Vladyka Seraphim at 00:01, 1 February 2022

2022-02-01T00:01:20Z

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[[File:Archbishop-Victorin-(Ursache).jpg]]

'''Archbishop Victorin (Ursache) (1912-2001)'''

Victor may be spelt Viktor.

Victorin may be spelt Victorino, Victorinus, Viktorinos.

==Early life of Victor Ursache==

On 12 July, 1912, Victor Ursache was born to Dumitru and Natalia Ursache, in the village of Mănăstioara-Siret, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suceava_County Suceava], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania Romania]. He was the eldest of 9 children, and his parents were farmers.

Victor, who was raised in the bosom of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Romania Romanian Orthodox Church], was shown by the example of his devout parents how to live life as a Orthodox Christian. He showed an early sense that he was called to serve fully in the Church, and his parents deprived themselves in order to smoothe the way for him.

Victor received his primary education in his home village, after which he went to the gymnasium (high school) in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siret Siret] for his secondary education. He graduated in 1932.

==Higher education==

Then Victor entered the Theological Institute of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernivtsi_University University of Cernăuți], Romania (now [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernivtsi Chernivtsi], [https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine Ukraine]). He graduated from this institute in 1936.

He later earned a degree in Biblical Studies from the [http://www.jerusalembi.com/coursese.html Biblical Institute of Jerusalem].

In 1936, he worked as a professor of religion at the Orthodox high school in Cernăuţi, and in 1937 he worked as professor and vice-principal of the Seminary of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neam%C8%9B_Monastery Neamţ Monastery].

==Monastic tonsure, 1937==

Victor was [https://orthochristian.com/101607.html tonsured] to be a [https://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Monk monk] in 1937, and was given the name Victorin.

==Ordinations, 1937==

In 1937, the Monk Victorin (Ursache) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate], and then to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood].

==Pastoral service==

The [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieromonk Hieromonk] Victorin was given the blessing to begin teaching [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Theologian theology] at the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neam%C5%A3_Monastery Monastery of the Ascension of our Lord] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neam%C5%A3_County Neamţ], in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldavia Moldavia], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania Romania]. He eventually became the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Abbot abbot] of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery monastery].

In 1940, Hieromonk Victorin (Ursache) was elevated to the dignity of [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=https://ro.orthodoxwiki.org/Protosinghel&prev=search&pto=aue protosinghel].

In the autumn of 1940, Protosinghel Victorin was assigned to serve as priest of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bucur_Church Bucur Church] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Bucharest Bucharest] ; and in December of the same year he was assigned to serve as the superior of the [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=http://bisericaromaneascadelaierusalim.ro/&prev=search&pto=aue Romanian Mission] in [https://www.britannica.com/place/Jerusalem Jerusalem]. However, because of various difficulties associated with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II], he was unable to travel to his assignment until 1946. Until then, he remained in Neamţ.

In 1942, the Protosinghel Victorin (Ursache) was elevated to the dignity of [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Archimandrite archimandrite].

==Service in Jerusalem, 1946==

In 1946, Archimandrite Victorin (Ursache) arrived in the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Land Holy Land], where he began to serve as the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Abbot abbot] of the Romanian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monastery Monastery] there, under the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Orthodox_Patriarch_of_Jerusalem Patriarchate of Jerusalem]. This involved an official transfer on the basis of an "on loan" status.

==Transfer to North America, 1956==

In 1956, Archimandrite Victorin was transferred, and he was sent to the [https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States USA] as the superior of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Jerusalem Patriarchate of Jerusalem’s] Mission in the United States of America. He served in the parishes of the Romanian Missionary Episcopate of that time.

Because of his outstanding theological education, and the fact that he spoke several languages, including [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language English], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_language French], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_language German], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_language Greek] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic Arabic], in addition to his other work, Archimandrite Victorin (Ursache) was assigned to serve as a professor at [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Tikhon%27s_Orthodox_Monastery_(South_Canaan,_Pennsylvania) Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Seminary] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Canaan_Township,_Wayne_County, South Canaan], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania Pennsylvania] (he had arrived in the USA just after the repose of [[Saint Nikolaj (Velimirovic) |Saint Nikolaj (Velimirovič)]] at [https://orthodoxwiki.org/St._Tikhon%27s_Orthodox_Monastery_(South_Canaan,_Pennsylvania) Saint Tikhon’s Monastery]). He then taught [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Dogma Dogmatic], [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ethics Moral] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pastoral_theology Pastoral] Theology in the seminary.

After the repose in Christ of [[Bishop Andrei (Moldovan)]] in 1963, a Congress of the Missionary Episcopate was finally assembled on 23 April, 1966, at [https://www.mitropolia.us/index.php/en/structure/parish-directory/318-holy-trinity-romanian-orthodox-church-troy-mi Holy Trinity Cathedral] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit Detroit] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troy,_Michigan Troy]), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michigan Michigan], in order to choose a successor. The 2 proposed candidates were Archimandrite Victorin Ursache and [[Metropolitan Bartolomeu (Anania) |Archdeacon Bartolomeu (Anania)]]. After [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Archdeacon] Bartolomeu declined the nomination, the Electoral Congress unanimously elected Archimandrite Victorin to become the bishop of the episcopate. The election remained to be confirmed by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

On 6 June, 1966, the Canonical-Judiciary Committee, having determined that canonical and statutory requirements were fulfilled, proposed that the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] approve the ordination of Archimandrite Victorin to be bishop. Archimandrite Victorin was chosen and elected by the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Holy_Synod Holy Synod] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Romania Romanian Orthodox Church] to succeed [[Bishop Andrei (Moldovan)]] as [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop bishop] in the USA. No bishops from Romania were able to travel to the USA for his ordination to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Episcopate Episcopate], because of the very difficult [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Republic_of_Romania political situation in Romania] at the time.

==Episcopal ordination, 1966==

With the blessing of [[Patriarch Justinian (Marina)]] and the Holy Synod of Romania, [[Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis)]] of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Greek_Orthodox_Archdiocese_of_America Greek Archdiocese], together with [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=el&u=http://markmarkou.sites.sch.gr/1972/koim/epifanios_papavasileiou.htm&prev=search&pto=aue Archbishop Epiphanios (Papavasileiou)] of Philadelphia and [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=el&u=http://markmarkou.sites.sch.gr/1968/koim/aristovoulos_mouskides.htm&prev=search&pto=aue Archbishop Aristoboulos (Musikidis or Bouzikas)] of Kyriakoupolis, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbishop archbishops] from [https://www.britannica.com/place/Jerusalem Jerusalem] (all of them well-known to Archimandrite Victorin), were asked to accomplish the ordination. [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolae_Mladin&prev=search&pto=aue Archimandrite Nicolae (Mladin)] was present as a representative of the Patriarchate of Romania.

On 7 August, 1966, Archimandrite Victorin (Ursache) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Episcopate Episcopate] in [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=https://stgeorgewindsor.org/&prev=search&pto=aue Saint George Cathedral], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/windsor-ont Windsor], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario]. This happened also at a time when the diocese could easily have collapsed.

==Episcopal service==

The enthronement of Bishop Victorin (Ursache) took place at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Detroit, Michigan on 21 August, 1966, in the presence of [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolae_Corneanu&prev=search&pto=aue Metropolitan Nicolae (Corneanu)]. He was archbishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timi%C8%99oara Timișoara] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caransebe%C8%99 Caransebeș], and Metropolitan of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banat Banat] in Romania.

Bishop Victorin arrived in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit Detroit, Michigan], to take up his responsibility as the Bishop of the parishes of the [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Romanian_Orthodox_Archdiocese_in_America_and_Canada Romanian Orthodox Diocese of North and South America].

[[File:Victorin young.jpg]] '''Bishop Victorin'''

Even while he was overseeing the parishes of the diocese for many years, and hoping for reunification of its 2 divided parts in [https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America North America], he never varied from living the humble, dedicated life of a monk which he first had taken up in 1937 in his native Romania. One parishioner reported :
He would sleep in our house here, and he would spend all night praying and praying. He was dedicated to
living a very strict monastic life.

During the course of his many years of service, he was a much-beloved pastor. He travelled everywhere on the continent by bus. Indeed, he travelled to his parishes in the USA and [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada] from coast to coast, and as far north as [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/edmonton Edmonton] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boian,_Alberta#:~:text=Boian%20is%20an%20unincorporated%20community%20in%20Alberta%2C%20Canada.,It%20is%20the%20oldest%20Romanian%20settlement%20in%20Canada. Boian], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/alberta Alberta]. He was very self-sufficient and independent throughout his life, as befits a monk.

On 11 June, 1973, Bishop Victorin (Ursache) was elevated to the dignity of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbishop archbishop].

On 12 December, 1974, the Missionary Episcopate was elevated to the status and dignity of an [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Diocese archdiocese] by the Holy Synod of the Church of Romania (decision no. 14079). The archdiocese was given an [https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/autonomous autonomous] status.

Archbishop Victorin was very actively involved in inter-Orthodox services and conversations, and also in the [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Standing_Conference_of_the_Canonical_Orthodox_Bishops_in_the_Americas Standing Conference of Orthodox Bishops in the Americas] (SCOBA). The main characteristic of his life, besides his love and prayer, was his pastoral devotion. One of the ways in which he managed to keep a balance of his interior life of prayer and his pastoral service was, in fact, by his taking the bus everywhere he went. By so doing, he encountered many people as he witnessed for Christ by his mere presence amongst so many who otherwise would never have a contact with [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Jesus_Christ Christ] or the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian Church]. At the same time, such trips allowed for large portions of time in which he would be able to pray in silence. In fact, for a serious monk, there can never be enough time to be in silent communion with the Lord (we recall the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Apostle_Paul Apostle Paul's] exhortation in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Epistle_to_the_Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians] 5:17 to pray unceasingly).

[[File:Abp Victorin.jpg]] '''Archbishop Victorin, 1980, [https://www.mitropolia.us/index.php/en/structure/parish-directory/318-holy-trinity-romanian-orthodox-church-troy-mi Troy], Michigan'''

During the 1990s, the SCOBA initiated the assemblies which eventually became the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Assembly_of_Canonical_Orthodox_Bishops_of_the_United_States_of_America Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA]. He was a participant in the 1994 [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Ligonier_Meeting Ligonier Meeting] which laid the foundation.

[[File:Ligonier MeetingS.png]] '''Archbishop Victorin at the Ligonier Meeting'''

In 2001, the "Credinţa" ("The Faith") diocesan almanac reported the situation of the diocese as follows : USA : 16 parishes and a hermitage ; Canada : 20 parishes ; [https://www.britannica.com/place/South-America South America] : one parish ; priests : 35 ; deacons : 2 ; 2 associations : the [https://www.holytrinityphiladelphia.org/community/ladies-committee/ Ladies’ Association] (AROLA) and the [http://www.rorthodoxyouth.com/ Youth Association] (ROYA).

==Retirement, 2001==

In February, 2001, Archbishop Victorin was feeling quite unwell, and he asked for retirement. He was blessed to retire from active service.

==Repose, 2001==

On Monday, 16 July, 2001, at the [https://healthcare.ascension.org/Locations/Michigan/MIDET/Detroit-Ascension-St-John-Hospital Saint John Hospital] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit Detroit], Archbishop Victorin (Ursache) reposed in the Lord after suffering from a case of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumonia pneumonia] related to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heart_failure heart failure].

After the [http://www.archbishop-of-ottawa.org/content/burial-services-over-presbyter-or-over-bishop Funeral Services for the Burial of a Hierarch], his body was flown back to Romania and was interred in the cemetery of the [http://orthodoxwiki.org/Putna_Monastery_(Bucovina,_Romania) Dormition Monastery] in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Putna,_Suceava Putna], Suceava, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bukovina Bukovina], which is part of the [https://www.lexico.com/definition/metropolitanate of Moldavia. Metropolitanate of] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moldavia Moldavia].

— Bishop of Detroit and the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of North and South America 1966-1973. Preceded by : [[Bishop Andrei (Moldovan)]].

— Archbishop of Detroit and the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of America 1973-2001. Succeeded by : [[Metropolitan Nicolae (Condrea) |Archbishop Nicolae (Condrea)]] (as Archbishop of Chicago).

[[File:Grave of Archbishop Victorin 1.jpg]] '''Grave of Archbishop Victorin (Ursache) at Putna Dormition Monastery'''

==Reflections==

After his repose, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbishop_Demetrios_of_America Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)] of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese, and chairman of SCOBA at that time, wrote about Archbishop Victorin :
His Eminence was a much admired and highly respected spiritual presence at all our Orthodox celebrations
and gatherings. His deep commitment to Orthodox cooperation on this continent was obvious in his regular
participation in our biannual SCOBA meetings. Wherever and whenever there was an opportunity to offer a
unified Orthodox witness, Archbishop Victorin was present. As recently as May of this year, though he had
retired in February from active service, he managed to be present for the historic SCOBA gathering in
Washington, DC, of 34 canonical Orthodox Bishops.

This SCOBA meeting produced a '[http://biserica.org/Publicatii/2001/NoVII/XII_index.html Statement on Unity]'.

An article was written about Archbishop Victorin by Monk Jeremiah (Aries) : '[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=https://www.analeleputnei.ro/articole/arhiepiscopul-victorin-ursache-al-americii-1912-2001&prev=search&pto=aue Archbishop Victorin Ursache of America (1912–2001)]' in "Analelse Putnei", no. IX (2013), 1, pp. 269–340. A summary is given in the introduction :
Bishop Victorin Ursache, buried in the cemetery of the Putna Monastery, was for almost 35 years the
canonical (arch)bishop of the Romanians in North America. In this capacity he was a brilliant
ambassador of Romanian Orthodoxy, respected and honored both by all the hierarchs of the other sister
Orthodox Churches and by the political authorities on the North American continent. This remarkable
personality of the Romanian exile was insufficiently and, in some places, inadequately studied.

The present study, the first dedicated to him, uses two consistent archives - the correspondence
with Metropolitan Visarion Puiu between 1955 and 1963 and the personal file, SIE 2869, from the
CNSAS archive - to bring to light new data and aspects of his life and activity, but also to correct
certain characterisations that were made about him.

In the history of the metropolitanate, the following summary is provided about the pastoral activity of Archbishop Victorin :
His Eminence Victorin’s entire pastoral activity was directed primarily toward spiritual issues.
First of all, he distinguished himself by his exemplary life as a monk and the atmosphere of
holiness he embodied. The complex personality of the Archbishop displayed a simplicity of life
that was evident to all and an untiring missionary spirit. Archbishop Victorin’s administrative
activity was distinguished in two main directions. One was the interior consolidation of the
diocese through its elevation to the rank of archdiocese and the strengthening of its administrative
autonomy ; the other was his special care in preserving the privileged link with the Mother Church.
In both of these areas His Eminence Victorin counted on the reliable help of his collaborators, among
whom the closest were the then Archimandrites Bartolomeu (Anania) and [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=https://www.crestinortodox.ro/reportaj/parintele-vasile-vasilache-fiul-satului-vutcani-119964.html&prev=search&pto=aue Vasile (Vasilachi)]. The former
was in charge of archdiocesan publications, which he raised to the high level of modern publications
of the time. He was also the right hand of His Eminence Victorin in his work of reorganising the
parishes. Archimandrite Bartolomeu was also the archdiocesan representative on the working committees
of the Conference of Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas, along with Archbishop Victorin.

==References==

Bugea, Eleanor, “Romanians in Canada” (Michigan : Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, 2009). ISBN : 978-1-929200-14-6.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., "Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America" (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE

[https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorin_Ursache&prev=search Romanian Wikipedia biography]

[https://www.crestinortodox.ro/parinti/amintiri-despre-arhiepiscopul-victorin-ursache-125521.html Documentary made by Dorina Zdroba with Archpriest George Chisca : "Memories of Archbishop Victorin Ursache"] (in Romanian)

'''Additional information :'''

[http://prabook.com/web/person-view.html?profileId=1682151 Biography]

[https://www.mitropolia.us/pdf/history-metropolia.pdf ‘The History of the Romanian Archdiocese in North America’ in “The Calendar of Faith Magazine”, 2002 (magazine of The Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas)]

[http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2001-07-28/news/0107280008_1_romanian-orthodox-church-parishes-monastic-life Chicago Tribune obituary]

[http://www.orthodoxresearchinstitute.org/hierarchs/romania/obituaries/demetrios_death_victorin.html Orthodox Institute article : “Statement on the Death of Archbishop Victorin”]

[https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victorin_Ursache Wikipedia biography] (in Romanian)

[http://ziarullumina.ro/despre-vladica-victorin-ursache-arhiepiscopul-romanilor-din-america-5327.html Article about Archbishop Victorin] (in Romanian)

[http://www.crestinortodox.ro/reportaj/9-de-trecerea-domnul-arhiepiscopului-victorin-ursache-120253.html Romanian obituary] (in Romanian)

[https://translate.google.ca/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=http://patriarhia.ro/en/&prev=search The Orthodox Church of Romania web-site]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Romania Orthodoxwiki article on the Orthodox Church of Romania]

[https://www.mitropolia.us/index.php/en/ Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of America]

[https://www.episcopia.ca/index.php/en/ Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada]

[[Bishop Andrei (Moldovan)]]

[[Patriarch Justinian (Marina)]]

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teoctist_Ar%C4%83pa%C8%99u Patriarch Teoctist (Arăpașu)]

[[Archbishop Iakovos (Coucouzis)]]

[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archbishop_Demetrios_of_America Archbishop Demetrios (Trakatellis)]

[[Metropolitan Bartolomeu (Anania)]]

[[Metropolitan Nicolae (Condrea)]]

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=https://www.crestinortodox.ro/reportaj/parintele-vasile-vasilache-fiul-satului-vutcani-119964.html&prev=search&pto=aue Vasile (Vasilachi)]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Romanian_Orthodox_Archdiocese_in_America_and_Canada Orthodoxwiki article on the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of America]

[http://biserica.org/WhosWho/DTR/U/VictorinUrsache.html Romanian Who's Who about Archbishop Victorin] (in Romanian)

[https://www.mitropolia.us/pdf/history-metropolia.pdf ‘The History of the Romanian Archdiocese in North America’ in “The Calendar of Faith Magazine”, 2002 (magazine of The Romanian Orthodox Metropolia of the Americas)]

[https://www.academia.edu/35594230/ “An Episode in the History of Romanian Orthodox Communities in America : The Election of Bishop Victorin Ursache in 1966”]

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=https://www.crainou.ro/2019/08/01/arhiepiscopul-victorin-ursache/&prev=search&pto=aue ‘Archbishop Victorin Ursache’ in “Crai Nou” (magazine) (1 August, 2019)]

Please send your suggestions, additions, corrections or contributions to this address :

info@orthodoxcanada.ca

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Archbishop Victorin (Ursache) - Revision history

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