistance to his pastors. The eulogy ended with a piercing exhortation : "and now, dear spiritual sons, come closer and receive the last blessing from the one who shepherded you for a quarter of a century. You too, dear seminarians, who are training in the fruit of the labours of the late metropolitan, come close, place your last kiss on the hand of the one who blessed you with love".

Final procession and interment

After the speeches and the last kiss by all present, the traditional procession around the great cathedral took place, with the four stops for prayers, then the coffin was lowered into the grave (in the nave of the cathedral), to the funeral peal of bells.

On the same day, a loaf of bread, a candle and 20 pieces of money were distributed to 500 poor people.

40 days of memorial services

After the completion of the funeral obsequies, Bishop Partenie (Clinceni) ordered that for 40 days from the transfer of Vladica Iosif to the Heavenly Kingdom, the Divine Liturgy was to be served in the cathedral, followed each time by serving at the tomb a Trisagion for the Departed.

– Vicar-Bishop of Bucharest 1872

– Bishop of Argeș 1873

– Metropolitan of Iași, Moldavia and Suceava 1875-1903. Preceded by Metropolitan Calinic (Miclescu). Succeeded by : Metropolitan Partenie (Stancu-Clinceni).

Glorification, 2017

The grave of Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu) was opened in January, 1973, on the occasion of the replacement of the old church floor with parquet. At this time, the bones and the skull, all yellow and beautiful, were exhumed.

On 5 October, 2017, Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu) was glorified as a saint by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church during its session on that day.

He was to be known as the Holy Hierarch Iosif "the Merciful", Metropolitan of Moldavia.

The proclamation of his glorification took place on 25 March, 2018, in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Iași, at a service led by Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Bucharest and All Romania, and Metropolitan Teofan (Savu) of Iași, Moldavia and Bucovina. This day marked the 100th anniversary of the Union of Bessarabia with the Kingdom of Romania.

The Tomos of Glorification stated :

 ‘Looking at the sacrificial love of Metropolitan Joseph of Moldavia for his neighbour, at his 
 Orthodox faith and his way of life, by which the Lord of merciful love is always praised, 
 following the apostolic and patristic Tradition of the Orthodox Church and calling to our help the 
 Grace of the Most Holy and life-giving and inseparable [Trinity], we declare, as of now and forever, 
 our Father Joseph Naniescu, the Metropolitan of Moldavia, to be honoured in the choir of the holy 
 hierarchs by the entire Romanian Orthodox Church’.

The annual day of commemoration was determined to be on 26 January, the day of repose.

Reflections

For 27 years, the venerable Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu) shepherded the Metropolitanate of Moldavia with rare gentleness and wisdom. There, he exhibited the richest spiritual, theological, pastoral and social activity of his entire life.

The Romanians lost a model of Christian living that is hard to match, but they gained an intercessor before the Throne of the All-Holy Trinity.

After the earthly end of his episcopal service, preparations began for the funeral service, established to be on Monday, 28 January, 1902. By order of the King of Romania, Carol I, the funeral of Metropolitan Iosif was done at the expense of the state, the mayor of Iași, the jurist Constantin B Pennescu, a great lover of culture and a good friend of the deceased hierarch, being delegated to draw up the funeral program. Without delay, the preparation of the tomb began in the metropolitan courtyard, in the southern part of the cathedral, a place indicated by Metropolitan Iosif himself, 2 years previously, when he drew up his will.

Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu) as a scholar

Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu) was an outstanding Romanian scholar, an honourary member (since 1888) of the Romanian Academy.

Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu) : his library, his writings

Metropolitan Iosif's greatest asset was a rich library, which, in his later life, he personally donated to the Romanian Academy. However, the only books that accompanied him until his death were the Holy Scriptures, the Book of the Hours and the Lives of the Saints.

He is also known as the author of the "Rule of Holy Prayer", the prayer of the heart/mind. It is an extremely interesting and special order of spiritual life in the landscape of Romanian monastic life. The method combines the prayer of the cell (particular), with liturgical prayer, and with listening, in a balanced and comprehensive synthesis. The writing highlights the deep spiritual maturity of the Father Iosif, his rich philological culture, as well as the influence of the Paisian spirit.

Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu), Wonder-worker

There is series of wonderful deeds found in connection with the Father Iosif, which underline his spiritual scope : the gift of foresight (such as foretelling the burning of the monastery in 1821) ; of working miracles (healing the sick through his prayers, binding frogs so that they no longer sang in the basin in front of the large Temple) ; the gift of exorcising unclean spirits.

Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu), spiritual father like Saint Paisius (Velitchkovsky) and Saint Seraphim of Sarov

As a priest, Father Iosif had served as the first spiritual father of the Văratec community and a true "builder of souls and walls".

In the course of his spiritual paternity at the Văratec Monastery, at the base of the monastic life of all these models of monks and priests was, of course, the ideal of a hesychast life, which was materialised through the idiorhythmic organisation of the "monastic village", based on Paisian ordinances. A skilled spiritual father, he had been formed in the life of a hermit, with a high standard, and a true monastic way of life. Thus, he laid the foundation of the community of Văratec, as the first priest of the monastery and at the same time as an exemplary model for all the priests of the monastery. As a monastic scholar and mentor of souls, he was the author of an order of prayer characterised by spiritual balance. He was a good overseer of the community, and a good administrator of the monastery's assets.

Due to the profound features that particularise it within the framework of Romanian monastic spirituality, the "Rule" deserves to be analysed with all attention, in the details of its prescriptions. The "Rule" begins upon rising from sleep, with 3 prostrations, followed by the opening prayers and a short order of the morning prayers. The comprehensive confession of all sins is then recommended, accompanied by the recitation of 2 tropars of repentance and 50 great metanias/prostrations (or the number corresponding to the obedience given). The morning prayers end by saying the "Prayer of Jesus" ("Jesus Prayer") for 15 minutes, the saying of which involves the following : gathering the senses, bowing the head on the left shoulder, closing the mouth (to say the prayer with the mind), putting 2 fingers from the right hand to the chest, above the place of the heart, the union of prayer with the breath. At the appointed time, the Matins service follows, in which the recitation of the Jesus Prayer can be continued in secret, for 15 minutes. After returning to the cell, the prayers of the Mother of God (the "Rejoice [...]", and "Most Holy Theotokos, save us") are recited, possibly interrupted by a short rest and followed by the Prayer of Jesus, again for 15 minutes.

In relation to the recommendations of the Rule, a list of the main forms of spiritual growth should be noted : the rule of the cell, accompanied by physical need (bowings and prostrations), participation in liturgical services (Matins, Holy Communion), listening, and above all, the Prayer of Jesus. Regarding the latter, it is interesting that Father Iosif had in mind the gradual increase in the prayer of the heart, for beginners of course, and that is why he recommends saying the prayer for a limited time (15 minutes) and repeatedly (5 times a day).

Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu) and emigrants to Canada

It was during the last part of the archpastorate of Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu) that emigration began from Moldavia (principally from Bucovina) to Canada. It was to him and to his successor that appeals were first directed from Canada for help in settling through the provision of clergy.

Metropolitan Iosif "the Merciful"

He gave alms to the last penny. After his transition to the eternal, it is said that the fathers who cared for him found only two coins in his cell. He probably would have offered those to the poor, but he had no opportunity, because he had to answer the call of Christ the Redeemer, on 26 January, 1902, with an entire nation mourning his departure.

Writings

• “Cuvînt zisă la sfinţirea bisericii monastirii Tîrguşor Nou din judeţul Prahova”. Bucur., 1857 ;

[in English : “Words at the Consecration of the Church of the Tîrguşor Nou Monastery in Prahova County” (Bucharest, 1857)].

• “Cuvîntul făcut cu ocaziunea sfinţirei bisericei celei mari, Catedralei Mitropoliei din Iași. Iași, 1887 ;

[in English : “Words on the Occasion of the Consecration of the great church of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Iași” (Iași, 1887)].

• “Discurs rostit în ziua de 3 iulie 1891 la înmormântarea marelui bărbat de stat Mihail Cogălniceanu”. Bucur., 1892 ;

[in English : “Speech delivered on 3 July, 1891 at the Funeral of the great statesman Mihail Cogălniceanu” (Bucharest, 1892)].

• “Scrisoarea episcopului Kesarie al Buzeului către tinerii seminarişti”. Bucur., 1893 ;

[in English : “The Letter of Bishop Cesarie of Buzau to the young Seminarians” (Bucharest, 1893].

• “Istoricul pe scurt al începutului seminarilor în România atât în Moldova cât şi în Ţara Românesca”. Iași, 1893.

[in English : “Brief History of the Beginning of Seminars in Romania, both in Moldova and in Wallonia” (Iasi, 1893)].

Articles about Saint Iosif from various sources

• Vasilache V. “Iosif Naniescu strălucit mitropolit al Moldovei”. Neamţ, 1940 ;

[in English : Vasilache, V, “Brilliant Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu) of Moldova” (Neamţ, 1940)].

• Dudu V. “Mitropolitul Moldovei Iosif al II-lea Naniescu si Academia Română”. Iasi, 1941;

[in English : Dudu, V, “The Metropolitan of Moldova Joseph II Naniescu and the Romanian Academy” (Iasi, 1941)].

• Cocora G. ‘Mitropolitul Iosif Naniescu si Buzăul’ // “Glasul Bisericii”. Bucur., 1968. An. 27. No. 7/8. P. 806-812 ;

[in English : Cocora, G, ‘Metropolitan Iosif Naniescu and Buzăul’ in “Voice of the Church”, vol. 27, no. 7/8 (Bucharest, 1968), pp. 806-812].

• Costinescu P., Marinescu F. “Cartea românească veche din biblioteca mitropolitului Iosif Naniescu” // Mitropolia Moldovei şi Sucevei. 1974. No. 1/2. P. 63-81 ;

[in English : Costinescu, P, Marinescu, F, “Old Romanian Book from the Library of Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu)” (Publishing House of the Metropolitanate of Moldova and Suceava, 1974), no. 1/2, pp. 63-81).

• Peter I David. “Metropolitul Iosif Naniescu” // Ibid. 1990. No. 1/3. P. 141-158.

[in English : Peter I David, “Metropolitan Iosif (Naniescu)” (Publishing House of the Metropolitanate of Moldova and Suceava, 1990), no. 1/3, pp. 141-158.]

References

Romanian Orthodoxwiki biography

Romanian Wikipedia biography

Doxologia.ro biography (in Romanian)

Russian Wikipedia biography

Drevo Encyclopaedia biography

Orthodox Encyclopaedia biography

Additional information :

Hitchins, Keith, “Romania 1866-1947”, (Oxford : Clarendon Press, 1994)

Pacurariu, Mircea, ‘Romanian Christianity’ in “The Blackwell Companion to Eastern Christianity” (Oxford : John Wiley & Sons, 2007). ISBN 10 : 0631234233 ; ISBN 13 : 9780631234234.

Protul, Gavril, “Viaţa şi traiul Sfinţiei Sale Părintelui nostru Nifon, patriarhul Ţarigradului” (Bucharest, 1888). Protul, Gavril, "The Life of Father Nifon, Patriarch of Tsarigrad" (Bucharest, 1888)

Romanian Orthodox Church : the Lives of the Saints

Sanidopoulos, John, “Holy Hierarch Joseph the Merciful, Metropolitan of Moldova”

Church of Romania web-site

Orthodoxwiki article about the Church of Romania

Wikipedia article about the Church of Romania

Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Moldavia and Bucovina

Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Iași

History of the Archdiocese of Iași

Metropolitan-Primate Nifon (Rusailă)

Patriarch Miron (Cristea)

Metropolitan Veniamin (Costachi)

Metropolitan-Primate Calinic (Miclescu)