Patriarch Miron (Cristea)

Patriarch Miron (Cristea) (1868-1939)

Ilie may be spelt Elie, Elias, Elijah. Ilia, Ilya.

Early life of Ilie Cristea

On 20 July, 1868, Ilie Cristea was born in Toplița, Maros-Torda County, in the Kingdom of Hungary, at that time newly part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (not in Romania). Ilie was born to Gheorghe and Domnița Cristea. They were a peasant family. Near the eastern border of the Principality of Transylvania, they raised Ilie to be an Orthodox Christian, within the bosom of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Ilie received his primary education in his home village. Afterwards, he studied at the Saxon Evangelical Gymnasium of Bistrița (1879-1883), and at the Greek-Catholic Lyceum of Năsăud (1883-1887).

During the years when Ilie was growing up in Transylvania, there was steady pressure from Hungary for the “magyarisation” of society and the Church. Ilie had been born a year following the 1867 combining of the Kingdom of Hungary and the Kingdom of Austria.

Higher education

In 1887, after having completed his secondary education, Ilie enrolled at the Orthodox Christian Seminary of Sibiu (1887-1890).

Andrei Șaguna Faculty of Theology, Sibiu

After his graduation in 1890, Ilie became a teacher and then the principal at the Romanian Orthodox school of Orăștie (1890-1891).

In 1891, Ilie Cristea went to study philosophy and modern philology at the University of Budapest, in Budapest, Hungary (1891-1895).

University of Budapest

In 1894, Ilie was awarded a doctoral degree on the basis of his dissertation about the life and works of Mihai Eminescu (given in Hungarian).

In 1895, he returned to Transylvania, where he worked as a secretary (between 1895 and 1902), and then a counsellor (1902-1909) at the Archdiocesan Centre of Sibiu.

Diaconal ordination, 1900

In 1900, Ilie Cristea was ordained to the Holy Diaconate.

Diaconal service

In 1901, Deacon Ilie Cristea was elevated to be a protodeacon.

Monastic tonsure, 1902

In 1902, Protodeacon Ilie was tonsured to be a monk at the Hodoș Bodrog Monastery in Arad County. He was given the name Miron.

Hodoș Bodrog Monastery

Hierodiaconal service

Immediately after the tonsure, Hierodeacon Miron (Cristea) was elevated to the dignity of archdeacon (in recognition of his previous status as protodeacon).

Presbyteral ordination, 1903

On 13 April, 1903, Archdeacon Miron (Cristea) was ordained to the Holy Priesthood.

Presbyteral service

On 1 June, 1908, Hieromonk Miron (Cristea) was elevated to the dignity of protosingel.

This elevation meant that Father Miron served in the diocese in the capacity of a chancellor.

In 1908, following the repose on 8 August, 1908, of Bishop Nicolae (Popea), the election of the Bishop of the Diocese of Caransebeş led to a dispute between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Imperial authorities. Two times in a row, the elected bishop was not accepted by Emperor Franz Joseph I of Austria (because of the recommendation of the Hungarian government). Finally, Protosingel Miron (Cristea) was accepted.

Episcopal ordination, 1910

On 3 May, 1910, Protosingel Miron (Cristea) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate by bishops of the Church of Serbia in Holy Trinity Cathedral in Sibiu.

Holy Trinity Cathedral, Sibiu

Episcopal service

Bishop Miron (Cristea) was assigned to serve as the Bishop of the Diocese of Caransebeş.

On 8 May, 1910, he was enthroned in Saint George's Cathedral, and he received the pastoral staff of Metropolitan Andrei (Șaguna).

Saint George's Cathedral, Caransebeş

In this capacity, Bishop Miron defended the Romanian confessional schools in Banat from attempts by the Hungarian government in Budapest to overthrow them. However, on 8 September, 1916, with the other Romanian Orthodox bishops of Transylvania, led by Metropolitan Vasile (Mangra) of Sibiu (at the entry of Romania into the war, against the Central Powers), he signed with circular letter no. 2602 by which they described the troops of the Old Kingdom who entered Transylvania as "wolves dressed in sheepskins and dazed by the promises of Judah", respectively "Romanian brothers killing brothers".

According to some historians, during the Serbian occupation of the Banat of Lugoj-Caransebeş in 1918, Bishop Cristea mentioned liturgically King Petar (Karadjordjević) of Serbia and not King Ferdinand I of Romania.

World War I, 1916-1918

During World War I, which had begun farther west in 1914, the Kingdom of Romania joined the war on the side of the Entente Powers. On 1 September, 1916 (following the August attack on Austria-Hungary by Romania), Bishop Miron (Cristea) signed a public letter to the parishioners of his diocese, which was printed at Oradea by the Orthodox Metropolis of Transylvania. The letter called to arms all believers against "Romania the new enemy which sinfully covets to ruin the borders, coming to conquer Transylvania". The wording was from the perspective of a dependency of the Church of Serbia within the Kingdom of Hungary.

Very soon after the conclusion of World War I, Transylvania was able to return to Romania. The majority of the population were Romanians rather than Hungarians or Saxons.

Act of Union between Transylvania and the Kingdom of Romania, 1918

In April, 1918, Bessarabia entered into union with the Kingdom of Romania. There were other post-war processes as well.

On 18 October, 1918, towards the end of World War I, the Central National Romanian Council was formed.

Headed by representatives of the Romanian National Party and the Social Democratic Party, it was an organisation which struggled for the union of Transylvania and Romania. On 21 November, Archbishop Miron (Cristea) joined the organisation, and he recognised it as the only ruling body of the Romanian nation in Transylvania.

On 1 December, 1918, at the end of World War I, Bishop Miron, as bishop of Caransebeș, was (with Vasile Goldiș, the Uniat Bishop Iuliu Hossu, and Alexandru Vaida-Voevod) a member of the Austro-Hungarian Romanian delegation in the Great National Assembly of Alba Iulia, which called for the unification of Romania and Transylvania.

In front of the Great Assembly in Alba Iulia, Bishop Iuliu Hossu hugged Bishop Miron (Cristea), and he said the following memorable phrase :

 As you see us today embracing, brothers and sisters, so may all the Romanian brothers remain 
 embraced forever !

An official delegation brought the act of union for singing to King Ferdinand in Bucharest. The delegation included Protosingel Miron (Cristea), Vasile Goldiș, Bishop Iuliu Hossu (Uniat Roman Catholic), Alexandru Vaida-Voevod, and Caius Brediceanu.

On 28 May, 1919, the King and the government of Romania went to the grave of Prince Michael the Brave in Câmpia Turzii, and Bishop Miron (Cristea) led the memorial service of commemoration there. He then gave a nationalist speech in which he drew a parallel between King Ferdinand and Prince Michael the Brave. He recommended that the King not stop at Turda, but rather continue all the way to the Tisza River (much nearer to Budapest).

Because of his collaboration with the German occupation troops, the Metropolitan-Primate Conon (Arămescu-Donici) was forced to resign on 1 December, 1919.

On 31 December, 1919, Bishop Miron (Cristea) was chosen by the Great Electoral College of the Church of Romania as the first Metropolitan-Primate of Greater Romania with 435 votes out of 447.

Metropolitan Archbishop and Primate of Romania, 1919

On 1 January, 1920, in the Patriarchal Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen in Bucharest, Bishop Miron (Cristea) was enthroned by the bishops of the Church of Romania as Metropolitan Archbishop of Bucharest and All Romania.

Patriarchal Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen

Primatial service

Metropolitan Archbishop Miron (Cristea) became the Primate of the Church of Romania at the time when several new territories had been added to the Kingdom of Romania in the wake of World War I, and when the Church had embraced many new dioceses.

With this inclusion and expansion, a large number of problems were required to be solved. As usually occurs under such circumstances, there was the often-unfulfilled need for mutual forgiveness. Frequently, after having suffered in the course of various wars, people seem to forget (at least for a time) the fundamental Orthodox Christian principles.

Metropolitan-Primate Miron (Cristea) continued the tradition of his predecessors to support whatever government was in power. Sometimes, the Church acted as an agent of the state. For instance, in 1920, Metropolitan Miron asked the clergy of the Church to aid the state financially by encouraging the Faithful to buy government bonds. The Metropolitan-Primate’s speeches incorporated nationalist and statist elements, and he sometimes argued that the Orthodox Faith was integral to the Romanian soul. He further averred that the Church's values include patriotism and obedience to civil authorities alongside faith and morality (ethical behaviour).

After the unification of Romania, it was necessary to unify the rules of worship, while taking into account the differences in custom and history that existed in Transylvania, Bessarabia and Bukovina.

In 1920, Metropolitan Miron prepared the work "Fundamental Principles of the Organisational Unification of the Romanian Orthodox Church in the Romanian Kingdom", in which he described how to carry out the re-organisation of the Church in Romania. The work, consisting of 18 chapters, included the matters and concerns about autocephaly ; the unification of Churches ; relations between the clergy and laity ; canon law ; education ; the status of hierarchs ; monasteries ; and the activities of the Holy Synod.

Pastoral experience gained in Transylvania and adherence to the principles of one of the leaders of the Romanians.

The National Movement of Metropolitan Andrei Șaguna of Sibiu helped him maintain a balance between clergy and laity in Church life. Because of the difficult history of the Church in the whole of the Balkans, there could be a tendency for the clergy to dominate the administration and life of the Church in order to protect Her. However, through this movement, a better and more normal balance of responsibility between clergy and laity was encouraged.

Metropolitan Miron sought to nominate to vacant places in the Church hierarchy people best able to perform pastoral duties and ensure the efficiency of the administrative apparatus of the Church. His achievements in supporting ecclesiastical and liturgical unity are considered the most important in his work. It is a fact that at the time when he became Primate of Romania, because of various historical circumstances, the number and educational quality of Romanian Orthodox clergy had decreased dramatically. The need of the Church and her Faithful for able shepherds was great.

In the process of reorganising Church life, new dioceses were created : in Oradea (1920) ; the Army Episcopate with its cathedral in Alba Iulia (1921) ; the Diocese of Khotyn with its cathedral in Bălți (now Bălți, Moldova) ; the Diocese of Belgorod with its cathedral in Izmail (now in the Odessa region, Ukraine) (1923). The ancient episcopal centres were resumed in Cluj (now Cluj-Napoca, Romania) (1921) ; in Constanța (1923) ; the Missionary Diocese for Romanians in America (1934) ; in Maramureș (1937). The Romanian Constitution of 1923 granted the Church a certain autonomy and protection in the event of attempted political interference in Church life.

In 1922, in order to intensify pastoral and missionary activity, Metropolitan Miron created the Biblical Institute in Bucharest to publish liturgical books, and other Church literature. He resumed the publication of "Biserica Ortodoxă Română" ("Romanian Orthodox Church"), which had ceased to exist during the World War I. On the initiative of Metropolitan Miron, the Bucharest diocese "Apostolul" ("Apostle") magazine was also created, and diocesan magazines began to appear in other dioceses.

Calendar reform, 1924

In the early years of the 1920s, under the suasion of the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Metropolitan Miron introduced the matter of calendar reform. From 1920-1924, there was pressure developing in the Church of Constantinople to institute this reform, which was promulgated in 1924 by a so-called Pan-Orthodox Synod. Thus was established the Revised Julian Calendar in the Patriarchate of Constantinople. Some other Autocephalous Churches followed. It had begun with the use of the Gregorian Calendar, but this was quickly adjusted for the sake of the Paschal Cycle of services and readings.

Repeatedly, Metropolitan Miron had sent delegations to Pan-Orthodox conferences, and he continued to do so. As a consequence of the discussion in Constantinople of this matter in 1923, the question of introducing the New Calendar (Revised Julian Calendar) into the Church of Romania was discussed. The Holy Synod of the Church of Romania joined the decision to adopt the New Calendar, and it came into force in Romania on 1 October, 1924. The transition of the Church of Romania to the New Calendar (which at that time had not yet arrived at its present form) brought about a schism with those who insisted on retaining the Old Calendar (Julian Calendar). This schism became a permanent (albeit not large) rupture within the Romanian Orthodox Church. The schismatic group became associated with the largest of the Old-Calendarist schismatic groups in Greece.

Further concerns regarding autocephaly

On 13 November, 1924, the Patriarchate of Constantinople gave a "Tomos" of Autocephaly to the Polish Orthodox Church. In the context of the conversations that had led to this, Metropolitan Miron (who kept the concern as one of high importance) pressed with Constantinople the request that the autocephaly of the Church of Romania now be recognised as a patriarchate.

Patriarch of Romania, 1925

In 1925, after a series of conversations with the Patriarchate of Constantinople on the subject, the Patriarch of Constantinople Basil III (Georgiadis) declared that the Autocephalous Metropolitanate of Bucharest and All Romania was now to be known as a patriarchate, that the Church of Romania would henceforth be called the Patriarchate of Romania, and that the chief bishop of the Church of Romania would be entitled Patriarch of Bucharest and All Romania.

Patriarchal service

Patriarch Miron (Cristea) became the first Patriarch of Romania.

Law restructuring the patriarchate, 1925

On 6 May, 1925, the Romanian Parliament adopted a law and a statute on the organisation and functioning of the Romanian Patriarchate. In administrative terms, it included : the Metropolis of Ungro-Vlachia (which included the Bucharest Archdiocese and the Dioceses of Râmnic Noul-Severin, Buzău, Argeș, Constanța) ; the Metropolis of Moldavia and Bucovina (consisting of the Iași Archdiocese and the Dioceses of Roman, Huşi and Dunărea de Jos) ; the Metropolis of Ardeal (divided into the Archdiocese of Alba-Iulia and Sibiu, and the Dioceses of Arad, Caransebeș, Oradea, and Cluj) ; the Metropolis of Bucovina (which united the Cernăuți Archdiocese, Suceava, and the Hotin Diocese) ; the Metropolis of Bessarabia (composed of the Chișinău Archdiocese and the Diocese of Cetatea-Albe-Izmail).

Receiving visitors

The first meeting of Patriarch Miron with foreign hierarchs took place at the patriarchal residence in Bucharest. On 13 September, 1925, Metropolitans Joachim (Stroumbis) of Chalkis and Germanos of Serdik arrived from the Church of Constantinople.

Publishing and education initiatives

In 1926, on the initiative of Patriarch Miron, Protosinkell Teofil (Ionescu), priest of the Patriarchal Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helena in Bucharest (later Archbishop of the Western European Romanian Orthodox Church), founded the "Patriarch Miron Missionary Association" in Bucharest. He initiated a religious journal "The Good Word" ; and he founded a home for the elderly, and a canteen for the poor. The missionary association supported the intensification of religious education in secondary schools.

In order to train new Church personnel (the number of which sharply had decreased after World War I), Metropolitan Miron had founded in 1922 in the city of Câmpulung-Muscel a Seminary for War Orphans in the Negru-Vodă Monastery. As patriarch, he also founded a Seminary Temple in the Negru-Vodă Monastery (1928), and the Academy of Sacred Music in Bucharest (1927). Amongst the young theologians for whom the patriarch took care, one can name a graduate of the seminary in Câmpulung-Muscel (a scholarship-holder of the theological faculty of the University of Athens) Justin Moisescu (later, Patriarch of Romania). On the initiative of Patriarch Miron during 1928-1930, the construction of the patriarchal residence in Bucharest was begun and completed.

Cathedral of the Salvation of the Nation initiative, 1926

Between 1926 and 1929, there were disputes in the newspapers about the place where the future cathedral of the Patriarchate in Bucharest was to be built. The dedication was to be to the Holy Ascension of the Lord and to the Holy Apostle Andrew, but it would also be known as the “Cathedral of the Salvation of the Nation”.

On 19 February, 1929, Patriarch Miron chaired the meeting at the patriarchal residence, which was attended by a commission of experts who analysed the 12 places proposed for the location of the new cathedral. At its second meeting on 23 February, 1929, the committee finally accepted 3 proposals :

• Bibescu Voda Square, at the foot of the Metropolitan Hill and on the site of the Central Halls ;

• the land on which the Intercontinental Hotel and the National Theatre building are currently located ;

• the land on Mihai Vodă Hill, where the Army Arsenal was located (which was to be moved to the outskirts of the city).

About Dealul Mihai Vodă (Dealul Arsenalului, Mihai Vodă Hill), those gathered together with the patriarch appreciated that this place was elevated, and appropriate for the cathedral : it was visible and located in the heart of the city. However, the patriarch demanded a change in the layout of streets and boulevards and the rehabilitation of the surroundings, which would have been complicated. The whole project would have been very expensive. The erection of the building on Arsenal Hill or in place of the National Theatre would have involved an extensive expropriation process. Consequently, the place at the foot of the Metropolitan Hill, in Bibescu Voda Square, was chosen. Actual construction did not yet begin.

Construction of Temples

With the assistance of Patriarch Miron, several Temples were constructed in Bucharest. The Podianu Temple was built through the efforts of Father Mihai Sherpoianu (1926-1928) with the financial support of N Podeanu, on territory donated by this patron. Church frescoes in neo-Byzantine style were carried out during 1930-1932 by the artist D Belizariye. Other Temples were constructed and frescoed between 1928 and 1932, which were enabled through fundraising campaigns, and with some support from the city administration. One of these was the Temple of Saint Demetrius of Thessalonica in the northeast metropolitan area of Colentina, which was built on the site of an earlier 19th century Temple. That project was developed by architect Ioan Traianescu, and the paintings were made by the artist Costin Petrescu.

Fraternal visits, 1927

In 1927, Patriarch Miron made fraternal visits to the Orthodox Churches in the Eastern Mediterranean region, and in particular to the Holy Land. These included the Patriarchates of Alexandria, Antioch and Jerusalem, as well as the Autonomous Church of Sinai (under the Church of Jerusalem).

Patriarch Miron (centre left) and his entourage at Saint Catherine's Monastery, Sinai

Political involvement

As a Romanian national leader and a militant for the territorial unification of Romania, Patriarch Miron (Cristea) was appointed to be senator, and then a regent (20 July, 1927-8 June, 1930).

Interim regency, 1927-1930

In 1927, King Ferdinand of Romania reposed from cancer. His grandson, Crown Prince Michael, was only 5 years of age. He was assisted during the period of regency by a 3-person committee which was appointed by Prime Minister Ionel Brătianu. One regent was Patriarch Miron. Another was King Michael’s uncle, Prince Nicholas. The third was Gheorghe Buzdugan, head of the Supreme Court of Romania.

Patriarch of Romania Miron (Cristea)

The involvement in politics of Patriarch Miron was, however, controversial. The reason for the canonical prescription that clergy not be involved in secular governments was in part to avoid confusions. Political activity as a patriarch brings such a confusion, and it brought vulnerability to various attacks. He was criticised by journalists at Epoca Newspaper, who accused him of trying to play the role of Gregory Rasputin and being a member of the palace camarilla. This was followed by the confiscation by the police of that issue of the paper, and their offices being vandalised by hooligans, allegedly incited by the government.

A dispute arose with philosopher Nae Ionescu after Mr. Ionescu attacked the patriarch in newspaper articles for hypocrisy. This came after he participated in a lavish dinner during the Nativity Fast, at which they were served turkey. It was reported that in retaliation, the patriarch requested that the iconographer Belizarie paint Mr. Ionescu's face on a devil in the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest's Apocalypse-themed mural.

Illness, 1929-1930

In 1929, because of a serious illness (identified as leucocythemia by his physicians), Patriarch Miron (Cristea) retired for several months to a country house in Dragoslavele, Muscel County ; but despite the bleak predictions about the state of his health, he was soon able to return to Bucharest.

On 6 July 1930, Prince Carol returned to Romania in order to assume power, as he said he would do.

On 7 July, 1930, the Regents resigned from their responsibility.

Almost immediately, Parliament gave the throne to Prince Carol, and he was enthroned in Bucharest as King Carol II. Patriarch Miron was loyal to King Carol II throughout his rule.

In March, 1937, as the king attempted to suppress the influence of the movement known as the Iron Guard, the patriarch responded to the request sent by the government of Prime Minister Gheoghe Tătărescu about limiting the relationship between the clergy and the Iron Guard. Patriarch Miron convoked a meeting of the Holy Synod which then banned clergy from joining the Legion and disallowed political demonstrations and symbols in the Temples in 1932-1935.

The restoration of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest was carried out, and murals were made.

Establishment of the Romanian Orthodox Missionary Episcopate in North America, 1934

In 1934, the Patriarchate of Romania established the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate in the United States of America and Canada. Bishop Polycarp (Moruşca) was the first bishop of the Episcopate, and he was ordained in Bucharest before his departure to undertake his responsibility.

Bucharest Conference between the Church of Romania and the Anglicans of England, 1935

In 1935, an Anglican-Orthodox conference took place in Bucharest. The participants discussed the question of whether Apostolic Faith and Succession had been preserved in the ordination and consecration received amongst the Anglican Churches. The matter was discussed with regard to those clergy and bishops who sometimes wish to transfer to the bosom of the Romanian Orthodox Church. In his welcoming speech, Patriarch Miron pointed out what there is in common between the Anglicans and the Orthodox. He also emphasised the desire for rapprochement with the Orthodox Church, which had been expressed repeatedly by the Anglican Church.

On 19 March, 1936, as a consequence of the 1935 conference, the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Romania adopted a resolution regarding the recognition of the ordinations received within the Church of England as being sufficiently of apostolic character, faith, and succession that no re-ordination would be required should an Anglican cleric wish to enter the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Patriarch Miron (Cristea) of Romania (left) ; Archbishop of Canterbury Cosmo Gordon (right)

Construction in the Holy Land

With the blessing and support of Patriarch Miron, the Church of Romania began building in the Holy Land. By the Jordan River, Romanians established a Monastery (now in Qaser el-Yahud, on the West Bank of the Jordan River. The Monastery of the Great Soldier-Martyr George is near the traditional site of the Baptism of Christ, which is across from it, on the East Bank. A hostel for Romanian students in Jerusalem (1935-1938) was also established. (At that time, the Jordan River was not an international boundary.)

Governmental interference

After 1935, the Romanian government began to suppress any opposition to the Romanian Orthodox Church. Some buildings were razed, and some activists were imprisoned. Some clerics, including the Old Calendarist Hieromonk Pambo and 5 monks from the Cucova Monastery, were beaten to death. Protests against the authorities' actions were met with repression by police. The leader of Old Calendarists, Igumen Glicherie (Tănase), was accused of being an instigator and sentenced to death (although the sentence was not carried out).

In 1937, William Temple, the Archbishop of York, sent a letter to Patriarch Miron, in which he questioned whether there were truly religious freedom in Romania. He referred especially to the ill-treatment of the Baptists. The patriarch denied such claims and responded in a long document in which he said Archbishop Temple was misled by the "perverse propaganda" and the "false mystification" of the Magyars, as well as the "ferocious and barbaric proselytism of the Pope". He further added, referring to neo-Protestants, that Romania should not be allowed to be "undermined by foreigners dressed in innocuous pseudo-religious garb".

Intercession with Constantinople for Bulgaria

In addition, Patriarch Miron petitioned the Patriarch of Constantinople for the healing of the Bulgarian Schism (see Bulgarian Orthodox Church ) and for the recognition of the autocephaly of the Albanian Orthodox Church. The Bulgarian schism was healed through the recognition of the Bulgarian Autocephaly on 22 February, 1945. (The Albanian Autocephaly was recognised on 12 April, 1937.)

At about this time, Patriarch Miron seems for some reason to have adopted an anti-Jewish attitude, which was evident in some public statements. Since this was an attitude opposite to what he had demonstrated 10 years previously, he may have been influenced by current political trends. At that time, more extreme nationalism and xenophobia were rising in certain parts of society.

Prime Minister of Romania, 1938

In 1938, in his desire to bring political unity against the Iron Guard (which was gaining popularity), King Carol dismissed the government of Prime Minister Octavian Goga and he seized emergency powers. He suspended the constitution, suspended all political activity, and he ruled by decree.

On 11 February, 1938, King Carol II appointed Patriarch Miron (Cristea) to be Prime Minister of his government.

Patriarch Miron as Prime Minister of Romania

King Carol II chose the First Hierarch of the Church of Romania for this position on the basis that Patriarch Miron had presented himself as a politician who did not participate in inter-party political disputes, and who was not committed to any one political force. At the same time, King Carol II sought to shift responsibility for the controversial decisions of the government onto him. For just such a reason (the confusion of roles) do the canons forbid political activity to any and every level of the clergy.

Patriarch Miron was the First Minister of a government that included 7 former prime ministers, and members of all the major parties except for the Iron Guard of Corneliu Codreanu and the Lăncieri movement of Octavian Goga, which had carried out violent pogroms and terrorist activities.

“Time” magazine described him as a "puppet Premier" of King Carol II, whereas historian Joseph Rothschild considered that it was Patriarch Miron's vice-prime-minister, Armand Călinescu, who held the power in that government.

In his inaugural speech, Patriarch/Prime Minister Miron (Cristea) denounced liberal pluralism, by arguing that "the monster with 29 electoral heads was destroyed" (referring to the 29 political parties which were to be banned) and by claiming that the king would bring salvation. The new government stopped the anti-Semitic violence that had been unleashed under Mr. Goga's leadership, but the anti-Jewish legislation in place was not altered. It was averred cynically by some that the racist, fascist ideology of Nichifor Crainic fit comfortably with the social views and political theology of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

At King Carol's direction, Patriarch/Prime Minister Miron’s government declared a state of siege, which allowed amongst other things, searches without warrant, and the military appropriation of privately-held guns. He also imposed harsh press censorship and he restored the death penalty, despite the fact that capital punishment is not usually supported by Orthodox Christian societies. However, Patriarch/Prime Minister Miron (Cristea) promised prosperity through some constitutional and social reforms, which were to include the "organised emigration of Jewish surplus population", that is, expulsion of all Jews who had arrived in Romania during or after World War I. Nevertheless, this government eased the anti-Jewish restrictions imposed by the O Goga government.

The external politics of this government were based on seeking an alliance with the United Kingdom and France, and away from friendship with the Berlin-Rome Axis supported by the Goga government. Patriarch/Prime Minister Miron (Cristea) also visited Poland, with which Romania had an alliance, and with which it tried to create a neutral bloc between Nazi Germany and the USSR.

Amongst the policies that Patriarch/Prime Minister Miron (Cristea) introduced during his rule as Prime Minister was a crackdown on the Protestant minority, by disallowing religious service to small congregations with less than 100 heads of families, thus effectively banning the services in around 1,500 small chapels belonging to various non-Orthodox Christian denominations. Despite worldwide protests from the Baptists, the ban was only lifted by the National Renaissance Front's Prime Minister Armand Călinescu.

New Romanian constitution, 1938

On 20 February, 1938, a new constitution was announced, which organised Romania as a “corporatist state” similar to the one of Fascist Italy, with a parliament made up of representatives of the guilds of farmers, worker, and intellectuals. Four days later, on 24 February, the constitution was approved, with 99.87% of votes for, through a plebiscite, This referendum was described by a contemporary article in The Manchester Guardian as being a "farce" for its lack of vote secrecy and the lack of information given to rural voters.

Upon the approval of the new constitution, on 30 March, 1938, Patriarch/Prime Minister Miron (Cristea)'s government resigned on 30 March. He formed a new government later that day. The new government banned all political parties, their activity having been merely suspended before that. In March, 1938, Corneliu Zelea Codreanu, the leader of the Iron Guard, in a letter attacked the politicians who supported King Carol II, including Prime Minister Miron (Cristea) and members of his government. Mr. Codreanu was arrested for slander against Nicolae Iorga, and he was killed "while attempting to escape".

By the end of 1938, King Carol II introduced even more Fascist-inspired elements. In December, 1938, the National Renaissance Front was formed as the only legally permitted party.

Fraternal visit to the Church of Poland, 1938

During 1938, Patriarch Miron made a fraternal visit to the Church of Poland.

On 1 January, 1939, Patriarch/Prime Minister Miron's government (wearing uniforms) visited the Royal Palace. When they met King Carol, the Prime Minister and all the ministers greeted him with the Fascist salute. It was not stated in the report whether this behaviour was voluntary or required by royal policy.

Repose, 1939

On 6 March, 1939, Patriarch Miron Cristea fell asleep in the Lord in Cannes, France, where he had gone allegedly for medical treatment. There were many doubts expressed at the time about whether he had reposed from natural causes. The doubts were fuelled by the previously difficult relationship between the patriarch and King Carol II, who was perceived to be unscrupulous. During the funeral itself, there were many details which drew the attention of the people to the king. Nevertheless, the previous serious illness of the patriarch must be taken into consideration.

The body of the patriarch was brought back to Romania by railway.

On Sunday, 12 March, 1939, there was a Memorial Service at the railway station upon the arrival of the coffin in Bucharest. Present at this time were members of the patriarch's family ; the king's representative ; the president of the Council of Ministers ; the ambassadors ; the royal advisers ; the members of the government ; the commander of the "Country Guard" ; the members of the Diplomatic Corps ; the members of the Superior Council of the "National Renaissance Front" ; former ministers ; deans and professors ; representatives of foreign churches and cults ; representatives of high civil and military authorities, who are invited usually by the presidency as official representatives ; representatives of the Romanian Academy ; clergy from all over the country ; a delegation of commanders and commanders of guards, and representatives of cultural societies and other societies, with flags ; officers and soldiers of the army. Afterwards, the coffin was transferred to a hearse, and it was transported to the patriarchal cathedral. There was an abundance of visible royal, political and military personnel involved in the procession, and all were wearing their most formal attire.

On Monday, 13 March, 1939, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., the body of Patriarch Miron lay in the nave of the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen, and people came to pay their respects and to pray.

On Tuesday, 14 March, 1939, 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. The service was led by the Locum-Tenens of the Patriarchal Throne, together with bishops of the Patriarchate of Romania, bishops representing other Orthodox Churches, along with many priests and deacons. Present also under royal organisation were members of the patriarch's family ; the king's representative ; the president of the Council of Ministers ; the ambassadors ; the royal advisers ; the members of the government ; the commander of the "Country Guard" ; the members of the Diplomatic Corps ; the members of the "Superior Council of the National Renaissance Front" ; the former ministers ; representatives of foreign churches and cults ; representatives of high civil and military authorities, who are usually invited by the presidency as official representatives ; representatives of the Romanian Academy ; clergy from around the country ; a delegation of commanders and commanders of guards, and representatives of cultural and other societies ; representatives of various societies, with flags. The king seems not to have been personally present.

Following the completion of the funeral services, the body of Patriarch Miron (Cristea) was taken in procession around the exterior of the cathedral, and it then was entombed in the crypt of the Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen in Bucharest, Romania.

Final funeral procession

Tomb of Patriarch Miron (Cristea)

–Bishop of Caransebeş 1910-1919.

–Metropolitan-Primate of Romania 1919-1925. Predecessor : Metropolitan-Primate Conon (Arămescu-Donici).

–Patriarch of Romania 1925-1939. Metropolitanate elevated to Patriarchate. Succeeded by : Patriarch Nicodim (Munteanu).

–Prime Minister of Romania 1938-1939. Preceded by : Octavian Goga. Succeeded by : Armand Călinescu

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).

The birthplace-home of Patriarch Miron (Cristea) in Toplița became a museum dedicated to his life. Each year, on his birthday, the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate organises the "Miron Cristea Days" that are dedicated to the first patriarch of the Church, and which feature various cultural activities.

In 1938, during a meeting with Wilhelm Fabricius, the German ambassador, Prime Minister/Patriarch Miron (Cristea) praised the anti-Jewish policy conducted by Nazi Germany, and he supported such a policy in Romania. The British Ambassador wrote in his report to London that "Nothing would induce him [i.e., Patriarch Cristea] to talk about anything but the Jewish problem".

The results of Patriarch/Prime Minister Miron's activities as prime minister may be perceived as being ambiguous. The patriarch believed that he could be useful in this position, while perhaps not fully comprehending that his authority was being used by the king as a "front" through which to consolidate his own personal power. Under the conditions of the royal dictatorship, the Prime Minister did not play a vital role, since he entrusted some of the powers to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Mr. Armand Călinescu. The activities of all political parties were suspended, although the leaders of the most significant parties (the National Liberal and the National Tsaranists) continued to maintain informal influence. A new state was formed. The National Renaissance Front Party was formed.

The new constitution was based on the ideas of a corporate state and took as a model the political order of fascist Italy. Measures were taken to prevent the pogroms provoked by far-right pro-Hitler elements, although at the same time some laws and orders of anti-Jewish content remained in force. These restricted the economic activity of Jews, as well as their political rights (contrary to the new statute on national policy promulgated in August, 1938, which declared the broad rights of national minorities). Jews were encouraged to emigrate to Palestine. This government retained the effect of the order of the former government by limiting censorship. The death penalty was restored.

In foreign policy, the government tried to balance between Great Britain and France on the one hand, and Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy on the other. After the September, 1938, Munich agreement between Great Britain and France with Nazi Germany and the beginning of the collapse of Czechoslovakia (an ally of Romania), legionnaires began to regain their importance, and they threatened the stability of royal power. In response to this, the king sanctioned the murder in November, 1938 of the leader of the Legionnaires Corneliu Codreanu during a staged attempt to escape from prison. This led to the complication of relations with the Third Reich, which was increasing its economic influence. In the field of Church policy, the government of Prime Minister/Patriarch Miron took measures to restrict the activities of the Baptists and other sectarians, which provoked criticism from outside Romania.

An attempt to honour the memory of Patriarch Miron (Cristea)

In July, 2010, the National Bank of Romania (BNR) decided to mint a numismatic series of 5 commemorative silver coins, dedicated to the patriarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church. One of them was to depict Patriarch Miron (Cristea). This controversial proposal sparked protests, including :

• Professor Dr. Radu Ioanid (international archives director at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington) said he was "shocked" by the official honour of the memory of Miron Cristea. He called for the coin to be withdrawn. He said that the patriarch is a historical figure permanently compromised by the anti-Semitic label. [...] He said : "The decision of the National Bank of Romania to honour the memory of the controversial Patriarch Miron Cristea, is [...] insensitive, insulting, unacceptable, dishonourable”.

• The reaction of the American official was followed by the formal request addressed to the BNR by the National Institute for the Study of the Holocaust in Romania "Elie Wiesel", by which the organisation requested the withdrawal from the market of the silver coin depicting Patriarch Miron Cristea.

• Historian Adrian Cioflâncă, department director at the Institute for the Investigation of the Crimes of Communism and the Memory of the Romanian Exile, stated that given the Central Bank's decision, it has implications for the Romanian state's memory policy, entering "such delicate and controversial areas of memory and the history of dictatorial regimes in Romania”. The institution patronised by Mugur Isărescu could have requested the expertise of specialists.

The Romanian Patriarchate published, through the “Basilica” news agency (5 August, 2010), a press release rejecting these accusations : "Rejected by well-documented historians and others, they remain merely speculation and baseless accusations, ideological rather than scientific approaches".

On 20 August, the National Bank of Romania announced that it would not withdraw the Cristea coin.

In 2018, a commemorative stamp was issued by the Government of Romania on the centenary of the unification of Romania.

2018 commemorative stamp

On 9 October, 2014, Professor Ioan Scurtu wrote the following article about Patriarch Miron (Cristea) :

Among the achievements of Patriarch Miron Cristea are the construction of the Patriarchal Palace
and the systematisation of the area, the repainting of the Patriarchal Cathedral, the construction
of the wooden hermitage in Topliţa, the establishment of the Theological Seminary in Câmpulung for
war orphans, the Academy of Religious Music in Bucharest (1928) etc.

Miron Cristea resumed the project of building the Cathedral of the Salvation of the Nation,
launched in 1881, when he started raising funds for the construction of the sanctuary. In 1925,
the government of Ion IC Brătianu opened a loan of 3 million lei for the elaboration of plans and
land preparation. In connection with the location, there were several variants, including Ion C
Brătianu Square near the University (proposed by Octavian Goga), Mihai Vodă Hill (N Iorga, Petre
Antonescu), the hill in Carol Park (architect Cristofi Cerchez). Patriarch Miron Cristea opted for
Bibescu Voda Square, located at the foot of the Metropolitan Hill, where he laid the foundation
stone on 11 May, 1929. Despite all his efforts, the Cathedral of the Salvation of the Nation
remained only in the aspiration stage for eight decades.

Under the leadership of Miron Cristea, the Romanian Orthodox Church has increased its international
prestige. Miron Cristea visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, where he called for
'the creation of a council of representatives of all autocephalous Orthodox churches, which should
meet regularly and prepare draft general issues for the whole of Orthodoxy'.

He enjoyed warm receptions from high-ranking officials in Greece (Piraeus and Athens), Egypt
(Alexandria and Cairo), Palestine (Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho, Nazareth, etc.), Great Britain
(London), Poland (Warsaw) etc. In his turn, Miron Cristea received in Romania the representatives
of the sister Orthodox churches, as well as the Anglican, Lutheran and a mosaic of churches.

Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie considered Miron Cristea 'the greatest patriarch of Orthodoxy'
in 1936.

At the urging of the Romanians settled in America, Patriarch Miron Cristea initiated the bill for
the establishment of the American Orthodox Episcopate based in Detroit, which was adopted in April,
1934. Also, in 1935-1938, a Romanian Settlement was built in Jerusalem, with a church and a home
for pilgrims.

Crutch in the service of the Crown

On the other hand, Miron Cristea was against concluding the Concordat with the Vatican under the
conditions required by the papal nuncio, which created a privileged situation for the Catholic
Church and ensured the management of its wealth in favour of the papacy. After long negotiations,
the Concordat was signed by Vasile Goldiş, Minister of Cults in the Averescu government, on 10 May, 1927,
but was not ratified by Parliament until May, 1929.

Patriarch Miron Cristea was part of the Regency during 1927-1930. He reached this dignity as a
result of Prince Carol's resignation as heir to the Romanian Crown. The first abandonment occurred
in August, 1918, when Carol left the military unit and moved to Odessa, where he married
Maria Valentina (Zizi) Lambrino ('Historical Magazine', no. 10/2008). He reversed this decision in
November, 1918, but he resigned in August, 1919. In May, 1921, he married Princess Helen of
Greece, who gave birth to Michael in October, 1921. In December, 1925, Carol gave up for the third
time, remaining abroad with Elena Lupescu. This time, King Ferdinand decided to 'cut down the
rotten branch of the beautiful tree of the dynasty' and he asked the Crown Council, held on
31 December, 1925, to accept Carol's decision.

Invited to the Council, Patriarch Miron Cristea joined the king's proposal. 'If Your Majesty, who
as a father loves him even more and thinks he will not return, making the unwavering decision to
receive his resignation, I can do no more than loyally submit to the high judgment'.

Miron Cristea also participated in the 'restricted council' held in Sinaia on 3 January, 1926, when
the composition of the Regency was established, which would exercise royal prerogatives in the
event that Prince Michael would reach the throne before the age of majority (18 years). On that
occasion, the patriarch was appointed regent, along with Prince Nicolae and the jurist Gheorghe Buzdugan.
These decisions were confirmed by the laws of 4 January, 1926.

Honours

Patriarch Miron was awarded the Order of the Star of Karađorđe by Serbia.

Writings

Patriarch Miron (Cristea) was known as an active publicist, author of many works. His collected works were published in 6 volumes :

• “Speeches and Sermons of a Theologian, and later a Clergyman in a State under foreign Domination”, vol. 1 (Bucharest, 1923).

• “Pastorals and Speeches of a Romanian Bishop in a Country under foreign Domination”, vol. 2 (Bucharest, 1923).

• “Three Years of Preaching : Pastorals and Speeches”, vol. 3 (Bucharest, 1923).

• “Pastorals, Sermons and Speeches”, vol. 4 (Bucharest, 1938).

• “Pastorals, Sermons and Speeches”, vol. 5 (Bucharest, 1938).

• “Pastorals, Sermons and Speeches”, vol. 6 (Bucharest, 1939).

Other writings :

• “Alexandru Roman” (Sibiu, 1897).

• “Archbishop and Metropolitan Miron Romanul” (Sibiu, 1898).

• “Proverbs, Maxims, Similarities and Idioms : collected from the Speech of the Romanians from Transylvania and Hungary” (Sibiu, 1901).

• “Iconography and Preparations from the Interiors of the Eastern Church” (Sibiu, 1905).

• “Sibiu Metropolitan Cathedral : History of the Building” (in collaboration) (Sibiu, 1909), pp. 45-195.

• “Fundamental Principles for the unitary Organisation of the Romanian Orthodox Church” (Bucharest, 1920).

• Patriarch Miron (Cristea) was the author of numerous articles in the publications :

"Telegraful Român", "Tribuna" (Tribune), "Ţara noastră" (“Our Country”) in Sibiu ; "Familia" (“Family”) in Oradea ; "Gazeta Transilvaniei" in Brașov ; "Libertatea ” (“Freedom”) in Orestie ; “Drapelul” (“Banner”) in Lugoj ; “Luceafărul” (“Light”) in Budapest ; “Românul” (“Romanian”) in Arad ; “Foaia diecezană” (“Diocesan Leaflet”) in Caransebeş.

References

Wikipedia biography

Encyclopaedia Britannica biography

Romanian Wikipedia biography

Romanian Orthodoxwiki biography

Academic Dictionary biography

Russian Wikipedia biography

Orthodox Encyclopaedia biography

CrestinOrtodox.ro biography

Additional information :

Clark, Roland, "Sectarianism and Renewal in 1920s Romania : The Limits of Orthodoxy and Nation-Building"

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

Enache, Dr. George, ‘Funeral of the first Patriarch of Romania’ in “Ziarul Lumina”.

......,‘Romanian Orthodox Church and Security’ (in Romanian) in “Ziua” (2 September, 2006).

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.

Petcu, Adrian Nicolae, ‘Patriarch Miron Cristea in the interwar Regency’ in “Ziarul Lumina”.

Scurtu, Dr. Prof. Ioan, “Miron Cristea 1868-1939)” (9 October, 2014).

Shkarovsky, Mikhail Vitalievich, “The Orthodox Church of Romania and Church Life in the Territories occupied by the Romanian Troops from 1918 to the 1940s”, part 1 (March 8, 2010).

Stan, Lavinia ; Turcescu, Lucian, “Religion and Politics in Post-Communist Romania” (USA : Oxford University Press, 2007). ISBN 978-0-19-530853-2.

Vasile, Fr. Ioan D, “Patriarch Miron’s Contribution to the Union of 1918” (Bucharest, 2018).

The Romanian Orthodox Church from 1821-1919 (the “modern” period)

Romania in World War I

1918 Union of Transylvania with the Kingdom of Romania

Article about the resistance to the change to the Revised Julian Calendar

Orthodoxwiki article about Old Calendarists

‘Project Canterbury : Documents related to the Rumanian Recognition of Anglican Orders’ in “The Christian East”, July, 1937, pp. 6-10.

Romanian Wikipedia article about Metropolitan Andrei Șaguna