The Romanian Orthodox Church and the Holocaust. By Ion Popa. Studies in Antisemitism. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2017. xiv, 238 pp. Appendix. Notes. Bibliography. Index. Illustrations. Photographs. $50.00, hard bound, $49.00, e-book.

The Romanian Orthodox Church engaged, after the fall of communism, in the reconstruction of its public identity and its position in society. The public discourse of its official representatives – the Holy Synod and individual hierarchs, especially the Patriarch Teoctist – expresses and „translates” this process to the faithful and the general public. Its perception by this public, particularly when mediated by means of mass communication, is usually partial and frequently altered. By focusing on the official discourse of the Romanian Orthodox Church representatives, as expressed in the ecclesiastical press and (re)transmitted in the common mass media, this paper will explore the justification/explanation by ecclesiastical officials of this process, following the lines of two main - intertwined - lines: the legitimization of the resurgence in the public sphere of the Church as an institution of spiritual and social assistance and its presence as the privileged keeper and guardian of national values. It will be further argued that, while explicitly refuting and condemning any signs of secularization in the Romanian society, the Romanian Orthodox Church, through its official discourse, is actually contributing to the deepening of this very process within both society and the Church itself. Our main sources for the public discourse of the Romanian Orthodox Church will be the ecclesiastical press and collections of speeches, sermons, articles of Orthodox hierarchs and documents of the Holy Synod. For the theoretical framing of the paper, the main references will be works of Thomas Luckmann, Danièle Hérvieu-Léger, Grace Davie, René Rémond, etc.

Download Full-text

Apostolatul creștin și social în perioada arhipăstoririi patriarhului Iustin Moisescu

Teologie și educație la "Dunărea de Jos" ◽

10.35219/teologie.2019.04 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

pp. 150-161

Author(s):

Ovidiu Soare

Keyword(s):

First Year ◽

Orthodox Church ◽

Social Burden ◽

Romanian Orthodox Church ◽

Romanian Orthodox

The study highlights the main internal and external directions for the promotion and execution of the Christian and Social Apostolate, which Patriarch Iustin was concerned about, notably the ones presented in 1977, his first year of being patriarch. It was a very eventful year, with many events carrying a strong spiritual and social burden. We mention here the passing away of Patriarch Justinian and then earthquake of March 4 – two events that happened within a few weeks of each other. There are two additional events: the enthronement of the Iustin, archbishop of Moldova and Suceava as the patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and the Centenary of Independence 1877-1977. All these events were coordinated with wisdom and balance by Patriarch Iustin. He always showed through his actions that good understanding, faith, sacrifice, the love of nation and country, pace and brotherly love are the main guidelines of realising a true Christian and Social Apostolate in the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Download Full-text

Ecumenical Dialogue in the Perspective of the Romanian Orthodox Church

Orthodox Handbook on Ecumenism ◽

10.2307/j.ctv1ddcpjz.65 ◽

2014 ◽

pp. 350-358

Author(s):

Aurel Pavel

Keyword(s):

Orthodox Church ◽

Ecumenical Dialogue ◽

Romanian Orthodox Church ◽

Romanian Orthodox

Download Full-text