Patriarch Teoctist (Arăpașu)

Patriarch Teoctist (Arăpașu) (1915-2007)

Teoctist may be spelt Theoctist, Theoktist.

Toader may be spelt Theodore, Teodor.

Early life of Toader Arăpașu

On 7 February, 1915, Toader Arăpașu was born as the tenth of 11 children of Dumitru and Marghioala Arăpașu, of Tocileni, Botoșani County in the Kingdom of Romania.

Toader attended the primary school in Tocileni (1921-1927).

In 1928, Toader Arăpașu became a novice at Sihăstria Voronei Hermitage (at age 13, not unusual at that time), and later at the Vorona Monastery.

His education continued while he lived in the monastic brotherhood.

Monastic tonsure, 1935

On 6 August, 1935, Toader Arăpașu was tonsured to be a monk with the blessing of Metropolitan Pimen (Georgescu) of Moldavia at the Bistrița-Neamț Monastery, and he was given the name Teoctist.

Monk Teoctist (Arăpașu) continued his studies in the midst of his community obediences.

Diaconal ordination, 1937

On 4 January, 1937, with the blessing of Patriarch Nicodim (Munteanu) of Moldavia, Archbishop Ilarion (Băcăoanul) ordained Monk Teoctist to the Holy Diaconate in the Precista Temple of the Bistrița Monastery.

Higher education

In 1940, Hierodeacon Teoctist (Arăpașu) began his studies at the Faculty of Theology in the University of Bucharest.

During this time, under obedience, Hierodeacon Teoctist performed various functions within the Bucharest Archdiocese and as deacon at the Romanian Patriarchate.

In 1945, Hierodeacon Teoctist (Arăpașu) graduated with “Magna cum lauda” for his work in the Liturgy Department under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Petre Vintilescu.

On 1 March, 1945, Hierodeacon Teoctist (Arăpașu) was transferred, at his request, to the diocesan centre of Iași.

Presbyteral ordination, 1945

On 25 March, 1945, Hierodeacon Teoctist (Arăpașu) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood (at age 30) at the Metropolitan Cathedral by Bishop Valeriu Moglan of Botoşăni, a bishop of the Metropolia of Moldavia and Bucovina.

Pastoral service

In 1945, in Iași, Hieromonk Teoctist (Arăpașu) served as a priest, and then as the Great Ecclesiarch at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Iași.

He also served as the metropolitan's exarch of the monasteries in the Archdiocese of Iași.

In 1946, Hieromonk Teoctist (Arăpașu) was elevated to the dignity of archimandrite.

Further education, 1946

During the years 1946 and 1947, he studied at the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy at the University of Iași.

Post-war disciplinary action, 1947

At the beginning of 1947, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church revoked Father Teoctist’s archimandrite rank because of his alleged pro-Communist opinions. The decision was published in the official periodical of the Romanian Patriarchate, the “Biserica Ortodoxă Română”, nos. 1-3 of January-March, 1947.

The report indicates that Father Teoctist (Arăpasu) was associated with Vicar-Bishop Justinian (Marina) (a bishop who was also perceived as being pro-communist), and who was alleged to have undermined his superior, Metropolitan Irineu (Mihălcescu) of Moldavia, through attacks in the daily press. At the same time, the communist authorities organised the removal of Metropolitan Irineu (Mihălcescu) from the metropolitan see. He was replaced by Bishop Justinian (Marina), and this change may have facilitated the rise of his friend Archimandrite Teoctist (Arăpasu).

Between 1948 and 1950, Archimandrite Teoctist (Arăpaşu) served as the administrative vicar (chancellor) of the Archdiocese of Iaşi.

At this time, Father Teoctist also undertook further theological studies.

Episcopal election, 1950

On 28 February, 1950, Archimandrite Teoctist (Arăpasu) was elected by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church (at the suggestion of Patriarch Justinian), to become a bishop. He had previously been canonically examined by the Canonical-Legal Commission of the Holy Synod, under the presidency of (Metropolitan Dr. Nicolae Bălan) of Transylvania.

Episcopal ordination, 1950

On 5 March, 1950, Archimandrite Teoctist (Arăpaşu) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate in the Church of Saint Spiridon Nou in Bucharest, by Patriarch Justinian (Marina), Metropolitan Firmilian {Marin) of Oltenia, and Bishop Chesarie (Păunescu) of the Lower Danube.

Saint Spiridon's Temple

Episcopal service

Bishop Teoctist (Arăpaşu) was assigned to serve as Bishop of Botoşăni, and as Vicar-Bishop of the Metropolitanate of Iași, Moldavia and Bucovina.

Secretary of the Holy Synod, Rector of the Theological Institute, Bucharest

Between 1950 and 1954, Bishop Teoctist (Arăpaşu) was assigned also to serve as the secretary of the Holy Synod, and as rector of the Theological Institute of Bucharest. He also was given the leadership of the various sectors of the patriarchal administration.

Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Bucharest

Between 1954 and 1962, Bishop Teoctist led the office of the Archdiocese of Bucharest (as chancellor). In this capacity he periodically visited the bishops Alexandru Rusu, Iuliu Hossu and Ioan Bălan. They were 3 Romanian Greek Catholic bishops who had their compulsory residence at Curtea de Argeș Monastery and Căldăruşani Monastery. It was Bishop Teoctist who, on 14 August, 1956, told Bishops Hossu and Balan that Metropolitan Alexandru Rusu would not return to Căldăruşani, since he was being moved to the Cocosu Monastery. Because of the severe restrictions on the Romanian Greek Catholics at that time, the bishops were, in effect, in "house arrest".

Bishop of Arad, 1962

On 28 July, 1962, Bishop Teoctist (Arăpaşu) was elected by the Church Electoral College to become the bishop of the Arad Episcopate (Eparchy).

Bishop of Arad, 1967

On 16 September, 1962, he was formally enthroned in the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist Cathedral in Arad. He thus served as Vicar-Bishop of the Metropolia of Banat.

Nativity of the Forerunner Cathedral, Arad

In this responsibility, the Gyula Vicariate in Hungary and 2 deaneries of the Serbian Banat were under his responsibility. This situation had developed as a consequence of the historical movement of borders.

Nomination for service in North America, 1963

In 1963, Bishop Teoctist attended the World Conference of the Faith and Constitution Committee of the World Council of Churches in Montréal, Québec, Canada (1963), at which time he visited several Romanian Orthodox parishes in Canada.

In April, 1963, the Congress of the Romanian Orthodox Missionary Episcopate of America elected him (that is, nominated him) to be Bishop of Detroit in the USA.

The Holy Synod approved the election and it elevated him to the dignity of archbishop.

However, because the USA authorities refused to grant him a visa (such a visa was required, since the centre of the diocese was in the USA), he could not accept the actual leadership of the Romanian Orthodox Missionary Episcopate in the United States and Canada.

Also, between December 1969 and December 1970, Archbishop Teoctist (Arăpaşu) served as bishop of Oradea.

Archbishop Craiova and Oltenia, 1973

On 28 January, 1973, Archbishop Teoctist (Arăpaşu) was elected and assigned to serve as Archbishop of Craiova and Metropolitan of Oltenia.

On 25 February, 1973, Archbishop Teoctist was enthroned by Patriarch Justinian (Marina) in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Dumitru in Craiova.

Cathedral of Saint Dumitru, Craiova

Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bucovina, 1977

On 25 September, 1977, Archbishop Teoctist (Arăpaşu) was elected to serve as Archbishop of Iaşi and Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bucovina.

On 4 October 1977, President Nicolae Ceaușescu signed the decree of recognition, and on 9 October, 1977, he was enthroned in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Parasceva, the Meeting of the Lord, and Saint George as Archbishop of Iași, and Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bucovina.

Cathedral of Saint Parasceva, the Meeting of the Lord, and Saint George, Iași

Between July, 1980, and January, 1982, from the forced retirement of Metropolitan Nicolae (Mladin) of Sibiu and Transylvania until the election of Metropolitan Antonie (Plămădeală), Metropolitan Teoctist (Arăpaşu) also served as Locum Tenens of the Metropolitanate of Sibiu and Transylvania.

Inter-Christian dialogues, international activities

An outstanding representative of Romanian inter-Christian dialogue and encounter, as a bishop and an archbishop, Metropolitan Teoctist was a member of several synodal delegations that visited other churches and led delegations to visit abroad : Orthodox Church of Finland (1971) ; Syrian Orthodox Church of the East in Malabar, India (1976) ; the Russian Orthodox Church (1978) ; the Bulgarian Orthodox Church (1983) ; the Armenian Orthodox Church (1983) ; the Romanian Missionary Archdiocese of America (1978).

He participated in a European Ecumenical Meeting in Chantilly, France (1978), and in the Eighth General Assembly of the Conference of European Churches in Chania, Crete (1979). At the second Presidential Conference (Chambesy, 1982), he was elected to the Consultative Committee, and then to the Presidium and the Oxford Consultative Committee (1993).

Archbishop Teoctist (Arăpasu) served as a deputy in the Great National Assembly (parliament) in the sessions from 1975-1989.

Repose of Patriarch Justin (Moisescu), 1986

After the repose in Christ of Patriarch Iustin (Moisescu) on 31 July, 1986, Metropolitan Teoctist (Arăpaşu) was assigned to serve as the Locum Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne.

Election as Patriarch of Romania, 1986

On 9 November, 1986, Metropolitan Teoctist (Arăpaşu) was elected by the Church Electoral College to serve as Archbishop of Bucharest, Metropolitan of Ungrovlahia and Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Patriarch of All Romania, 1986

On 16 November, 1986, Metropolitan Teoctist (Arăpaşu) was enthroned in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen in Bucharest by the Metropolitans of Romania, Antonie (Plămădeală) of Transylvania ; Nestor (Vornicescu) of Oltenia, and Nicolae (Corneanu) of Banat. Present on that occasion were other members of the Holy Synod, Patriarch Diodoros (Karivalis) of Jerusalem and Patriarch Maxim (Minkov) of Bulgaria, representatives of all Orthodox Churches, and also representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, Protestant Churches, as well as representatives of the State Powers.

Patriarchal Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen, Bucharest

Patriarchal service

Patriarch Teoctist (Arăpașu)

Between November, 1986, and June, 1990, Patriarch Teoctist remained Locum Tenens and administrator of the Metropolia of Moldova and Bucovina, because no approval of a successor to him could be obtained from the civil authorities.

Once he had become patriarch, Patriarch Teoctist was required to walk a very precarious tight-rope more than ever with regard to the relationship between the Church and the Communist State (a tight-rope not very dissimilar from that walked by Patriarchs of Constantinople and others who endured the oppression of the Muslim Ottoman Empire).

During his 45 years of activity as a hierarch, Patriarch Teoctist was concerned not only with administrative and economic matters, but also with the restoration of some so-called church art monuments from the 4 dioceses he led. In the Archdiocese of Iaşi alone, this restoration involved the monasteries in Putna, Bistrița, Slatina, Rasca, Gorovei, Vorona, and the Old Metropolitan Church, Bărboi. He oversaw the organisation of some church museums, and he founded a Temple in Victoria (Botoșani County). He published the magazines "Metropolitan of Oltenia", "Metropolitanate of Moldova and Suceava" and "The Voice of the Church", and he encouraged the publication of several theological works.

As patriarch, he led Romanian synodal delegations on visits to the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Bulgarian Patriarchate, to Austria, and to Sweden (all in 1987), to the Russian Patriarchate (1988), and many others.

In his patriarchal responsibility, he gave particular support to Romanian theological teaching and learning. Even in Greece, the local Orthodox Church of Greece was unable to print as many titles as were printed during the pastoral life of Patriarch Teoctist in Romania.

He also had a permanent activity for Orthodox unity as well as in the field of ecumenism. He obtained the position of the Romanian Orthodox Church at a higher level in relations with other denominations than in the past.

Although he was forced by the government to accept the demolition of 7 Orthodox Temples in Bucharest (which were all historical monuments), he saw to the founding and construction of over 100 Temples throughout Romania during the same period. Following the footsteps of Patriarch Justinian (Marina), he made great efforts to protect the Orthodox Faithful through his delicate balance of relationships with the Communist authorities who persecuted them, especially the clergy, for reasons of faith. He strove to establish friendly relations with them, and at the same time, external influence on behalf of the Church. It was for such reasons that (although he was condemned for it by some) he addressed many congratulatory telegrams to the dictator Nicolae Ceausescu, to whom he also gave old prints and heritage items.

The 1989 Revolution

On 18 December, 1989, at the beginning of the Romanian Revolution of 1989, the Holy Synod had a meeting in which Patriarch Teoctist announced that he agreed with the repression by President Ceaușescu of the anti-communist movement in Timișoara. Patriarch Teoctist claimed that the revolutionary events had been caused through foreign (western) interference. He made statement as a continuation of his attempt to shelter the Church in the face of hostile atheistic communists who were still in power.

Thus, he sent a telegramme to President Ceaușescu, praising him for his "brilliant activity", "wise guidance", "daring thinking" and claiming that the Romanians live "in a golden age, properly and righteously bearing [Ceaușescu's] name".

Resignation, 1990

Then, only a few hours after the flight and attempted escape of the president and his wife, Patriarch Teoctist signed his resignation, and he retired incognito in repentance to the Sinaia Monastery, a location allegedly suggested to him by Gelu Voican Voiculescu.

This resignation had, in fact, been required of him by the Holy Synod. The bishops understood the situation under which Patriarch Teoctist had been required by the dictatorship to accept the demolition of some Temples in Bucharest, and the strong political consequences that followed. All the Temples were old and historical. However, the communist government was determined to make room in the centre of Bucharest for an impressive building complex for their administration. This caused the demolition not only of the aforementioned Temples, but also many other buildings.

Therefore, at the meeting of the Holy Synod on 10 January, 1990, Patriarch Teoctist was required to provide in writing his resignation and retirement as a sign of repentance. This retirement from office was announced publicly, and without explanation, on 18 January, 1990.

However, after this, the Holy Synod received a multitude of requests from all over the country for the return of the patriarch. The letters came from ordinary believers, as well as from clergy from parishes and monasteries. Requests also were received from patriarchs of other local Orthodox Churches.

Revocation of resignation, 1990

At its session in April, 1990, the Holy Synod unanimously decided to call the patriarch back to his responsibilities. The Holy Synod revoked its previous decision to accept the resignation of Patriarch Teoctist.

It was publicly stated that the patriarch had withdrawn for health reasons.

Not all were pleased by this turn of events. According to the Tismăneanu Report, this has been seen by the Romanian intelligentsia as a harmful event and the start of the neo-Communist restoration in Romania.

Works beginning the reorganisation and reconstruction of the Church after communism, 1990

After 1989, Patriarch Teoctist promoted religious education at all levels of education, and he founded new theological seminaries as well as schools for Church singers, and the training of social workers. He further pursued not only the restoration of buildings and monasteries considered to be historical monuments, and other special places, but also the development of courses to train people to do this work. He introduced religious education into the curriculum in public schools at all levels. Further, he also organised foreign scholarships for study.

Under his leadership, the Holy Synod established new dioceses, reactivated the metropolises and dioceses abolished by the communist dictatorship, and undertook steps towards the glorification (canonisation) of Romanian saints.

He has received important recognitions from most local Orthodox Churches as well as from other religious cults.

In all this, the Church of Romania was recovering its place, role and work in Romanian society, after a period of 40 years of marginalisation, restrictions and persecution.

Visit to Romania of Pope John Paul II of Rome, 1999

On 7-9 May, 1999, at the invitation of Patriarch Teoctist (Arăpașu) and the government of Romania, the historical visit to Romania of Pope John Paul II (the first visit of a Pope to an Orthodox majority country) took place.

This was the first time a Pope of Rome had visited a predominantly Eastern Orthodox country since long before the so-called Great Schism in 1054. On his arrival in Romania, the pope was greeted by Patriarch Teoctist and the President of Romania, Emil Constantinescu. The patriarch stated, "The second millennium of Christian history began with a painful wounding of the unity of the Church ; the end of this millennium has seen a real commitment to restoring Christian unity". On 9 May, Pope John Paul II and Patriarch Teoctist each attended a worship service (an Orthodox Divine Liturgy and a Roman Catholic Mass, respectively) conducted by the other. A crowd of hundreds of thousands of people turned up to attend the worship services, which were held in the open air.

President E Constanitnescu ; Pope John Paul II ; Petriarch Teoctist, 1999

Ordination of Archbishop Nicolae (Condrea) for the North American Diocese, 2002

On 14 July, 2002, Patriarch Teoctist (Arăpașu) of Romania, together with Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor) of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), Metropolitan Sotirios (Athanassoulas) (Metropolitan Archbishop of the Greek Orthodox Metropolis of Toronto, Constantinopolitan Exarch in Canada), and many other bishops ordained Archimandrite Nicolae (Condrea) to the Holy Episcopate in Saint John the Baptist Church in Montréal, Québec (during the course of the annual archdiocesan assembly which was assembled there).

Bishop Nicolae was assigned to serve as the Archbishop of Chicago and the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Saint John the Baptist Temple, Montréal, Québec

Reciprocal visit by Patriarch Teoctist to Pope John Paul II, 2002

On 7-14 October, 2002, at the invitation Pope John Paul II, Patriarch Teoctist (Arăpașu), accompanied by an entourage, made a reciprocal visit to the Pope in Rome, at the Vatican.

Visit of Patriarch Teoctist to Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) in Istanbul, 2004

On 15-21 May, 2004, at the invitation of Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) of Constantinople, Patriarch Teoctist (Arăpașu) of the Romanian Orthodox Church, accompanied by an entourage, visited the Patriarch in Istanbul, and in Cappadocia, Turkey.

Reciprocal visit by Patriarch Bartholomew to Patriarch Teoctist, 2004

On 15-21 October, 2004, at the invitation of Patriarch Theoctist (Arăpașu), Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) of Constantinople visited the Church of Romania. This was his 6th visit to the Church of Romania.

Criticism of a 2007 Roman Catholic document, 2007

In 2007, Patriarch Teoctist criticised the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith's declaration on "Subsistit in" in Lumen Gentium (a "Dogmatic Constitution on the Church"), saying "We were stunned by such a statement, which troubles the entire Christian world". Despite linguistic adjustments, the documents aver that the Roman Catholic Church is the one Church.

Repose, 2007

On Monday, 30 July, 2007, at 5:00 p.m., Patriarch Teoctist (Arăpașu) fell asleep in the Lord. He had suffered a cardiac arrest as a result of complications that occurred after a surgery for a prostate adenoma that he had received earlier that day at the Clinical Institute of Fundeni in Dobroești.

The surgery had not been an emergency, but a scheduled operation. Patriarch Teoctist had had a history of cardiac difficulties.

After the usual prayerful preparation, his body was laid on a bier in the Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen in Bucharest.

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church set the date for the funeral and interment. Prime Minister Călin Popescu-Tăriceanu announced that the Government had decided that the day of the funeral was to be a National Day of Mourning.

On Friday, 3 August, 2007, at 11:00 a.m., the Funeral Service for the Burial of a Hierarch was served in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen in Bucharest. Patriarch Bartholomew (Archontonis) of Constantinople presided at the funeral. He was assisted by the Bishops of the Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Romania and many clergy. Taking part in the funeral itself were representatives from the Churches of Constantinople, Albania, Russia, Bulgaria, Serbia, Finland, Alexandria, Antioch, Jerusalem, Greece, Cyprus, Poland and the Czech Lands and Slovakia. At the funeral, delegations from Orthodox Churches in 30 countries in all were present. In addition, also present were representatives of various Christian churches, including the Roman Catholic Church, and the Anglican, Armenian Apostolic, Ethiopian and Syriac churches, as well as of other religious communities from Romania (such as the Romanian Muftiat) and Romanian political leaders.

As decided by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, after the funeral services, the body of Patriarch Teoctist (Arăpașu) was interred in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen.

Tomb of Patriarch Teoctist (Arăpașu)

— Bishop of Arad 1962-1973. Preceded by : Bishop Nicolae (Corneanu). Succeeded by : Bishop Visrion (Aştileanu).

— Archbishop of Craiova, Metropolitan of Oltenia 1973-1977. Preceded by Metropolitan Firmilian (Marin). Succeeded by : Metroplitan Nestor (Vornicescu).

— Archbishop of Iaşi and Metropolitan of Moldova and Suceava 1977-1986. Metropolitan Iustin (Mosescu). Succeeded by : Metropolitan Daniel (Ciobotea).

— Archbishop of Bucharest, Patriarch of Romania 1986-2007. Preceded by Patriarch Iustin (Moisescu). Succeeded by : Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea).

Reflections

As is usually the case with patriarchs and other heads of local Churches, there is criticism (often politicised) of their behaviours and decisions by those within the Church who disagree with them about one or another matter, and by those outside the Church who have a different perception of the world and of situations. An assessment of such a person cannot be limited to one or even several matters. Rather, it must consider the whole of the person's life and service. For an Orthodox Christian, a main criterion in discernment (or “litmus test”) is the Dominical saying : “By their fruits you will know them”.

 ‘Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly 
 they are ravenous wolves.  You will know them by their fruits. Do men 
 gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles ?  Even so, every good 
 tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit.  A good tree cannot 
 bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.  Every tree that does 
 not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.  Therefore by 
 their fruits you will know them’ (Matthew 7:15-20).

During his more than 60 years of service in the Church (54 of them as a bishop) and in a geographical area comprising places and stages of church service, Patriarch Teoctist lived a life of steady activity since his entry into the gates of the monastery and of the Holy Altar. His life was one of liturgical service, of preaching, of ecclesiastical writing and of the management of the institutions and dioceses entrusted to his responsibility. He maintained direct contact with the Faithful through the his pastoral letters addressed on the occasion of the Feasts of the Nativity, the Sunday of Orthodoxy, and of the Resurrection (Pascha).

Once it was possible, Patriarch Teoctist promoted religious education, the founding of new theological seminaries, high schools for church singers, the training of male and female social workers, restoration of historical monuments, and organising scholarships abroad for students eager to study. Religious education was introduced into curriculum of public schools in all grades and profiles.

Similar to the aforementioned initiatives, together with the Holy Synod, he founded new dioceses and reactivated the metropolises and dioceses abolished by the communist dictatorship. He took steps to canonise some Romanian saints. He reorganised the Romanian Church abroad by organising new dioceses. He supervised the electing of an appropriate number of hierarchs from amongst young theologians who had studied both in the country and abroad, and amongst those who had become distinguished through their knowledge of church and monastic life.

Publishing and publishing activity

He reorganised and promoted church editorial activity. He published many articles, sermons, speeches and studies that are known both in Romania and abroad. All the service-books were reprinted and prefaced by his blessing, as well as most of the textbooks for the seminary and university theological education. He published monographs : "Metropolitan Iacob Putneanul" (Neamţ Monastery, 1978), "Saint Basil the Great in the Pardon of the Romanian Orthodox Faith" and "Metropolitan Dosoftei, the founder of the Romanian liturgical language" (Iaşi, 1980).

He published the translation : "Divine Liturgy" by Metropolitan Dosoftei (1679), Iași, 1980. He printed the jubilee edition of the "Bucharest Bible" (1688) and he took care of the Bible printing, the jubilee edition of the Holy Synod 2002). It was drafted and annotated by Metropolitan Bartolomeu (Anania). He wrote the preface of many books and monographs of monasteries and churches within the Romanian Patriarchate.

During the years of his service, he published over 17 volumes of sermons, speeches and meditations, titled "On the Stairs of the Christian Service," and a volume titled "Serving the Ancestor Altar," comprising over 7,000 pages, with about 1500 titles. It has initiated a rich and fruitful cultural and scientific activity, permanently promoting actions that have helped to increase the prestige of the Church. During this period, the exchange of specialised journals and books with similar ones from abroad increased, while Symposia and Colloquia were organised with themes of topicality and interest in the life of the Church.

Controversy

Old charges against Patriarch Teoctist were occasionally recycled, although there was evidence that many of the accusations were invented by the Romanian "Securitate" (Communist secret police) in order to discredit the Romanian Church.

He was accused of obedience to the Communist authorities, culminating with the approval of the demolition of 26 historic churches in Bucharest. He sent many congratulatory telegrams to Nicolae Ceaușescu, who also gave him many valuable old prints and other heritage objects.

Football team

In 1981, when he was the Metropolitan of Moldavia, he used money from the Orthodox Church to sponsor the "Politehnica Iași" football team, and he justified this as being an attempt to do something good for the local community.

"Securitate"

After 1989, various accusations were made in the Romanian press, including that he was a collaborator of the "Securitate" (the political police in Communist Romania), that he was allegedly a homosexual, and that as a "Legionnaire" (member of the "Legion of the Archangel Michael", an extreme-right Orthodox nationalistic movement of the interwar period, associated politically with the Iron Guard), he stored propaganda materials at the Cernica and Căldărușani monasteries, and that he participated in the vandalising of a Bucharest synagogue. Accusing him of having been both a Legionnaire and a Communist collaborator is only an apparent contradiction, since numerous Legionnaires, in principle fierce anti-Communists, were ultimately recruited by the Securitate.

The last two accusations were based on a 1950 file found in the archives of the Securitate. The official response of the Orthodox Church was that the file was made by the Soviets with the intent of destroying the Romanian Orthodox Church. There is considerable evidence in the lives of others that this was the case.

In July, 2006, historian Stejărel Olaru said he found in the archives of the Securitate documents which proved that the patriarch was an "agent of influence", who spread propaganda for the Communist government. The accusations were publicly denied by the Church on the same basis as before. That something was written in a communist Secret Service file does not mean that the statements are the truth.

Memorial House, 2014

In 2014, the local authorities from Tocileni, Botoşani County, built a memorial house dedicated to Patriarch Teoctist Arăpaşu. Within the building, erected in the birthplace of Father Patriarch, are exposed for viewing personal belongings of the former hierarch, donated by the Romanian Patriarchate and the Metropolitan Church of Moldova and Bukovina.

The memorial house was constructed on the basis of a photo from the personal archive of the Arăpaşu family, and it is built in the style specific to Moldavian architecture. It consists of a porch and 2 rooms, a thatched roof, a shed for agricultural tools, and a wicker fence woven in the yard.

Patriarch Teoctist Memorial House

Inside the dwelling are exhibited the mitre, the hierarch's staff and the clothes of the former patriarch, books written by him, objects belonging to his family, a library with 17 volumes of sermons, as well as numerous medals, plaques and distinctions acquired by the patriarch during of life.

In 2015, Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) visited the monument dedicated to his predecessor.

On the occasion of his visit, Patriarch Daniel gave the Patriarch Teoctist Memorial House several books : the album "Patriarchs of Romania" ; the "Yearbook of the Romanian Patriarchate" ; "Acts" and "Tomos" regarding the canonisation of Romanian saints ; "Dictionary of Romanian and Foreign Hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church".

Interior of the house

Patriarch Daniel and Metropolitan Teofan in the house

Awards

He received various Church awards from several Orthodox patriarchates.

Distinctions and decorations

• Church awards from the Ecumenical Patriarchate, the Patriarchates of Antioch, Jerusalem, Moscow, Serbia and by the Archdioceses of Greece, Cyprus, Czechoslovakia, Finland, etc.

• On 11 July, 1991, the Timothy Cipariu Prize of the Romanian Academy for printing in 1988 the jubilee edition of the Bucharest Bible (1688).

• Honourary Member of the Romanian Academy, 1999.

• On 2 June, 1995, "Doctor Honoris Causa" of the University of Oradea.

• On 25 October, 1995, "Doctor Honoris Causa" of the University of Bucharest.

• On 21 May, 1999, Order of the Star of Romania in the rank of Grand Cross by the Romanian State.

• In November 2000, Honourary Citizen of Galati and Braila.

• On 7 November, 2000, "Doctor Honoris Causa" of the Catholic University of Lublin-Poland.

• On 7 October, 2001, Honourary Citizen of Petrosani.

• On 7 October, 2001, "Doctor Honoris Causa" of the University of Petrosani.

• On 12 October, 2001, "Doctor Honoris Causa" of the University of Dunarea de Jos-Galati.

• On 27 March, 2002, Jubilee Medal of the Gojdu Foundation.

• On 11 December, 2002, Honourary Citizen of Hunedoara County.

• On 11 December 11, 2002, Diploma of Gratitude of the Bucharest Prefecture.

• On 15 January, 2003, Diploma of Excellence and the Jubilee Medal issued by the Ilfov County Council, on the occasion of the anniversary of the birth of the poet Mihai Eminescu.

• On 24 February, 2003, Medal of the Year 2002 by the George C. Marshall-Romania Association "for the way in which he supported Romania's Euro-Atlantic integration".

• On 27 March, 2003, Star of Romania Diploma by the Romania-Horizon 2002 Sustainable Development Forum "in recognition of the activity carried out to support Romania's sustainable development"

• On 30 May, 2003, "Doctor Honoris Causa" of the Dimitrie Cantemir Christian University of Bucharest.

• On 9 September, 2003, Honorary Citizen of Baia-Mare.

• On 17 September, 2003, Diploma of Excellence of the Dr. Wilhelm Fielderman Foundation for his "exceptional contribution to the development of relations of mutual respect between Romanians and Jews".

• On 21 October, 2004, "Doctor Honoris Causa" of the "Ovidius" University of Constanta.

• On 13 October, 2005, "Doctor Honoris Causa" of the "Alexandru Ioan Cuza" University of Iasi.

• Order of the Republic of Moldova (2010, posthumously)

Writings

Publications and publishing activity

Between 1982 and 2006, Patriarch Teoctist published more than 17 volumes of sermons, speeches, and meditations, entitled “On the Steps of Christian Service” (“Pe Treptele Slujirii Creștine”) and a volume entitled “Serving the Ancestral Altar”, which contains more than 7,000 pages, with approximately 1,500 titles.

• “On the Steps of Christian Service”, Volume XVIII.

• “On the Steps of Christian Service”, Volume XVII.

• “On the Steps of Christian Service”, Volume XVI.

• “On the Steps of Christian Service”, Volume XV.

• “On the Steps of Christian Service”, Volume XIV.

• “On the Steps of Christian Service”, Volume XIII.

• “On the Steps of Christian Service”, Volume XII.

He initiated a rich and fruitful cultural and academic activity, constantly promoting actions that contributed to the increase of the Church's prestige. During this period, the exchange of magazines and specialized books with similar ones from abroad increased, organising, at the same time, symposiums and colloquia with current topics and of interest for the life of the Church. His many articles were published in the following magazines and journals :

• "The Romanian Orthodox Church", "The Voice of the Church" [“Biserica Ortodoxă Română”, “Glasul Bisericii”].

• “Mitropolia Moldovei şi Sucevei”.

• “Metropolitan of Moldova and Suceava” [“Mitropolia Olteniei”].

• “Metropolitanate of Banat” [“Mitropolia Banatului”].

• “Romanian Telegraph” [“Telegraful Român”].

• Prayer Books [Cărţi de rugăciuni].

• Pastorals [Pastorale].

At the Bucharest Archdiocese Trinitas Publishing House of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Teoctist reorganised and promoted the Church's publishing activity. He published many articles, sermons, speeches and studies that are known both in Romania and abroad :

• All service books, as well as most of the textbooks for seminary and university theological education were reprinted with diortic text, and prefaced by His Beatitude, as well as the following monographs :

• "Metropolitan Iacob Putneanul", with an English edition (Neamţ Monastery, 1978).

• “Saint Basil the Great in the spiritual Life of the Romanian Orthodox Believers”.

• “Metropolitan Dosoftei , Founder of the Romanian liturgical Language”.

• The Patriarch studied and edited the "Divine Liturgy" of Metropolitan Dosoftei (1679), (Iasi, 1980).

• He printed the 1988 jubilee edition of the “Bucharest Bible” (1688), and took care of the printing of the Bible, the jubilee edition of the Holy Synod (2002), written and annotated by His Eminence Bartholomew Anania.

• He wrote the preface to many books and monographs of some monasteries and churches within the Romanian Patriarchate.

• A revised version of the New Testament (1993) and others.

• New translations from the Holy Fathers.

• “Romanian Saints defending the ancestral Law” (Bucharest, 1987).

Interviews

• ‘Alone with God’ in “Jurnalul Naţional” by Marius Tucă & Daniela Cârlea Şontică (17 November, 2006).

• ‘The Church, a Shield’ in “Jurnalul Naţional” by Lucia Theodorescu (13 May, 2005).

• ‘Evocation of the Past’ in “Jurnalul Naţional” by Lucia Theodorescu (15 April, 2005).

• ‘I did not meet Ceausescu’ in “Journalul National” by Marius Tuca, Daniela Cârlea Şontică (16 November, 2006).

• ‘PF Teoctist : “Drinking water from the animal”’in “Jurnalul National” by Luiza Moldovan (18 December, 2007).

• “Patriarch Teoctist” (1915-2007) by Victor Roncea (7 February, 2006).

• “Patriarch Teoctist to Ceausescu : ‘You will demolish the patriarchate only over my body’” by Constantin Preda & Tudor Nedelcea (5 October, 2019).

• “Patriarch Teoctist : Memories of Verona” by Priest Ciprian Florin Apetrei (7 September, 2005).

References

Wikipedia biography

Orthodoxwiki biography

Romanian Orthodoxwki biography

Britannica biography

Romanian Wikipedia biography

Romanian Wikipedia biography (in Romanian)

Biserica.org Who’s Who : Teoctist Arapasu (in Romanian)

Crestinorthodox.ro biographical outline

Additional information :

Aldea, Father Mihai-Andrei, “Our hierarchs from the communist persecutions” (27 February, 2019)]

Bourdeaux, Michael, 'Obituary : Patriarch Teoctist' in "The Guardian" (7 August, 2007)

Deletant, Dennis, “Romania under Communism” (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania : Routledge, 2020). ISBN : 9780367585570.

Mutler, Alison, ‘Head of Romanian Church Dies’ in “The Guardian” (30 July, 2007)

Ioachim, Alexandru, “Patriarch Teoctist has completed his Work” (31 July, 2007)

Nedelcea, Tudor, “Patriarch Teoctist or Resistance by Faith” (7 February, 2018)

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

“The Guardian” obituary

“New York Times” obituary

“The Times” 2007 obituary

Balkan Insight obituary

Visit of Pope John Paul II of Rome to Romania (May, 1999)

“His Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, visiting Romania” (October, 2004)

Video : Patriarch Teoctist on his last Birthday (7 February, 2007) (in Romanian)

“National Day of Mourning for Patriarch Teoctist” (3 August, 2007)

Video : “Realitatea Spirituala : Confesiunile Patriarhului Teoctist” [“Spiritual Reality : The Confessions of Patriarch Teoctist”]

Video : “Patriarch Teoctist : the Man and the Patriarch”

Visit of Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) to the Memorial House of Patriarch Teoctist in Tocileni (November, 2015)

In Memoriam : House of Patriarch Teoctist in Tocileni