View source for Bishop Andrei (Moldovan)



[[File:Priest Andrei Moldovan.png]]

'''Bishop Andrei (Moldovan) of Detroit 1885-1963'''


Andrei may be spelt Andrey, André, Andrew.


==Early life of Andrei Moldovan==

On 15 July, 1885, Andrei Moldovan was born in [https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apoldu_de_Sus,_Sibiu Apoldul de Sus], Trapold (today, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apold Apold]),  [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sighișoara Sighisoara], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mure%C8%99_County Mureș County], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania Romania]. 

Andrei was raised by his family as an [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Introduction_to_Orthodox_Christianity Orthodox Christian], and he grew up in the bosom of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Romania Romanian Orthodox Church].   

He received his primary and secondary education in his home region, and he completed the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gymnasium_(school) gymnasium].

==Higher education==

In 1903, Andrei then entered the [https://patrimoniu.sibiu.ro/istorie_en/scoala/46 Pædagogical Theological Institute] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibiu Sibiu], Romania, from which he graduated in 1906.  


[[File:Seminarul andreian Sibiu 2.png]]  '''Sibiu Pædagogical Theological Institute'''


In 1907, Andrei next entered the [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=https://www.teologiearad.ro/&prev=search&pto=aue Theological Institute] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arad,_Romania Arad], Romania, from which he graduated in 1910.  


[[File:Arad Theological Academy 1885 1.jpg]]  '''Arad Theological Academy'''

==Marriage==

There is evidence that Andrei was married, and that he and his wife had a daughter.

==Ordinations, 1911==

Andrei Moldovan was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Deacon Diaconate] at an unknown date.

On 12 November, 1911, Deacon Andrei Moldovan was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Presbyter Priesthood] by [http://193.231.13.10:8991/F?func=find-b&request=000007046&find_code=SYS&local_base=BCU10&CON_LNG=ENG Archbishop John (Meţianu)] of Henndorf (today [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Br%C4%83deni Brădeni]), in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibiu_County Sibiu County].

==Pastoral service==

Priest Andrei Moldovan then served in parishes in [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ardeal Ardeal] ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transylvania Transylvania)] from 1911-1923. 

This pastoral service was interrupted during [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania_during_World_War_I World War I] (1916-1918).  Romania was affected only for 2 years, because the country was neutral until 1916.  During these 2 years, Father Andrei was assigned to serve as a military [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Chaplain chaplain].

==Transfer to the USA, 1923==

In 1923, Father Andrei Moldovan (with a group of others) was sent by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolae_Bălan Metropolitan Nicolae (Bălan)] of Transylvania to serve in the [https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States USA].  

In the course of the following years, Father Andrei served in many parishes : in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia Philadephia], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania Pennsylvania] ; in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren,_Ohio Warren], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio Ohio] ; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Paul,_Minnesota Saint Paul], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minnesota Minnesota] ; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary,_Indiana Gary], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indiana Indiana] ; [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akron,_Ohio Akron], Ohio. 

From 1935, Father Andrei served in the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Romanian_Orthodox_Episcopate_of_America_(OCA) Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America] (ROEA) under its first bishop, [[Bishop Polycarp (Moruşca)]].  

However, from 1939, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II World War II] blocked the return to the USA of Bishop Polycarp from Romania, where he had gone to attend a [https://en.melayukini.net/wiki/Holy_Synod#Holy_Synod_of_the_Romanian_Orthodox_Church Holy Synod] meeting during that year.  

From 1939 until 1947, Father Andrei served as secretary of the administration of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate in the USA.

==Division grows in the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate==

After [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romania_in_World_War_II the war], other political factors in Romania (chiefly the arrival of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Republic_of_Romania communism]) continued to block the return of Bishop Polycarp (Moruşca) to the USA.  

A long-existing and strong difference of opinion within the episcopate persisted.  A substantial number of the episcopate were determined to remain with Bishop Polycarp despite his being kept by force in Romania.  Political events in Romania exacerbated the situation.

In 1947, the new Romanian socialist government law (No. 166 of 1947) dissolved the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, and it placed Bishop Polycarp in retirement. 

In 1949, another law enacted by the same government required that any leaders who were to be appointed by the Romanian Patriarchate for Romanian Orthodox communities outside Romania must be approved by the political authorities.  The first hierarch appointed to lead the American Romanian Orthodox community, [https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antim_Nica&prev=search&pto=aue Bishop Antim (Nica)], was not accepted by the existing Romanian American Episcopate.

==Bereavement==

There is evidence that at some time during his pastoral service as a parish priest in North America, his wife fell asleep in the Lord.

Their daughter was an adult by this time and she was living in Romania.  

In 1948, Priest Andrei Moldovan moved from Gary, Indiana, to serve the Romanian Orthodox Church in Akron, Ohio.

==Formation of the Romanian Archdiocese under the Patriarchate of Romania, 1950==

The differences of opinion continued amongst Romanians in North America.  The main concern was whether to remain as a diocese belonging to Bishop Polycarp and to continue awaiting his return, or to accept a new administration from the Romanian Patriarchate under the conditions associated with the new socialist government.  In this context, a group of dissident priests met in early 1950, and they established a new entity : the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Romanian_Orthodox_Archdiocese_in_America_and_Canada Romanian Orthodox Missionary Episcopate of America].  This new entity was to belong directly and clearly to the Romanian Patriarchate.  

On 17 May, 1950, the assembly of clergy of this new entity elected (that is, nominated) Father Andrei Moldovan, now a citizen of the USA, to become the bishop of the new Romanian diocese in the USA.   

On 12 July, 1950, the Romanian Orthodox Missionary Episcopate in America (later, the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America) was chartered by a decision of the [https://en.melayukini.net/wiki/Holy_Synod#Holy_Synod_of_the_Romanian_Orthodox_Church Romanian Orthodox Holy Synod].  

The Holy Synod of Bishops of the Romanian Patriarchate then elected the Priest Andrei Moldovan to be the bishop to lead the new Missionary Episcopate.  He was summoned to travel to Romania for his ordination.  

Consequently, Priest Andrei Moldovan returned to Romania for the ordination.  

This situation brought about the existence of 2 Romanian Orthodox dioceses in North America : the original Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, and the Romanian Orthodox Missionary Episcopate in America.  Such a situation was, in effect, the visible establishment of a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Schism schism] between the the dioceses.

==Monastic tonsure, 1950==

Later in 1950, Priest Andrei Moldovan was [https://orthochristian.com/101607.html tonsured] to be a [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Monk monk] in the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neam%C8%9B_Monastery Neamţ Monastery] of the [https://www.orthodoxwiki.org/Ascension Holy Ascension].  He was given the name Andrei in honour of a different saint from his baptismal saint.  


[[File:Neamt Monastery 2.png]]  '''Holy Ascension Monastery, Neamţ'''

==Episcopal ordination, 1950==

On 12 November, 1950, [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hieromonk Hieromonk] Andrei (Moldovan) was ordained to the Holy [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Episcopate Episcopate] in [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sibiu Sibiu], Romania.

==Episcopal service==

Bishop Andrei (Moldovan) was assigned to serve as the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Bishop Bishop] of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit Detroit], Michigan.  

After his ordination, Bishop Andrei returned to the USA, where he began to organise the parishes which were loyal to the new Missionary Episcopate.  

It had been the intention of Bishop Andrei (Moldovan) on his return to take up the episcopal leadership of the previously-existing Romanian Diocese (Episcopate) (and presumably to blend the 2 diocesan structures into one).  However, he was not accepted by the clergy and the people of the Romanian Episcopate.  They continued faithfully to await the return of Bishop Polycarp (Moruşca), and they refused to have any association with the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soviet_occupation_of_Romania communist government in Romania].  

In 1952, a court-battle ensued, in which Bishop Andrei, with the support of the Romanian (communist) government, attempted to force a union.  However, Bishop Andrei and his administration did not prevail in court.  Bishop Andrei was unable to succeed in any way to take the leadership of the Romanian Episcopate, nor the publishing of the "[https://www.roea.org/soliatheherald.html SOLIA]" [https://apus.libanswers.com/faq/102820 periodical] (established in 1938 by [[Bishop Polycarp (Moruşca)]]).  

Bishop Andrei (Moldovan) proceeded to establish a distinct and different diocese directly under the Romanian Patriarchate, known at that time as the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Romanian_Orthodox_Archdiocese_in_America_and_Canada Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada] (ROAA).  In conjunction with this change, Bishop Andrei took the title “Bishop of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit Detroit] and the Romanian Missionary Diocese”.  

As a consequence of this development, some of the parishes of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America left the episcopate to join him, although the number was at that time small. 

Bishop Andrei (Moldovan) served as a delegate of the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Romania Romanian Orthodox Church] at the first [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pan-Orthodox_Council Pan-Orthodox Consultation in Rhodes] (1961).

==Repose, 1963==

On Thursday, 14 March, 1963, Bishop Andrei (Moldovan) reposed in the Lord in a Detroit, Michigan, hospital.  

On Tuesday, 19 March, 1963, the [http://www.archbishop-of-ottawa.org/content/burial-services-over-presbyter-or-over-bishop Funeral Services for the Burial of a Hierarch] were offered in Detroit.  The services were led by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarch_Iustin_of_Romania Metropolitan Justin (Moicescu)] of [https://www.britannica.com/place/Moldova Moldavia] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suceava Suceava] in Romania.  Many clergy and lay-people participated.  

After the funeral services, his body was interred in that city.




— Bishop of Detroit 1950-1963.  Preceded by : The see was created.  Succeeded by : [[Archbishop Victorin (Ursache)]].

— Bishop of the Romanian Archdiocese in America and Canada 1950-1963.  Preceded by : The diocese was created.    Succeeded by : [[Archbishop Victorin (Ursache)]].

==Reflections==

Bishop Andrei (Moldovan) was survived by his daughter who lived in Romania.  

After the repose and the funeral of Bishop Andrei (Moldovan), [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarch_Iustin_of_Romania Metropolitan Justin (Moicescu)] of Moldavia and Suceava (later, patriarch of Romania) visited various parishes of the Romanian Archdiocese.  These visits included the parishes in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/windsor-ont Windsor], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/ontario Ontario], and [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/regina Regina], [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/saskatchewan Saskatchewan].  

As was reported in “[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/78452727/the-windsor-star/ The Windsor Star]”, Saturday, 4 May, 1963, p. 3 :    
  Archbishop-Metropolitan Justin Moisescu, D.D., of Moldavia and Suceava, Romania, is visiting 
  [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/windsor-ont Windsor] as part of a familiarization tour of [https://www.britannica.com/place/North-America North America].  Archbishop Justin will be the 
  officiant and guest speaker at 45th anniversary celebrations of the St. George's Romanian 
  Orthodox Cathedral, this evening at 6 o'clock.  He will celebrate the Divine Liturgy on Sunday.  
  
  Archbishop Justin, on his first trip to North America, visited Detroit 19 March when he participated 
  in the funeral of Bishop Andrei Moldovan.  He is now touring Romanian Orthodox communities in both 
  [https://www.britannica.com/place/Canada Canada] and the [https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States United States] before returning to [https://www.britannica.com/place/Bucharest Bucharest] in June.  One of the objects of his visit 
  is the establishment of closer relations between the Mother Church in Romania and parishes on the 
  North American continent, he said.
In the same news item, Spiros de Bono wrote :
  'In Archbishop's View : Church Fusion Seen Unlikely'
  
  A complete fusion of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church Roman Catholic] and [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Orthodox_Church Orthodox churches], the dream of many a Christian idealist, 
  is almost impossible at present because of dogmatic differences existing between the two churches, 
  said His Eminence Justin Moisescu, Archbishop of Moldavia and Suceava, today.  Archbishop Justin is 
  now visiting Windsor and will be the guest speaker during the 45th anniversary celebrations at 
  St. George's Romanian Orthodox Cathedral which began today.  The prelate is the second-ranking 
  official of the Orthodox Church in Romania and a director of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Council_of_Churches World Council of Churches].  'It is 
  very unlikely that such a union would take place for a long time because of the dogmatic differences 
  now existing between the two churches', Archbishop Justin commented.  'But what might come out of the
  Ecumenical Council, and we all hope this will be so, is a better understanding and more co-operation 
  between the two churches. There is today a movement of rapprochement between the churches of different
  denominations and we hope this movement will expand and co-operation will increase, but churches are 
  not mature enough to embark upon an outright fusion'.  Archbishop Justin said the main reason the 
  Romanian Orthodox Church did not send observers to the Ecumenical Council in Rome in 1962 was because 
  it had received an invitation from [https://www.britannica.com/place/Vatican-City Vatican] authorities too late to do so.  He denied allegations that 
  the Romanian Orthodox Church was prevented from sending observers to the Council by [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Church_of_Russia Russian Church] 
  authorities which participated in its place.  'The Russians received their invitations much earlier than 
  we did and consequently were in position to make arrangements much earlier.  We were advised only a few 
  days before the council sessions began and we were unable to send observers in time.  We maintain friendly
  relations with the Russian Orthodox Church as we do with other churches, but there is no truth in the 
  allegations we are subservient to it', he declared.  
  
  Archbishop Justin said since Romania became a People's Republic following World War II, relations between 
  the Church and state have not undergone strains as in other countries. 'We keep our authority and the 
  state keeps its own.  We are operating in different fields and there is no friction between us', he explained. 
  'The state provides the Church with funds for the training of priests, and it maintains old churches and
  monasteries as historical monuments.  Two theological colleges and six seminaries are maintained by the
  government, but there is no state influence on the policies of the Church'.  He said one of the reasons 
  for this separation between Church and state is the absence of religious teaching in Romanian schools. 
  'The state controls education and since we of the Church do not participate in educational programs, there 
  is no point of misunderstanding between the two authorities.  Religious schools come entirely under the 
  Church and the state has no control over them'.  

The statements about the relationship between the communist government and the Church of Romania do not reflect clearly the state of affairs at that time.  It was, however, necessary that anyone who travelled abroad describe the situation in such terms in order not to bring down more trouble upon the Church and her Faithful.  

As was reported in “[https://www.newspapers.com/image/495749516/?terms=Rev%20Andrei%20Moldovan%20Detroit%201963&match=1 The Leader-Post]” in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/regina Regina], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysart,_Saskatchewan Saskatchewan], on Wednesday, 8 May, 1963, p. 3 : 
  'Metropolitan Justin, Romanian archbishop, to visit Regina church'
  
  For the first time in the history of the Romanian Orthodox Church in [https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/regina Regina], a high ranking prelate from
  Bucharest will visit the city.  Archbishop-Metropolitan Justin Moisescu of Moldavia and Suceava, Romania, 
  will spend Saturday and Sunday with the parishioners of St. George's Romanian Orthodox Church in Regina 
  along with congregations from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysart,_Saskatchewan Dysart], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kayville Kayville] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assiniboia,_Saskatchewan Assiniboia].  His Eminence is visiting as part of a
  familiarization tour of North America.  He came to America from Romania early in March to conduct funeral
  services for the Romanian Orthodox bishop of North America, Right Rev. Andrei Moldovan of Detroit.  
  Metropolitan Justin, who is second ranking prelate in the entire church next to [http://orthodoxcanada.ca/Patriarch_Justinian_(Marina) Patriarch Justinian] of
  Bucharest, will lead the [https://orthodoxwiki.org/Divine_Liturgy  Divine Liturgy] at St. George's Romanian Orthodox Cathedral Sunday, assisted by 
  Rev. Peter Avram, parish priest and several other Saskatchewan clergy.  The metropolitan is also a director 
  of the World Council of Churches.  

'''Later elevation of the Missionary Episcopate to the status of archdiocese, 1974'''

By a decision of the Holy Synod of the Church of Romania (no. 14079 of 12 December, 1974), the Holy Synod or the Church of Romania approved the elevation of the Missionary Episcopate to that of an archdiocese in recognition of the elevation of the ruling bishop ([[Archbishop Victorin (Ursache)]]) to the dignity of archbishop.  It also renewed the status of [https://www/orthodoxwiki.org/Autonomy autonomy] of the now Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada.

==References==

[http://books.google.ca/books?id=x8NWAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA84&lpg=PA84&dq=priest+nicolae+tanase&source=bl&ots=lLctkGX1j0&sig=YyDPTs7LuF3x-auceJqgrDXd5d8&hl=en&sa=X&ei=jrE-VMn6EoWYyQSexoJA&ved=0CD0Q6AEwBQ#v=onepage&q=priest%20nicolae%20tanase&f=false 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://orthodoxwiki.org/index.php?title=Andrew_(Moldovan)_of_Detroit&redirect=no Orthodoxwiki biography] 

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ro&u=https://www.crestinortodox.ro/dictionarul-teologilor-romani/andrei-moldovan-87317.html&prev=search&pto=aue Crestinortodox biography] 

[https://www.crestinortodox.ro/dictionarul-teologilor-romani/andrei-moldovan-87317.html Crestinortodox.ro biography] (in Romanian) 

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%25D0%2590%25D0%25BD%25D0%25B4%25D1%2580%25D0%25B5%25D0%25B9_(%25D0%259C%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BB%25D0%25B4%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BD)_(%25D0%25B5%25D0%25BF%25D0%25B8%25D1%2581%25D0%25BA%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BF_%25D0%2590%25D0%25BC%25D0%25B5%25D1%2580%25D0%25B8%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BD%25D1%2581%25D0%25BA%25D0%25B8%25D0%25B9)&prev=search&pto=aue Russian Wikipedia biography]  

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://dvagrada.ru/wiki/%25D0%2590%25D0%25BD%25D0%25B4%25D1%2580%25D0%25B5%25D0%25B9_(%25D0%259C%25D0%25BE%25D0%25BB%25D0%25B4%25D0%25BE%25D0%25B2%25D0%25B0%25D0%25BD)&prev=search&pto=aue Dva Grada biography]   

[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ru&u=https://drevo-info.ru/articles/13671800.html&prev=search&pto=aue Drevo Encyclopaedia biography]  


'''Additional information :'''

The obituary was printed in “The Akron Beacon Journal”, Akron, Ohio, Saturday, 16 March 1963, p. 20. 

A news item about the visit of Metropolitan Justin (Moicescu) was printed in “The Windsor Star”, Saturday, 4 May, 1963, p. 3.  

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

[https://www.roea.org/ Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (OCA) web-site]   

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Romanian_Orthodox_Episcopate_of_America_(OCA) Orthodoxwiki article about the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America]   

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_Republic_of_Romania Wikipedia article about the communist revolution in Romania, 1948] 

[http://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F2/205/107/133456/ American Legal process, 1952-1953, between Bishop Andrei (supported by the Romanian government) and the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America]

[https://orthodoxwiki.org/Romanian_Orthodox_Archdiocese_in_America_and_Canada Orthodoxwiki article about the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in America and Canada]  

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolae_B%C4%83lan Metropolitan Nicolae (Bălan)]  

[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarch_Iustin_of_Romania Metropolitan Justin (Moicescu)]  

[http://193.231.13.10:8991/F?func=find-b&request=000007046&find_code=SYS&local_base=BCU10&CON_LNG=ENG Archbishop John (Meţianu)]   

[[Archbishop Victorin (Ursache)]] 

[[Bishop Polycarp (Moruşca)]]  

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

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

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

[https://oca.org/history-archives/orthodox-christians-na/chapter-7 “History of The Orthodox Church in America – The Ethnic Churches” (mention of Bishop Andrei Moldovan in chapter 7)]  





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