The First Volume of the History of the Romanian Orthodox Monasticism Launched at the Romanian Academy
April 2014
The book entitled “History of the Romanian Orthodox Monasticism from beginning till present” was launched today, 4 April 2014, at the Romanian Academy, in the presence of His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The book is part of the trilogy entitled “ROMANIAN ORTHODOX MONASTICISM. History, contributions and repertoire”. His Eminence Irineu, Metropolitan of Oltenia, His Eminence Ciprian, Archbishop of Buzau and Vrancea, academicians and people of culture were also present.
The Romanian Academy marked the anniversary of 148 years of existence through its festive General Assembly. A work of reference was launched for the Romanian historiography in this frame in which the contribution of the Academy to the spiritual, cultural and material development of the Romanian people, as well as to the formation of the national identity, was emphasised: the first volume of the “Romanian Orthodox Monasticism”, entitled “History of the Romanian Orthodox Monasticism from the beginning till present. History, contributions and repertoire”. The first volume of this work which fills a bibliographic gap and meets, according to all the scientific requirements, the desire of those who want to know and research the history of the Romanian monasticism, comprises 36 specialised studies by 26 contemporary authors, theology professors, monks, historians and researches, representatives of the two institutions – “Lumina” newspaper informs.
The book was presented by His Eminence Archbishop Ciprian who spoke about the importance of the book entitled “ROMANIAN ORTHODOX MONASTICISM. History, contributions and repertoire” which provides complete information on the history of the Christian monasticism to any interested person.
Then, the Patriarch of Romania delivered a speech entitled Orthodox Monasteries – mirrors of the transfiguration of the man and universe in which he showed to those present the need to print this book: “In order to have better knowledge of the history of the Romanian Orthodox monasticism, deeper understanding of the spirituality and activity of the monastic life in our monasteries, but most of all to remember all the hierarchs, ruling princes, father confessors from monasteries, the monks and nuns who kept the flame of our ancient apostolic faith burning throughout the centuries, we proposed the Romanian Academy to join us, through its specialists, in this extensive initiative to publish the monographic trilogy dedicated to the Romanian Orthodox Monasticism. The publication of this first volume entitled History of the Romanian Orthodox Monasticism from beginning till present is the result of an exemplary involvement of the commission made up of church historians and historians within the Romanian Academy, who answered our initiative with great joy”.
His Beatitude offered the persons who worked for the publication of the book “History of the Romanian Orthodox Monasticism from beginning till present”, the Homage Diploma and commemorative medal of the “Brancovean Saints Martyrs”.
On the occasion of the Open Gates Day, at the anniversary of 148 years since the setting up of the Romanian Academy, academician Ionel Haiduc, president of the highest national forum of scientific and cultural consecration of the country presented a short history of the institution. Michael Metzeltin, member of the Austrian Academy of Science and honorary member of the Romanian Academy spoke about the function of the forum as institution of research and as scholarly society, conforming on this occasion the appreciation it enjoys at international level.
The leadership of the Romanian Academy awarded the Diploma of the “Academic Merit” to Mrs Dr Daniel Safta, medical director of the Elias Emergency University Hospital of Bucharest, and to Mrs Elena Popescu for her long fruitful activity at the Publishing House of the Romanian Academy. There followed the launching of the 5th volume of the series “Treasure of the Romanian Academy – Collections of Art”, coordinated by academician Ionel Haiduc and by academician Paun Ion Otiman, presented by academician Razvan Theodorescu, president of the Section of Arts, Architecture and Audio-visual. Academician Cristian Hera, vice-president of the Romanian Academy, offered a miniature of goddess Minerva, replica of the monument in the precincts of the Academy to president Ionel Haiduc, to vice-presidents Dan Berindei and Marius Sala, as well as to general secretary Paun Ion Otiman, at the end of the two mandates in the leadership of the institution.
The event from the Rotunda of the Romanian Academy continued in the Romanian Academy Library where the exhibition entitled “Constantin Brancoveanu – Documents of the collections of the Romanian Academy Library” was varnished, on which occasion an album of historical documents of the same name was launched too. The exhibition was varnished in the presence of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, of His Eminence Irineu, Metropolitan of Oltenia, of His Eminence Ciprian, Archbishop of Buzau and Vrancea, and of the members of the Romanian Academy, and it can be visited till 12 April, from 10.00 – 18.00 hours.
“We are very glad to have this book and we think that Saint Constantine Brancoveanu is the one who gathered us together at this great feast and festivity. At the same time, the Romanian Academy shows its full meaning in the life of our people, because this great prince and saint of ours, a person with a distinguished Christian culture and devotion, who gave his life for our Orthodox faith and for the Romanian people is celebrated both by the Church and by the Romanian Academy and everywhere else”, His Eminence Irineu said.
The album entitled “Constantin Brancoveanu – Documents of the collections of the Romanian Academy Library” is the result of the collaboration between the Romanian Academy Library and the Metropolitanate of Oltenia.
