TheUniatisminTransylvania

byRevd.Prof.MirceaPacurariu

ISDN9739130005

RomanianOrthodoxChuchBibleandMissionPublishingHouse,
Bucharest,1991

Contents
Introductionpag.2
ThesituationsoftheChristianChurchtilltheSchismof1054pag.3
ThequestionofecclesiasticaljurisdictionovertheterritorieslyingnorthoftheDanubepag.4
HowdidUniatismappearpag.8

AntecedentsofUniatisminTransylvaniapag.9
HowwastheUnionactuallyeffectedinTransylvaniapag.11
TheUniateChurchintheXVIIIthcenturypag.17
ThefightforthedefenceofOrthodoxypag.19
BrotherlycooperationandvariousattempttowardsrestoringChurchunitypag.23
ThereturntotheMotherChurchin1948pag.28
TheGreek(Eastern)riteRomanianCatholicChurchaftertheDecember1989Revolutionpag.30
Futureprospectspag.36
Enclosurepag.39
PagesfromtheHistory
oftheRomanianChurch
(UniatisminTransylvania)
Thereasonwhywedecidedtopublishthesefewpagesliesinthedesiretorestore
historictruthandtoenlightenourfaithful,asagainstsomanyarticlesprintedoflatein
ourpress,concerningtheGreekCatholicUniateRomanianChurch,or,asitisnow
called,"TheEasternRiteRomanianCatholicChurch",whereinthelatter'sroleis
obviouslydistorted,beingpresentedinabiasedandpartialmanner,muchtothe
prejudiceoftheRomanianOrthodoxChurch,whosepartplayedinournation'slifeis
considerablyminimized,ifnotdownrightdenied.

TranslatedbyCristianMunteanu
Bucharest,March1991
ThesituationsoftheChristianChurchtill
theSchismof1054
ItisawellknownfactthatuntiltheIXthcentury,theChristianChurchwasrightfully
consideredoneandundivided,suchasshehadbeenestablishedbyourSaviourJesus
ChristandsubsequentlyincreasedbytheHolyApostles,theHolyFathersandthe
EcumenicalCouncils.BothEasternandWeasternBishopsactivelyattendenttheseven
EcumenicalCouncils,withoutanyofthemeverclaimingprimacy,whiletheWestalways
agreedtoalltheirdecisions.
Nevertheless,the"Schism"or"Division"whichoccurredin1054wasengenderedby
multiplecauses,amongwhichthepoliticaloneswereofdecisiveimportance,andwhich
hadbeenbrewingforcenturies.Themajorpoliticalterritorialchangecausedbythe
declinoftheRomanEmpire,stillunitedbytheendoftheIVthcenturyalsooccasioned
alterationsinthelifeoftheChurch,bringingaboutdisputesandmutualaccusations,
whichgraduallyledtothelatter'sbreakingupaltogether.Thefirstnotable
administrativeterritorialchangeswithintheEmpireoccuredbytheendoftheIIIrd
century,whenEmperorDiocletian(284305A.D.)setupthesocalled"Tetrarchy",thus
dividingtheEmpireintofourpreectures:TheEastandllyricum,makinguptheEastern
Empire,plusItalyandGallia,makinguptheWesternEmpire,eachofthelattertwo
beingrulesbyoneAugustandoneCezar.However,theEmpirewasstilldeemedone.
Thissystemfailedtoproveitsworth,sothatEmperorConstantintheGreat(306337)
suppresseditandrestoredtheformerunityoftheRomanState,ruledbyasingle
Emperor(theAugust).
ItwastheverysameEmperor,however,whoin330movedthecapitalfromRometo
newlyfoundedConstantinopole,whichthusgrewintothe"NewRome"orthe"Second
Rome".In395,uponthedeathofEmperorTheodosiustheGreat,theEmpiredefinitely
splitupintotheWesternandEasternsections.Romewastherebyleftisolatedand
neglected,atthemercyofmigratorypeoples.ItwasthereforeconqueredbytheHerulsin
476,sothatitsroleasa"greatpower"intheanciantworldwasabruptlyterminated.
Concurrently,theEasternRomanEmpire,or,asfromtheVIIthcentury,theByzantine
Empire,wasconsideredasthesolelegitimatefolloweroftheoldallembrancingRoman
Empire,whichcouldn'tbutaugmenttheWesterners'bitterresentmentsasagainstthe
Easterners.UnderEmperorJustinian(527565),anattempttorestoretheoldimperial
unitywasmade,yetitdidnotlastlong.In568theLombardsoverranmuchofItaly,
wheretheyfoundedapowerfulkingdom.Thuspressed,theBishopsofRometurned
towardstheFrancsandaskedfortheirhelp.UpontherequestofPopaStephanII,Pepin
theBrief,KingofFrancs,crossedtheAlpsintoItalywithhiswholearmyandconquered
mostoftheLombardsskingdom,includingtheformerByzantineExarchateofRavenna,
recentlyincorporatedintotheLombardstate.AllthelandstakenoverbytheFrancsin
ItalywereprofferedbyPepintoPopeStephanII,in754,undertheapellationof
"PatrimoniumSanctiPetri".Suchitwasthatasecularpapalstatewascreated,called
"RepublicaRomanorum",whichlastedtill1870,whenthemodernItalianstatecameinto
being(thePapalStatewasreestablishedin1929,itsterritorybeingreducedtothe
VaticanPalacegrounds).ItwasonlynaturalthatEastWesttensionsshouldincrease
aftertheinceptionofthePapalState.TheyfurtherworsenedwhenEmperorLeonIII
Isaurian(717740)decidedin731toputtheEasternIllyricumprovinces,togetherwith
SouthernItaly(Calabria),Sicily)andCrete,underthedirectjurisdictionofthe
PatriarchateinConstantinopole,whereastheyhadpreviouslybeenplacedunderpapal
jurisdiction,therebyalsoseizing,atastroke,alldomainsandrevenuesyieldedbythese
richprovinces.AnewpoliticaltensionwasoccasionedonChristmasNight800,when
PopeLeonIIIcrownedCharlemagne,KingoftheFrancs(768814)as"Roman
WeasternEmperor".TheprestigeoftheByzantineEmpirewasoncemoresorelycurbed
thereby.
Ontheotherhand,oneshouldbynomeansignorethefactthatasfromtheVIIth
century,theEasternRomanEmpirestartedhellenizingitself,sotospeak,byexclusively
usingGreeknotjustinadministration,(asagainstLatin,hithertoemployed),butalsoin
culture,nottomentiontheChurch,whohaduseditfromtheverybeginning.Onthe
contrary,intheWest,Latinbecametheonlyofficiallanguage,evenforsuchpeoplesas
hadneverbeenpartoftheRomanEmpire.Twodistinctworldsthustookshape,theWest
andtheEast,namelyLatinsandGreeks,inheritinganddevelopingdiferentculturesand
civilizations,differentmentalities,traditionsandlanguages.

Concurrently,alsoasfromtheVIIthcentury,variousdogmatical,canonicaland
liturgicalinnovationswereintroducedintotheWesternChurch.Amongthese
innovationsmustbeunderlinedspeciallythesocalled"fourpoints"andtheseare:the
papalprimacy,thefilioqueadditiontotheNiceanConstantinopolitancreedsymbol,the
purgatoryinnovationandtheazyma,orunleavenedbreadusedwhileofficiatingtheHoly
Eucharist,innovationswhiichwerenotknownbytheApostolicChurchofthefirst
centuries.

Allthesepolitical,ethinicalandtheWesternChurchandespeciallyalltheseinnovations
addedbytheWesternChurchindogmaticandliturgicalfieldswerethemaincauses
fosteringtheEastWestconflictualsituation,whichfinsllyledtothe1054"Schism".

Actually,onJuly16th1054,butaninsignificantactwasperpetrated,yetwhose
consequenceswouldseriouslyaffectChrist'sChurch:RomanCardinalHumbertplaced
onthealtaroftheSaintSophia'sCathedralinConstantinopol,aBullanathematizingthe
EasternChurch.TheEcumenicalPatriarchateonlylearntofitscontentsafewdayslater,
wereuponitrepliedbyacounterexcommunicationwhichexcommunicatedinitsturnall
thosewhohaddrawnuptheBullandwhowouldacknowledgeit.

ThePatriarchalActwasendorsedbyalltheotherEasternPatriarchs(ofAlexandria,
AntiochiaandJerusalem)sothatthe"Schism"wascompleted.TheEasternChurchwill
henceforwardbecalled"Orthodox"("trulybelieving"inGreek,from"orthodoxy"or
"truefaith"),whichtermhadbeenusedasearlyastheIIrdcenturytodistinguisththe
trueChurchfromtheheretics,whereastheWesternChurchwillbecalled"catholic"(that
is"universal")or"roman",beingcentredinRome.SincethecentreoftheEasternChurch
wasinConstantinopol,withintheGreekorByzantineEmpire,shewasnamed,by
westerntheologians,the"GreekChurch",althoughOrthodoxyalsoencompassesother
socalled"national"Churches,suchastheGeorgianone(IVthcentury),theRomanian
one(orDacianone)andtheSlavicones,namelytheBulgarianone(IXthcentury),the
Russianone(IXthcentury)andtheSerbianone(Xthcentury).

Thequestionofecclesiasticaljurisdiction
overtheterritorieslyingnorthofthe
Danube
ManyCatholictheologianshaveclaimedintheirworwsthatalltheDacianRoman
Churchcommunities(thereafterRomanian)actuallybelongedtoRome.Thetruth
howeverisaltogetherdifferent.
WehavealreadymentionedEmperorDocletian'spoliticaladministrativereform,then
thefinalsplittingupin395,oftheRomanEmpireintoitsWesternandEasternhalves.
SuchchangeshaveobviouslyinfluencedchurchstructuresthroughouttheDanubian
provinces.ThroughadecreeenactedbyEmperorTheodosiusIIin421,allchurches
withinthepaleoftheIllyricumprefecture(thenpartoftheEaternEmpire)were
subjectedtotheArchbishopofConstantinople.ThroughtheTheodosianCodex,dated
438,IllyricumwasagainplacedunderConstantinopolitanjurisdiction.Theearly
RomanianChurchwasthereforeneversubjectedtoRome,themoresoasduring
Christianity'sfirstthreecenturieseachlocalChurchhadherownbishop,thereby
enjoyingunbounded"autocephaly"andbeinganswerabletonootherauthority
whatsoever.
ItgoeswithoutsayingthatChristiancommunitiesnorthoftheDanubeusedthenative
idiomasecclesiasticallanguage,namelyvulgarLatin,thenoldRomanian.

AsfromtheVIIthcentury,largegroupsofSlavsbegansettlingonourterritory,being
promptlyassimilatedandwhollychristianizedasaresultoftheircloseandunbroken
contactswiththenativeDacianRomanpopulation.Accordingtotheassertionofsuch
prominenthistoriansasP.P.Panaitescu,C.C.Giurescuandothers,Slavonicwas
introducedintoNorthDanubianRomanianchurchesasfromtheXthcentury.Thisisio
beaccountedforbythefactthatcompactgroupsofSlavswerestillsurvivingatthat
time,whoseleadensspokeadifferentlanguagewhichtheywishedtouseinchurch,as
againstautochtonousarchaicRomanian,whichtheyignored.Ontheotherhand,one
shouldnotforgetthefactthatallthroughtheVIIth/Xthcenturies,Romanianswere
entirelysurroundledbySlavs(evenPannonia,today'sHungary,wasthenpartofGreater
Moravia,aprosperousandpowerfulSlavicstate),resemblingaLatinislandlyinginthe
midstofaSlavicsea,withallbondswitheitherConstantinopleorRometemporarily
snapped.ThatiswhySlavonicwasgraduallyadoptedbythelocalChurchandhigher
nobility,tobelaterintroducedintheofficialcourtadministrationofbothWallachiaand
Moldavia.Byformallyintroducingthesocalled"SlavicByzantinerite"intotheir
Church,RomanianscontinuedtosharetheircommunionwiththeEasternChurch,
therebyremainingtothisdaytheonlyLatinOrthodoxpeople,i.e.connectedtoRome
throughlanguageandorigin,andtoConstantinoplethroughfaith.Thiscuriousfactwas
underlinedbyProf.D.Staniloaewhowrote:"Suchblendingorsynthesisbetween
LatinityandOrthodoxy,amiracleinitselfdisplayinguniqueoriginality,enabledthe
RomaniannationtomaintainbothitslatinityasagainsttheencirclingSlavicworld,and
itsorthodoxyasagainsttheCatholicworldlyingclosetoitswesternboundaries":(apud
D.Staniloae,"Orthodoxy'sroleintheformationandmaintenanceofRomania'snational
characterandunity"in"Orthodoxia",XXX,1979,page529).

Theyear1054marks,aswehaveseen,adestructionoftheunityoftheChurehofChrst.
Duringthefollowingcenturies,theEmperorsofByzantiummadeseveralattemptsto
restoreunity,evenbyacknowledgingpapalprimacy,towhichcompromisetheywere
forcedbytheattacksofSeldgiuk'sTurkswho,bymidXIthcenturyhavingvanquished
theArabs,becameaconstantthreattoByzantium.Farfromreachinganagreement,
however,othereventsfollowedthatonlyservedtofurtherfesterthewound.Suchwere
theCrusades,initlatedbythePopes,whichbroughtaboutnewtensionsbetweentheEast
andtheWestasaresultoftheCrusaders'invasionofmanyByzantineformer
possessions,includingGreece,wherevariouskingdomsand"Latin"dukedomsorfiefs
weresetup(themaininJerusalemitself).In1204,duringthe4thCrusade,whilethe
PapalSeewasoccupiedbyInnocentIII(11981216),theFrenchknightsconquered
Constantinopleitself,theCapital.ThestormingofByzantiumprovedtobeoneofthe
soresteventsthateveroccurredintheMiddleAges.Anew,socalled"Latin"empirewas
foundedhereundertheleadershipofBaldwinofFlandersandofhissuccessors.Instead
oftheEcumenicalPatriarchate,aLatinPatriarchatewassetup,headedbytheItalian
ThomasMorosini.Theentireimperialtreasurywaspillaged,togetherwithnumerous
manuscriptsandsaints'relics,(whicheventuallyreachedWesternChurches),Libraries
andMuseums.ThroughoutthebriefspanoftheexistenceoftheLatinEmpirein
Constantinople,theGreekclergywassystematicallyoppressedbytheLatinone.
OrthodoxbishopswereoftenremovedfromtheirseesandreplacedbyLatinbishops,
whothereafterbroughttobearmanypressuresuponOrthodoxbelievers.

Throughoutthisperiod,ByzatineEmperorsandEcumenicalPatriarchssoughtrefugein
Nicea,closebytheAsiaticshoreoftheMarmaraSea,wheretheyestablishedatiny
independentByzantinestate,ratherimproperlycalledtheNiceanEmpire,underthe
LascarisDynasty.Itwasonlyin1261thatEmperorMichaelIIIPaleologuesucceeded
tofreeConstantinople,therebyrestoringtheByzantineEmpire,nowconfinedmerelyto
theCapitalanditssurroundings.DuetotheevergrowingmenaceoftheOttomanTurks,
thesameEmperorwascompelledtostartadialoguewiththePope.AUnionCouncilmet
in1274inLyon(France),withoutanyresultsatall.DuringthefirsthalfoftheXVth
century,newattemptsatdialogueweremadebyEmperorJohnVIIIPaleologue.A
preparatorycouncilwasconvenedin1438atFerrara(Italy),adjournedtoFlorence,in
1439.AfterendlesstalksandundertheEmperor'sownpressure,33Orthodoxdelegates
endorsedonJuly6th1439,theActofUnion,therebycommittingthemselvesto
acknowledge4itemsoutoftheCatholiccreed,namely:Papalprimacy,theHolySpirit's,
proceedingbathfromtheFatherandfromSon(Filioque),thePurgatoryandthe
unleavenedbreadeucharist.

TheFlorenceUnionwashoweveranemptyact.ItwasformallyrejectedbytheRussian
OrthodoxChurchin1441.ThethreeremainingEasternPatriarchs,(thoseinAlexandria,
AntiochiaandJerusalem)metinaCouncilinJerusalem,in1443neveradheredtothe
falseUnionofFlorence,whichtheytermeduncanonical,sinceeffectedinunholy,tragic,
circumstances,andbeingobviouslycontrarytothefeelingsofthelargestpartofthe
Orthodoxclergyandfaithful.AnAntiunionistSynodwasconvenedin1450in
Constantinople.AfewyearslateroccurredConstantinople'sdownfall:anMay29th
1453,SultanMohamedII'shostsenteredtheCapital.ThisConquesthaddisastrousand
farreachingconsequences,feltthroughouttheOrthodoxEast.PartoftheOrthodox
ChurchesandStatesintheBalkansandinthenearEastsharedthesamefate,afterwards
knowingtheburdensomeandlongstandingTurkishyoke(suchwerethePatriarchatesin
Constantinople,Alexandria,AntiochiaandJerusalem,ortheNationalChurchesof
Greece,Serbia,Bulgaria,Albania,Cyprus).Underunfavourablecircumstances,onecan
handlyofanycontactsbetweenthetwoChurchesanylonger.

HowdidUniatismappear?
AsaresultoftheReformoftheVIthcenturytheRomanoCatholicChurchlostmillions
faithful,whowheredeithertoLutheranismandCalvinismortoAnglicanism.Insucha
predicament,theChurchofRomeattemptedtoregainlostgroundbyconverting,various
peoplesandChurchesinEasternEuropeandintheNearEast,whowerejustthenina
sorenational,politicalandeconomicplight.Asameanstowardsachievingsuch
objectivemainlythroughschoolingtheWesternChurchusedtheorderoftheJesuit
monks.YettheJesuitsalsostrovetoachievemassconversiontoRomanCatholicismof
theOrthodoxnationslyingatthebordersofCatholicStates.Tobeginwith,farfrom
imposingoutrightconversiontothewholepeople,acompromisewassought,i.e.the
partialacceptancebytheOrthodoxofCatholicdogmas,whichhoweverwentalongwith
theirentirelyretainingtheGreek(Byzantine)riteorcult(ritual).Thedogmaswerethe4
pointsalreadywordledoutattheUnionCouncilorSynodheldinFlorencein1439:
Eventuallythese4"Florentine"pointswerereducedtoone:Papalprimacy:Thussprung
upthis"Uniatism"hybridorthe"GreekCatholic"("Uniate")Churches.

Thefirstsuch"Union"wasachievedatBrest(intoday'sSovietByelorussia)in1596,
whenpartoftheUkrainianclergy,nobilityandfaithfuloftheCatholicKingdomof
Poland,accerptedtheUnionwiththeChurchofRome.Thisactwasfollowedbymany
troublesamongsttheUkrainians,resultinginthemartyrdomofmanyhierarchs,priests
andfaithful,inchurchseizuresandmanyothersuchlikeabuses.Yieldingtosimilar
pressuresonbehalfoftheJesuitsandofCatholicnobility,partoftheRutheniansinCis
KarpathicUkrainewerealsoforcefully"united"toRomeatMuncacs(intoday'sSoviet
Ukraine).SporadicattemptsatunitingwithRomeOrthodoxbelieversinSerbia,Bosnia,
Herzegovina,Syria,Palestine,althoughmostlydoomedtofailure,yetunfailinglyledto
troubles,divisions,intestinedissentionsandsometimes,evento,partial
denationalization.Although,asafirststep,manyofthenewlyunitedbelieverswere
assuredthatByzantineliturgywillbekeptunchanged,however,induecourse,gradual
catholicizationwasalsoattempted,withthefinalaimoftotallyassimilatingtheOrthodox
and"OldOrthodox"believerstoCatholicism.
AntecedentsofUniatisminTransylvania
Aquitesimilarpoliticalconjecturewasformed,bythebackgroundoftheevetswhichled
totheUnionofpartoftheTransylvanianclergyandfaithfulwiththeChurchofRome.
Beforeweproceedhoweverwedeemitfittoprovidetherearderswithseveral
explanationsbearingonthehistoryoftheTransylvanianRomamianChurchuptotheend
oftheXVIIthcentury.

TheChristianlorepenebratedbeyondtheCarpathiansimnediatelyaftertheRoman
conquestofDacia.Clearproofoftheaboveareseveralarchaeologicalitemsdatingfrom
theIIIrd/Xthcenturies,besidesliteraryhistaricalwitnessingsrevealingtheexistenceof
varioushierarchs,bishops,priestsandmonks,aswellasofmanyworshippiaces,
throughouttheCarpathianDanubianPonticarea.However,afterTransylvaniawas
overrunbytheMagyarCatholicKingdom,deepethnical,socialandreligiousmutations
didoccur.BesidesnativeRomanians,whoalwaysformedthemajority,many
Hungarians,thenSaxonsandSecklers,settledafterwardsinthe1andstheystillinhabit.
In1437wasestablishedthe"ThreeNations'Union"betweentheHungarian,Saxonand
Seckdernobility,therebygraduallybanningnativeRomaniansfromTransylvania's
constitutionallife.Aparticularlyintensiveprozelityzingpolicywasalsoundertakenby
thePopes,theHungarianKingsorbyvariousCatholicmissionariesandincquisitors.Part
oftheRomanianprinceswerewontotheRomanCatholicChurch,beingthereby
graduallymagyarized.

Thereareneverthelessinnumerablearchaeological,documentaryandliteraryproofs
attestingtheOrthodoxRomanians'churchlife.Thusforinstance,inHategand
Hunedoara,tensofstoneandbrickchurchesandmonasterieswereerectedduringthe
XIIIthandXIVthcenturies,mostofwhicharefunctioningtothisday.Wealsohave
evidenceofmanyRomanianprotopopesandpriestsfromtheXIVth/XVthcenturies,
whosenameshavebeendulyrecorded.Thuswehavesureproofoftheexistenceofsuch
OrthodoxHierarchsasArchbishopGelasiusofRmet,in1377,JohnofHunedoarain
1456,orofacertainIoanichiein1479.AsfromtheendoftheXVthcentnry,tillmid
XVIthcentury;theseeoftheRomanianOrthodoxMetropolitanateofTransylvaniawas
movedtoFeleac,nearCluj,wherefourhierarehsservedinsuccession.

Asfrom1541,theTransylvanianPrincipalitywasconvertedintoanautonomous
provinceunderOttomansovereignty,rudedeitherbyMagyarprincesorbyMagyarized
Romanians.Concurrentlywithsuchpoliticalmutations,considerablechangesalso
occurredinthelifeoftheChurch.Threenewconfessionsappearedandwereofficially
recognizedbytheTransylvanianDiet,besidesCatholicism:theLutheranone(in1550)
adheredtobySaxans,theCalvinisticorReformedone(in1564)andtheUnitarianone
(1568)bothembracedbyHungariansandSecklers.TheMagyarRomanCatholic
BishopricsinAlbaIuliaandOradeaweresuppressed,togetherwiththeirmanasteries.
TheyalsohadtheirpropertyseizedsothattheRomanCatholicChurchwasleftwitha
singularlysmallnumberoffaithful.Therefore,henceforwardtherewillbenolessthan
threenations(Magyars,SaxonsandSecklers)andfourconfessiansinTransylvania,all
officiallyrecognized:Catholicism,Lutheranism,CalvinismandUnitarianism.The
Romaniansalonewereleftaside,withtheirOrthodoxfaith,intheirformerstatus:
"tolerated"andwhollydeprivedofrightsintheirowncountry.During,thisnewera,the
CatholicprincesinAlbaIuliasponsoredanactiveprozelityzingpolicyamong
Romanians,towardsalluringthemtoCalvinism,therebyimplicitlyalsoMagyarizing
them.Notwithstandingtheirefforts,Calvinisticprapagandawaslargelyunsuccessfull.A
cousiderablecontributiontheretowasachievedbyTransylvanianMetropolitans,who
fixedtheirseetemporarilyatGeoagiu(Albadistrict),then,after1572,inAlbaIulia.
Noteworthywereamongthem,GhenadieI,JohnofPrislop,GhenadieII;ElijahIorest,
SimionStephenandSavaBrancovici.Theyallmaintainedclosetieswiththeirbrethren
inWallachiaandMoldovia,therebycontributingtostrenghteningtheRomanians'
ethnical,culturalandecclesiasticalunitaryconscience.

TheprincesofWallachiaandMoldaviabuiltagreatnumberofchurchesandmonasteries
inTrannsylvaniaandsentthereprinters,copyistsofmanuscriptsandchurchpainters.
EventhebooksprintedinthetwoPrincipalitieswereequallydistributedinTransylvania.

AftertheOttomans'routbeforethewallsofViennain1683,theAustrianEmpire,ruled
bytheHabsburgs,tookupthegradualconquestofpartsofCentralEurope,sofarplaced
underTurkishdominion,amongwhichinduecourse,Transylvania,whoseDietwas
compelled,onMay9th1688,toaccepttheAustrian'Protectoiate'.ThustheTurks'
"woodenyoke"wasexchangedfortheAustrians'"ironone",accordingtoMagyar
contemporarychroniclers.OnDetember4th1691,EmperorLeopoldI(16581705)
endorsedandissuedthesocalled"LeopoldineDiploma"whose18,pointsservedas
Transylvania'srealConstitutionupto1867.ThePrincipalitywastoberuledbya
Governor,electedbytheDietandconfirmedbytheEmperor,assistedbyaGovernment
madeupofa12memberCouncil.TheDiplomaalsoacknowledgedtheformerprivileges
ofthe"three,politicalnations"(i.e.theirrighttoformthepublicadministration),aswell
astherightsofthe"fourhithertoadmittedreligions".Nomentionatallwasmadeofthe
Romaniansstilldeemedtolerated,togetherwiththeirOrthodoxfaith.Throughthe
KarlowitzPeaceTreatyofJanuary25th1699,theOttomanEmpireacknowledgedthe
Habsburgs'possessionofTransylvania.TheBanatsoonshareditsfatein1718.
HowwastheUnionactuallyeffectedin
Transylvania?
ImmediatelyaftertheHabsburgs'occupationofTransylvania,theAustrianstook
energeticstepstowardsconsolidatingtheirrule.Aprominentpartinthisrespectwas
entrustedtotheRomanCatholicChurch.Fornearlyoneandahalfcenturies,the
Calvinistshadenjoyedaprivilegedpoliticalstatus,whereasCatholicshadbeen
thoroughlymarginalized.OncetheCatholicHabsburgscameintopower,however,the
balanceofpowerwasoverthrown.ActssuchasreestablishingtheoldRomanCatholic
DiocesesofOradea(in1692)andAlbaIulia(1715),givingback,arbitrarilyseized
churchesandlandestates,grantingnewdonations,recallingandreinstatingtheJesuits;
followedinquicksuccession.Yettheiraimtoregainlosteconomic,politicaland
religiousgroundcouldonlybewhollyachievedbytheincreaseinnumberofCatholic
faithful.AndsincetherelapsetoCatholicismoftheCalvinists,LutheransandUnitarians
wasvirtuallyimpossible,theJesuitmissionariesandenvoysturnedtheirattentionto
OrthodoxRomanians,morenumerousthanalltheother"recognized"nationsor
confessianstakentogether.ByattractingOrthodoxRomanianstotheUnionwithRome,
twogoalsweresimultaneoslyreached:thenumericalgrowthoftheCatholics,withthe
implicitgrowthoftheCatholicState'spoliticalimportance(bythelargernumberof
CatholicrepresentativesintheTransylvanianDietwhosememberswereelected
accordingtoeachconfession'snumberoffaithful)ontheonehand,andtheseveringof
whateverbondsthatTransylvanianRomaniansheldwiththeirMoldovianand
Wallachiankindred.

JesuithistoriansclaimedthattheRomaniansUnionwithRomewasdecidedduringa
SynodconvenedbyMetropolitanTeofilinAlbaIulia,inFebruary1697,whenthefour
"florentinepoints"hadallegedlybeenacknowledged,namely:papalprimacy,theuseof
unleavenedbreadintheeucharist,filioqueandthepurgatory.Subsequentresearehes
howeverprovedthatnoUnionSynodwaseverheldandthatthedocumetssubmittedfor
thepurposewereforged(theMetropolitan'sverysignaturewasprovedbygraphological
examinationstobeamereawkwardimitationthereof).Theirfalsityisalsologically
demonstratedbytheattemptsatUnionin1698and1701,tobedealtwithherebelow,
whichwouldhavebeenunnecessary,hadtheUnionbeenalreadycompletedas1697.

UponthedeathofMetropolitanTeofil,whichoccurredinthesummerof1697,young
hieromonkAthanasie(cristenedAnghel)fromtheAlbaIuliaMonastery,waselectedin
hisstead.Inaccordanncewithanoldcustom,heleftforBucharestforconsecrationatthe
handsofMetropolitanTeodosieofUngroWallachia,whichceremonywasonly
officiatedonJanuary22nd1698.Onthisoccasionhewassummonedtoendorsean
"Orthodoxprofessionoffaith"of22pointsdrawnup,(withPrinceConstantin
Brncoveanu'sknowledge),byMetropolitanTeodosieandbyPatriarchDositeiof
Jerusalem(thenonavisittoBucharest),requiringhimtoabidebyalltheOrthodox
dogmas,whetherdogmatic,canonicalorliturgical;andespeciallybythasecontestedby
CalvinistsandCatholics.

ItwaspreciselyduringthisvacancyperiodthatMagyarJesutsstartedalluring.Orthodox
RonianianstotheUnionwiththeChurchofRome.Theyendeavouredtoavail
themselvesoftheclergy'sandthefailhful'sdiscontentwiththeCalvinistis,whofornealy
acenturyandahalfhadbeenactively,yetvainlyprozelityzingamongthem,aswellasof
thesorematerialplightofRomanianpriests,leftprey,togetherwiththeirflocktoa
thereefoldoppression:national,socialandreligius.Asearlyas1697,theAlbaIulia
JesuitPaulLadislauBaranysubmittedtotheImperialCourtinViennaamemoiron
behalfofthe"TransylvanianCatholicState"i.e.oftheCatholicmembersintheDiet,
concerningtheRomanians'projectedUnionwithRome.Despitethepressuresbroughtto
bearbyCatholics,EmperorLeopoldIonlyissuedanActonApril14th1698stipulating
thatRomanianswerefreetoadheretoanyofthefaur"acknowledged"confessions,orto
abidebytheirownOrthodoxfaith.Itwashoweverexpresslyprovidedthatallprieststhat
wouldaccepttheUnionwithanyoneofthe'officiallyrecognized'confessionswould
enjoyalltherightsorprivilegesgrantedtotheclergyoftherespectiveconfession.Itwas
furtheremphasizedthatallthoseunitingwiththeChurchofRome"wouldenjoythefull
privilegesofCatholicpriests".Thereforeonlyacknowledgementofpapalsupremacywas
exactedfromRomanianpriests,whothereuponwouldbeexemptedbathserfdom,and
fromthenumeroustaxestheyhadtopaytothestate(especiallyinwartime)andtolocal
landowners(theNemesh).

SuchanActwasobviouslyfarfromsatisfyingCatholiccircles.Thatiswhy,onJune2nd
1698,CardinalLeopoldKollonich,ArchbishopofEsztergom,inHungary,despatcheda
"manifesto"toallRomanzianpriestsinTransylvania,stipulatingthattheprivileges
emjoyedbytheCatholicChurchandherpriestswouldbeextendedonlytosuchaswould
formallyespousethewholeCatholicdoctrine,andaboveal1,thefourflorentinepoints.
Onthisbasis,JesuitsresumedtheirpressuretowardsalluringevermoreRomaniansto
theUnionwiththeRomanChurch.TheonlyactthatallegedlyexpressedtheRomanian
clergy'swilltothisextentisthesocalled"UnionManifesto"or"BookofFaith",bearing
thedateofOctober7th1698andendorsedby38protopopes.

Howdidthe"UnionManifesto"look?Ithadthreesheets,thefirsttwobeingformedout
ofabigsheetfoldedintotwo,towhichhadbeenstuckanotherhalfsheet.Thefirstpage
comprisedthetextproper,throughwhich"thebishop,protopopesand,priestsof
Romanianchurches"vaguelydecleto"willinglyunitewiththeRomanCatholic
Church,therebywitnessingtobecomeHermembers"yetalsostressingthefactthatwe
therebyintendtofullyenjoyalltheprivilegesgrantedtothepriestsandcommunities
belongingtothis:HolyChurch.Apostscriptumwaslateradded,consistingof13lines
writteninasmallerhand,sothatitshouldentirelyholdonthesamepage,andlaying
certainprerequisiteconditionsfortheUnionwithRome.Thusthecontemporariesand
theirsuccessorswereengaged"tochangenothingfromthecustomsofourEastern
Church,sothatwemaybefreetoholdallceremonies,holidaysandfastsasweusedto
heretofore,accordimgtotheoldcalendar,andfurthermoresothatourbeloved
ArchbishopAthanasieshouldbeunconditionallykeptonhisthronetillhisdeath":Itwas
furtherdemandedthatAthanasie'ssuccessorbeelectedbytheprotopopes'assembly,
accordingtotheoldtradition,andconsecratedbytheSerbianPatriarchinKarlowitz.
Acknowledgementoftheprotopopes'rightswasalsorequested,withthefinalstipulation
thatshouldalltheabovementionedassertionsmadetobefulfilled,"oursealsand,
signatureshereshouldtherebyautomaticallybecomenullandvoid".

ThesecondpagecantainedaDeclarationofUnioninLatin,entirelydifferentfromthe
oneonthefrontpage.WhereasintheRomaniantext,theprotopopesvaguelyassumed
theUnion,theLatintextclaimedthattheyembracedtheUnionthrough"divinegrace",
"acknowledging,witnessingandbelievingwhatevertheHolyRomanCatholicChtuch
Herselfacknowledlges,witnessesandbelieves,includingthefourpointsinwhichwe
weresofaratvariance".Thisthereforecannotbebutanobviousforgery.

Pages3,4and5,heldthesignaturesof38protopopeswith37sealsattachedthereto(two
ofthemhavingusedthesameseal).Inbetweenweretranseribedtheirnamesandseesin
Latin,sothatitappearedthattheyhadalsosubscribedtotheLatintextonthesecond
page,althoughtheyplainlyignoredthatlanguagealtogether.Afterthesignatures,onthe
fifthpage,a"Codicile"wasinserted(graphologicallyattributedtoAthanasiehimself),
specifyingagainthat"weonlyacceptthisUnionbykeepingourcustoms,infullforce,
togetherwithouroldLiturgyandfastsandcalendar,failingwhich,neitherthesesealsnor
theseoursignaturescannotbeatallheldbindinguponusanduponourChureh".This
wasobviouslyasummaryofthepostscriptumonthefrontpage.

Bycarefullyexaminingthe"UnionManifesto",wecaninferthatitwasdrawnupasa
resultofmaterialinterests,deriving,tobemoreexact,fromtheprotopes'desireto
partakefromthepriviIegesenjoyedbytheCatholicclergy,andnotproceedigfrom
troubledconsciencesorfromanydiscontentwitholdtimefaith.Quitetothecontrary,
thepostscriptumonthefrontpage,fullycorroborated,bytheCodicileonthelastpage,
flatlydemandedthefullmaintenanceoftheOrthodoxcreed(or"law"),ofChurch
structures(theMetropolitan'selectionandtheprotopes'rights)andliturgy("ourChurch
ritual,fastsandcalendar"),twicestipulatingintheendthatshouldalltheseprovisions
notbefullymet,thewholeActofUniontherebybecomesnullandvoid.Afewformal
objectionsmightalsobeadded,suchasthelackoftheMetropolitan'sownsignuture,
whichactuallynullifiedtheentireAct,orthesheetsstucktogether,withtwosubsequent
additionsorinterpolations.

Takingalltheaboveintoconsideration,Prof.SilviuDragomir,whohaslongand
minutelystudiedtheUnionDeclarations,reachedthefinalconclusionthattheUnion
decision,farfrombeingtakeninfullSynod,wasarrivedatseparatelyandthe
protopopes'signaturesgatheredindividually,astheypassedthroughAbaIulia,i.e.in
casethefinalsheetshadnotevenbeentornfromanaltogetherdifferentdocument.
Furthermore,nocontemporarysourcementionsaSynodheldanOctober7th1698.This
meansthatthewholeUnionActwasnothingbutafrauddevisedbytheJesuits.Soasnot
tobeexposed,theJesuitsconcealedtheActtill1879whenitwasdiscoveredbythe
UniatehistorianNicolaeDensusianuinthearchivesoftheMagyarJesuitGabriel
Hevenesi,counsellorofCardinalKollonich,havingthereuponreachedthePesta
UniversityLibrary.Thisobjectivehistoriandrewforthefirsttime,attention,anthe
differencesbetweenthetwotexts,aswellasontheprobableforgeriesperpetratedbythe
Jesuits.

Intheautumnof1698,Baranysubmitted,totheTransylvanianDiet,onbehalfofthe
Romanianclergy,amemoirrequestingitsexemptionfromtaxes,onthebasisofthe
ImperialDecisiondatedApril14th1698.TheDiet,formedmainlyofCalvinistisand
Lutherans,decidedtoproceedtoaninquestinRomanianvillages,soastomakecertain
whetherbothpriestsandfaithfulacreededtotheUnionwithRome.Throughout1699,
twosuchinquestswereeffected,whoseresultswereappalling:hundredsofvillages
proclaimedtheirwilltostickbytheiroldtimefaith,whereasonlyafewofthepriests
declaredthattheywerereadytounite,shouldtheMetropolitandothesamehimself.

Notwithstandingallthat,mostprobablyatCardinalKollonich'sinjuctionsaninstances
EmperorLeapoldIsignedon16th/28thFebruary1699anewDiploma,knownasthe
"FirstLeapoldineDiploma"therebyexpressinghissatisfactianattheRomanians'Greeks'
andRuthenians'conversion(!),andexpresslyvalidatingtheirUnionwiththeChurchof
RomeasaresultoftheacknowledgementofallHerdoctrines,andmainlyofthefourbig
florentinepoints.Nocomments!ThroughtheverysameAct,RomanianUniatepriests
woregrantedallprivilegesandexemptionsenjoyedbytheRomanCathalicclergy.

OneshouldnotforgettomentionthenewforgeryspreadbytheJesuits,namelythatan
allegedUnionSynodhadmetinAlbaIuliaon4th/5thSeptember1700,attendedby54
protopopesfromTransylvaniaandMaramures,eachaccompaniedby2priestsand3lay
faithful,allhavingunanimouslyandwitlinglyvotedtheUnionwiththeChurchofRome,
byacknowledgingthefourflorentinepoints.Thetruthisthatnooriginaldeclarationfrom
thissocalledsynodexistsanrecordoronfile.Thereisbutoneunsigned,unendorsed
copy,ampleproofofthefactthatitisallbutanotherJesuitinvention.Again,no
contemporarysourceevermentionedtheconveningorprocedingsofsuchasynod.There
wouldhavebeennoreasonwhatsoeverforholdingoneanyway,since,accordingtothe
sameJesuits,twosimilarsynodshadalreadymetpreviouslyfortheverysamepurpose,
oneinFebruary1697andanotheronOctober7th1698.Thereisbutoneanswertoall
that:allthesethree"Synods"aresheerJesuitinventions.

Throughoutthisperiod,MetropolitanAthanasiusneverfalteredfromhisstrictly
Orthodoxposition.WithConstantinBrcoveanu'sandAntimIvireanul'shelp,(thelatter
beingatthattimebothaHieromonkandaprinter),hepublishedin1699,atAlbaIulia,a
"Spellingbook"anda"Kiriakodromion"(areprintofVarlaam'sHomiliesof1648).In
June1700PrinceConstantinBrncoveanupresentedtheMetropolitanofTranslyvania
withtheMerisaniestate,inArgesdistrict.OnSeptember14th1700,theusualStanding
AssemblyofallMetropolitanProtopopesmetinAlbaIulia,drawingup28points(or
rules)regulatingthepriests'andfaithfu1'smoralreligiouslife,aswellasthenoviciateof
wouldbepriests.Therewasnotthefaintest,,slightestorremotesthintorallusionatthe
UnionwithRome,anthecontrary,everythingwaskeptalongtheold,traditional,
Orthodoxline.

ThisprobablyoccasionedAthanasie'sbeingsummonedtoreporttoViennaatthe
beginningofthe1701.AttendedamongothersbyJesuitKarlNeurautter,army
missionaryinSibiu,whomeanwhilehadbecomethestaunchestUnionmonger,in
Barany'sstead,thelatterhavingbeenremovedtoTrnaviainSlovakia,Atanasiehad
barelyreachedVienna,thathehadtoanswerto22accusationsdrawnupby
Transylvanianauthorities;bearinganhismorallifeandvariousirregularitiesinhisway
ofadministeringtheMitropolitanate.Facedwithsuchseriouscharges,whichwouldhave
easlyledtohisdeposition,AtanasiewasadvisedtoofficiallyacknowledgetheUnion
withRome.Yieldingtosuchpressures,AtanasiewasreordainedpriestonMarch24th
1701,andtheverynextdayreconsecratedbishop(althaughordinationandconsecration
arenonrepeatablemysteries)inaJesuitchapelinViennabyCardinalKollonich,assisted
bytwootherCatholicbishops.OnMarch19th/30th1701,EmperarLeopoldIissued
fouractsconcerningthenewUniateChurchofTransylvania,amongwhichyetanother
diploma,comprising15pointsandknownas"TheSecondLeopoldineDiploma"which
wasthetruefoundingactofthenewUniateChurch.Athanasiewastherebyconfirmed
onlyasBishopoftheRomaniansinTransylvania,swearingallegiancetotheMagyar
RomanCatholicArchbishopofEsztergom(inNorthernHungary)andacceptingthe
supervisionofallhisactions,correspondenceanddecisionbyaJestittheologian.The
EmperorbecametheSupremeHeadofthenewDiocese,holdingtherighttoappointthe
futurebishopsoutofthreecandidates,allforwardedbytheCouncilofDiocesan
Protopopes.OnApril7th1701,Athanvasiewasforcedtosignahumiliating,16point
declaration,therebyvowingtoacknowledgethePope'ssupremacyandthejurisdictionof
thePrimateinEsztergom,toaccepttheJesuittheologian,toseveralltieswithWallachia,
toreordainallpriests,a.s.o.

OncebackfromVienna,hewasreinstated,as"UniateBishop"intheA1baIulia
OrthodoxCathedral,foundedbyMichaeltheBrave.Deprivedofanyassitancefrom
Wallachia,defrockedbytheEcumenicalPatriarchinConstantinople,hiseverystep
closelywatchedbytheJesuittheologiansaroundhim(KarlNeurautter,PaulBaranyi,
IoanPrenthaller,FranciscSzunyog),compelledeventofleefromAlbaIuliaduring
PrinceFranciscRakoczy'suprisalagainsttheHabsburgdominion,Atanasiehadtowork
underthemostdifficultcircumstances.DuringaSynodofhisprotopopes,summonedin
thesummerof1711,hedesperatelyyetvainlyattemptedtodoawaywithuniatism.
Troubledwithcruelremorseforwhathehaddone,hediedprematurelyinAugust1713.
TwoJesuitsspokeathisfuneral,oneinLatin,theotherinHungarian,livingtokenofthe
humiliatingpositiontowhichtheRomonianChurchinTransylvaniahadbeenreducedas
aresultofthe,socalled'Union'.

TheconsequencesoftheActconcludedbyAtanasieAnghelwereextremelypainful:the
RomanianOrthodoxChurchinTransylvanialosther"independence"thereby,theold
Archdiocese,basedinAlbaIuliabeingreplacedbytheUniateBishopplacedunderthe
jurisdictiooftheMagyarRomanCatholicArchbishopinEsztedrgom;thenewuniate
bishopwassupervisedbyaJesuittheologian,usuallyaHungarian,watchingallhis
actionsandinfactappearingtobemorepowerfulthanthebishophimself;theemperor
became"SupremeHead"heUniateChurch,holdingtherighttoappointfuturebishops
outofthreecandidatesandtogrant"benefices"(orstipends)tobishopsandother
hierarchs;theMetropolitanPrintingPressinAlbaIuliawasclosedforoverhalfa
century;culturalandecclesiasticaltieswithWallachiaandwiththeUngroWallachian
Metropolitanatewerebroken;considerabledivisions,hateanddistrustwerefomented
andsownamongstthesonsoftheoneRomanianpeople,whowastherebymoreeasly
masteredbytheHabsbaurgs,inaccordancetotheoldRomanprincipleof'Divideet
Impera'.
TheUniateChurchintheXVIIIth
century
AfterAtanasie'sdeath,theUniabe.DiocesewasheadedbytwoHungarianJesuits,acting
as"Directors",anunprecedentedinstancethroughoutEcclesiasticalHistory.Three
electoralSynodsmetinAlbaIuliain17131714,madeupofdiocesanprotopopes,who
proposedthenominationofAtanasie'sformersecretary,laymanWenceslawFramtz,of
Bohemianextraction,whohadbeenforcefullyimposeduponthelatebishop.The
Emperor,however,neverconfirmedhisnomination.Duringthe4thelectoralsynod,
convenedinSibiu,in1715,theonlyattendingprotopopedeclaredthathisappointeeis
theRomanCatholicpriestIoanPatachi,whohadpreviouslyrenegadedhisOrthodox
faith.Oncethe"election"wasvalidatedbyMagyarCountMikes,whowaspresiding
over.the<<Synod>>,PatachiwaspromptlyacknowledgedbyEmperorCharlesIV.Asa
resultoftheMetropolitanCathedralandResidenceinAlbaIulia(builtbyMichaelthe
Brave)havingbeenpulleddownin1714,theViennagovernmentdecidedthattheUniate
BishopricbemovedovertoFagaras.In1716,theCourtofViennaaskedforthepope's
confirmationofBishopPatachi.Surprisinglyenough,itwasonlynowthatthePope
learntoftheexistenceofsuchuniatepriestsandfaithfulinTransylvania.Uponthe
ViennaCourt'srepeatedinstances,the"Depropagandafide"CongregationinRome
decreedonJuly6th1716anActreferringtothesettinguponthenewUniateDiocese.A
PapalHuillhoweverwasonlyissuedfiveyearslater,onJulyl5th1721.Throughthe
"Rationicongruit>>Bull,thefoundationoftheUniateDiocesebasedinFagaras,forthe
benefitofthe"Greeks,Ruthenians;RomaniansandSerbianslivinginTransylvania"was
formallydecreed(althoughtherewereabsolutelynoGreeks,RuttheniansorSerbians
thereatall),whiletheOrthodoxChurchinFagaras(foundedbythemartyredprince
ConstantinBrcoveanu)wastherelbydeclaredEpiscopalCathedral.Havingrevettedto
the"Greekfaith",PatachiwasofficiallyenthronedinFagarasonAugust6th1723,
thereafterarbitrarilyproclaimingtheOrthodoxCathedralasUniateEpiscopal
Cathedral,despitetheunavailingthoughstrong,protests,ofthelocalbelievers,and
notablyofPrincessMarica,thelatefounder'swidow.

Uponhisdeathin1727,theEpiscapalSeeinFagaraswasagainassumedbythree
HungarianJesuits,alsoactingas"Directors"tillSeptember1732,whenInochentieMicu
wasformallyenthroned(althoughhehadbeennominatedasearlyas1728).Heproved
tobethemostprominentUniatehierarchinTransylvania.Hegainedimmenseprestige
amongTransylvanianRomaniansthroughthenumerousmemoirsheforwardedtothe
ViennaCourtortotheTransylvanianDiet(whosememberhewas),whereinheaskedfor
sociopoliticalrightstoRomanians,namelytheirbeingrecognizedasthe"fourth"nation,
enjoyingthesamerightsastheMagyars,SaxonsandSzerklers.Heonlyenvisaged
Uniatismasameansofnatianalandpoliticalfight.Thushisconstantrejectionofthe
JesuittheologiansimposedonhimoroftheattemptsatinterferenceinhisownDiocese
madebythePopeandbytheEsztergomArehbishop,werenothingbuthiswayof
fightingforthemaintenanceoftheindependenceofhisChurch,oftheOrthodox
traditionaldoctrine,ritualandstructure,asagainstanypoliciesofcatholicizationor
denationalization.InJuly1744heconvenedtheDiocesanCouncilinBlaj(wherehehad
removedhisresidenceasearlyas1737)andallowedmanyOrthodoxtoattend.

AllthismadehimundesirablefortheCourntinVienna.AtEmpressMariaTheresia's
ownorder,hewassummonedtoViennainthesummerof1744,wherehehadtofaceno
lessthan82accusations,amongwhichthefactthathewastheRomanians'spokesmanin
politicalnationalmatters,besidesthereproachthathewasnotsincereinhisadherenceto
uniatism.RefusingtoreporttotheInquestCommission,thefledtoRome,hopingto
securethePope'ssupport

PendiznghowevertheagreementConcludedbetweenthePopeandtheViennaCourt,he
wascompelledtostayinRomefortherestofhislifeandin1751toevenresignfromthe
episcopalsee.HediedinexileinRomeonSeptember23rd1768,attheendof24years
ofbenishment,fullofdeprivationsandsufferings.

HissacrificewastellingproofofthefactthatneithertheViennaCourt,northePope,nor
theJesuitsortheMagyarCatholicnobilityinTransylvaniaintendedtheRomanians's
materialorspiritualwelfare,beingonlybentonsecuringtheirowninterests,through
Uniatism.

Underhissuccessor,PetruPavelAron(vicarin1747,bishopin1754,died1764),the
Blajprintingpresswasestablished,functioningfirstunderprintersoriginatingfrom
Rimnicwhoprinted,purelyOrthodoxPrayerbooks,reproducingtheRmnicprintings.In
1754thefirstthreepublicschoolswereopenedinBlaj:"everyone's"ortheelementary
school,the"Latin"one(meantforlanguagesandscience)latertobecomeasecondaryor
highschoolandthe"priests'school"ortheologicalseminary.Itwashewhosent
RomanianyoungstersabroadtostudytheologyandphilosophyinRome.Althougha
goodpastorfortheUniateChurch,AronprovedtobeadirepersecutoroftheOrthodox
Churchandofherfaithful,byassistingHabsburgauthoritiesintheirreprisalsofany
popularuprisingsinfavourofOrthodoxy.Thesameattitudewasdisplayedandsharedby
hisfollowersAtanasieRednic(17641772),GrigoreMaior(17721782);IoanBob
(17821830)andIoanLemeni(18331848).In1853theBlajBishopricwaselevatedto
therankofMetropolia,anddirectlysubjectedtothepapalsee.AMetropolitanatewas
thusestablished,comprisingfourRomaniandioceses(Blaj,Oradea,GherlaandLugoj).
Byitsdirectsubjectiontothepapalsee,theUniateChurchlastwhateverremainsof
autonomyithadpreservedhitherto,sincehenceforwarditshierarchswouldbeappointed
directlybytheHolySee

ThefightforthedefenceofOrthodoxy
WemustemphasizethefacttheRomanianpeopleasawhole,i.e.thegreatmajorityof
thefaithful,themassofthepeasarntryinparticular,continuedtoabidesteadfastlyby
theiroldOrthodoxfaith,eventhoughtheirpriestshadpartlyadheredtotheUnionwith
Rome,outofsheerdesiretopartakeoftherights,enjoyedbytheCatholicclergy.The
respectivebelievershadnowaytorealizetheirpriest'sneworientation,sincetheycould
noticenoapparentchangeorobviousalternationinthelore,organization,orliturgyof
theirownChurch.Thesamewaslatertobeformallyacknowledgedbytheprominent
UniatescholarandprotopopePetruMaior,whoactuallyadmittedthat,owingtotheir
sorematerialplight,Romanianpriests"wouldonlygiveuptheirNonuniate(Orthodox)
appellation,canvertingitintothatofUniate,therebygettingridofthehardshipstheyhad
fallenpreytoandenjoyingtherightofofficiallyacknowledgednations,without
alternatianwhateveroftheirpreviousGreek(Orthodox)faithandcustoms;throughout
Transylvania".(HistoryoftheRomanianChurch,Buda,1813,p.140).

ItwasonlyintheBrasov,FagarasandHunedoaradistrictsthatwordwentoutabout"the
faithbeingcorrupted",whichledtoemergeticalprotestsagainstAtanasie:Thus,asearly
as1701,thelocalfaithfulrefusedtoacknowledgehimastheirbishop,totheextentthat
hewascompelledtoabandonthemtotheiroldfaith.Thatsameyear,thefaithfulof
BrasovandTaraBirseirequestedtobeexpresslysubjectedtothespiritualguidanceof
theMetropolitansofUngroWallachia(in1728;theHabsburgauthoritiesthemselves
placedthemfirstunderthejurisdictionoftheRimnicbishops,then,from1739until
1761,underthatoftheSerbianmetropolitansofKazlowitz).In1701,theRomanian
noblemanGavriilofTaguMare,assistedbyseveralbelieverslodgedaprotestwiththe
TransylvanianDietagainstthearbitraryactperpetratedbyAtanasie,beingthereupon
arrestedandimprisoned.Someofthemdiedinprison,whereasGavriilhimselfwasonly
setfreefiveyearslater.

Upto1744theHabsburgauthoritiestookbutlittleinterestintheRomanians'religious
disputes,deemingthemallUniates.ThatwaspreciselythereasonwhynoOrthodox
hierarchswerefurtherelectedorappointedforsuchpriestsandfaithfulwho,foroversix
decadesi.e.till1761,hadstaunchlyabidedbytheirancestralfaith.Parisheswhich
rejectedUniatepriestswouldsendtheirowncandidatestobeordainedinBucharest,
Rimnic,orevenBuzau,Roman,RadautiandJassy.Thingschangedasfrom1744.Itwas
thenthatHieromonkVisarionSarai(apparentlyaBosnianWallachian",accordingtothe
latestresearches)cametoTransylvaniaandstrovetofomentmassuprisalsagainst
Uniatism.UnfortunatelyhewasseizednearSibiu,carriedfromprisontoprison,tillhe
finallysuccumbedinKufstein,Tyrol.Asaconsequenceofhisactions,theTransylvanian
Government,launchedapraclamatian(Patent)imposingtoallRomanianstheUnionwith
theChurchofRome.Several"commissions"weresetupwithtaskofspreadingthe
contentsofthetheproclamatian.Theresultswereeverywherethesame:allfaithful
formallydeclaredthattheywouldrejectallUniatepriestsandwouldneverattendany
liturgiesofficiatedbyanysuch.ManypriestswhowereonlynowprovedtobeUniates
weredrivenofftheirparishesbytheirownparishianers.Inviewoftheutterfailureofthe
proclamation,EmpressMaryTheresiaappointedin1746fourUnion"protectors"(two
MagyarsandtwoMagyarizedRomanians),towhomshedespatcheda15pointssetof
instructions,expresslydirectingthemtoforciblyexorttheadherencetoUniatism
throughheavypunishmentssuchasvariousprisonterms,flaggings,orfines,tobe
appliedtoallOrthodoxpriestsandfaithfulaswouldbutslightlyattempttohinderthe
spreadofUniatism.Anotherdecreestipulatedthearrestofallpriestsordainedin
WallachiaandModavia.

Anewpersecutianerawasthusopened,thatwastolastforanother15years,during
whichperiadanunbrokenchainofstaunchdefendersofthefaithwhetherpriestsor
laymen,succeededtoholdtheauthorities,atbay,thussuccessfullyopposingtheir
namelessterrors,enduringcruelbeatings,tortureandlongimpresionment,beingstripped
ofalltheirworldlypossessionsortravellingasfarastheViennaCourtortheTzars'
PalaceinSaintPetersburgtodemandreligiousfreedom.Manyofthemlaiddowntheir
livesforthesakeoftheirancestralfaith.SuchwereOpreaMicalusfromSalistea
SibiuluiandpriestMoiseMacinicfromSibiel,botharrestedastheywerereturningfrom
anaudiencegrantedtothembytheEmpressin1752,thenimprisonedinKufstein,
wheretheydiedmanyyearslaterwithouthavingbeentriedorreleased.Suchwasalso
thecasewithIoanOanceafromFagaras,senttoViennaandKarlowitzonmission,then
imprisonedforovertwoyears,withpriestCosmafromDeal(Albadistrict),imprisoned
formorethanayearinAlbalulia,withpriestIoanesVlvoreafromGales,arrestedand
imprisonedfirstinSibiuandVienna,theninGraz,wherehewasstillalivein1776,
withpriestIoanfromAciliu,arrestedonhiswaybackfromamissiontoRussia(his
subsequentfateunknown),orwithHieromankNicodimandwithpriestNicolaePopfrom
Balomir(Albadistrict),bothcompelledtoseekrefugeinWallachia.PriestIoanfrom
Sadu(nearSibiu)wasalsoarrestedandimprisonedthenbannedtoBanatfornoreasonat
all.Apriest'swife,alsofromSadu,wasarbitrarilyheldincustodyfor31weeks,notto
mentionhundredsofotherpeasantsaroundSibiu,amongwhom,forinstance,16women
fromPoianaSibiuluiwhowereimprisonedfor14weeksinwintertime,whiletenother
womenfromColunwerepubliclywhippedinSibiu.Thelistisendless.

During17591761,arealreligiousrevoltbrokeout,underthecoordinationofHieromank
SofrontiefromCioara(Albadistrict);stretchingthroughoutTransylvania;asfaras
SatmarannMaramuresandsweepingawayeverythingtheauthorities,togetherwiththe
UniateChurch,hadatgreatpainsendeavouredtobuildupforsixdecades.Undersuch
criticalcircumstances,EmpressMaryTheresiadespatchedGeneralBukow(Nicholas
Adolfvon),assistedbynumerouscavalryandinfantrytroops,withstrictordersto
repressanyactionshostiletoUniatism.Throughthelatter'sinitiative,twostatisticallists
weredrawnupin17611762,comprisingthenamesbothoftheRomanianpriestsandof
theRomanianfaithfulthroughoutTransylvania.Despitetheutterlackofobjectiveness
clearlydisplayed,theorthodoxwerebyfarthemostnumerous:theyactuallynumbered
128635familieswith1365priestsand1362churches,asagainst25223Uniatefamilies,
yetwith2250priestsand515churches.

TheUniatesafterwardsrapidlygrewinnumber,asaresultoftheabusiveandarbitrary
mannerinwhichtheregistrationwasconducted,Thusforinstance,47villagesin
BistritaNasaudareawerearbitrarilydeclaredasuniate(thusaccountingfornolessthan
afifthoftheentirenumber,ofthelatter),whereasinHateg55villages,tatalling13367
familieswerealsorecordedasbeinguniate(amountingtohalfthelatter'snumber).All
the515churchesownedbytheUniateshadbeenerectedbytheOrthodoxandarbitrarily
grantedtothem.EveninvillageswithaninsignificantnumberofUniates,ascomparedto
thewholepopulation,thechurchesweredeliveredtothem,whiletheOrthodoxwere
compelledtobuildnewchurchesfortheirownuse.Invillageswithjust4to7Uniate
families,theOrthodoxmajoritywasforcedtoerectdistinctchurchesorchapelsforthe
Uniates.Inmanyvillages,thechurchescouldonlybeturnedovertotheUniateswiththe
supportofBkow'stroops(likeinCuzdrioaranearDejwheretwofaithfulWeresentenced
todeathbyhangingandtwoothertocompulsorymilitaryserviceforlife).Throughlike
violenoe,Brncoveanu'sFagarasandOcnaSibiuluifoundations,aswellasPrislopand
NeculaMonasteries,ortheDensusprincelychurchandmanyotherworshipplacesin
Hateg,abruptlybecameUniate.

YetGeneralBuzkow'smostbarbarousatrotitywashisutterlyerasingtensofRomanian
sketesandmonasteriesthroughoutTransylvania(therewerenearlytwohundredofthem
allinall),bybunningdownthewoodenonesandbydismantlingbycannonthebrickor
stoneones,especiallyaroundSibiuandFagaras.Thosestillleftwerehandedovertothe
UniateChurch,onlytobepromptlyclosedforlackofmonks.Thatexplainswhythe
OrthodoxChurchinTransylvaniahadnotonesinglemonasterylefttohertillafter1918.

AnewsimilarupheavalbrokeoutinNasaudareain1763,onlytobecruellystampedout
bytheverysamegeneral:oldTanaseTodoranwasbrokenonthewheel,manypeasants
werehanged,stillnmorebeatentodeath.ThusGeneralBukow,EmpressMary
Theresia'spersonalenvoy,mayrightlybehailedasthesecondfounderoftheUniate
Church,forhaditnotbeenforhiscannonsandsoldiers,allatlemptstoallure
RomanianstoUniatismwouldhavebeendoomedtoutterfailure.

Asaresultoftheconstantpressurebroughttobearuponthemto"altertheirancestral
faith'believersfrommanyvillages,especiallyaroundSibiuantlFagaras,endedby
migratingenmassesouthoftheCarpathians,wheretheyfoundednewvillages,known
eitheras"Ungureni"orunderthenameoftheirnativeplace,whichtheyhadbeenforced
tovacate.AfterthesupperssionofOrthodoxmonasteries,manyTransylvanianfaithful
tookthevowsbeyondtheCarpathians,wheretheysetupnewmonasteries,(suchas
SuzanaandCheiainTeleajenvalley,PredealinPrahovavalley,Stnisoananear
CalimanestiCozia,orCocosinNorthernDobrogea).

Although,asearlyas1761,EmpressMaryTheresiahadagreedtoappointa"Deputy
Bishop"fortheOrthodoxRomaniansirnTransylvania,namelyaSerbian(assistedby
threeotherSerbianhierarehs),basesinSibiu,forcibleconversionstoUniatismwerealso
recordedduringthefollowingyears.ThusforinstanceBishopAtanasieRednic
proclaimedallthevillagesaroundBlajasuniate,whilehissuccessorGrigorieMaior,
assistedbytwoHungariancommissioners,peremptorilyconvertedtouniatismnoless
than60villagesintheSalajdistrict,duringaninspectiontour.

Furthermore,inthe1760's,21RamanianparishesinBihorwerearbitrarlydeclared
uniatebyvariousenquirycommissiounschargedwithexaminingtherespectivevillages'
confessionaladherence,byfollowingordersfromtheOradeaMagyarRomanCatholic
Bishop,alsothedistrict'sPrefect.In1777,EmpressMaryTheresiafoundedaUniate
DioceseheadequarteredinOradeaandsubjectedtotheMagyarRomanCatholic
ArchdioceseinEstergom,whoseholdersweretobeappointeddirectlybytheEmperor,
asitssole"patron",attheproposalofStateauthorities.EmperorJosephII(17801790)
endoweditwithafiefof13600acresofland,takenoverfromtheRomanCatholic
Archdiocese,therebyleftinposessionof180000acresonly.

AsearlyasthefirsthalfoftheXVIIIthcentury,allRomanianparishesinSatmarand
MaramureswereputunderthedirectcontroloftheRuthenianUniateDiocesein
Munkacs(today'sMukacevoinUSSR).Upto1739,variousRomanianOrthodox
bishopsactedhere.ThankstotheeffortsoftheMunkacsbishops,manyofwhomwere
MagyarizedRomanians,suchasAndreiBacinski,forinstance,thelocalRomanian
parisheswereforciblydeclareduniate.Furthermore,manyliturgieswerecelebratedin
Hungarian,insomeRuthenianparishes.ThisBishopricthereforeservedasameansto
ensuretheRomanians'andRuthenians'magyarization.TheSatmarRomanianshadto
endurethissituationtill1824,whentheywereattachedtotheOradeaBishopric,whereas
thoseinMaramureswereonly"freed"in1853,whenanewRomanianUniateDiocese
wascreatedatGherla.Afurtherargumentinthisrespectisdisplayedbythesocalled
MagyarUniateDioceseinHajdudorog,setupin19121913,bythepapalbull"Christi
fidelesGraeci".ThenewdiocesewassponsoredbytheAusroHungarianstateand
subjectedtotheMagyarRomanCatholicArchbishopricinEsztergom.Itcomprised162
parishesofwhich83(with382sectionsand173pagi)weretakenoverfromthe
RomanianBishopricscenteringinOradea(mostlySatmar),GherlaandBlaj(the
Szecklers'area),amountingto73225faithful(ofwhom35417spokeonlyHungarian).
OtherparisheswereseizedfromtheRuthenianBishopricinMunkacs.Itwasobviousto
anyonethattheonlyaimpursuedbysettingupthisnewdiocesewastoforcibly
magyarizebothRomanianandRuthenianUniates(a"Prayerbook"wasevenprintedin
Hungarian).Thisbishopric'sholderswereallMagyars,theadministrative,nay,eventhe
liturgicallanguageusedwassolelyHungarian.Severalpriestsandfaithfuilaround
Satmarwerearrestedandsentencedtovariousprisonterms.ThuspriestGheorghe
MuresanfromMoftinuMicwassentencedto18monthssollitaryconfinement,along
with14others(ofwhom7wereunderage),alsosentencedtovariousterms.PriestMihai
CiurdariufromDoba,arrestedonHolyFriday,wasalsoimprisoned.TheRomanian
parisheswerefreedfromHajdudorogjurisdictionafterDecemberlst1918,yetthelatter's
nefarious,obnoxiuosactionandinfluencewereresumedduringHorthy'soccupationof
19401944.

Brotherlycooperationandvarious
attemptstowardsrestoringChurchunity
DespitealltheactionsundertakeneitherbytheViennaCourtorbyMagyarCatholic
prelates,whichfinallyledtotheecclesiasticaldivisionofTransylvanianRomanians,we
shouldnotforgetthatinallparishesarbitrarlydeclaredasUniateorGreekCatholic,the
priestsstillabidedbythesameOrthodoxritual,usingthesameprayerbookseditedin
Rmnic,Bucharestorinotherprintingcentres,bothinWallachiaandMoldavia.The
impressivenumberofOrthodoxculticbooksfoundinformerUniateparishesorchurches
areclearproofofthisassertion.AsfortheliturgicalbookspublishedatBlaj,theywere
merelycopiesofthoseprintedinRmnic,andsothingsremaineduntilmidXIXth
century.Itwasonlythemthat,asaresultofthe"Latinisttrend"variousdistinct
expressionsappearedinBlajprintedbooks.

ThegreatscholarPetruMaiornoticedthat,asearlyasthebeginningoftheXIXth
century,UniatisminTransylvaniacouldonlybeaccountedforbythepriests'material
involvementthereto,since"theywouldmerelyexchangetheirNonUniate(Orthodox)
appellationforthatofUniate,therebygettingridofalltheirformerhardshipsand
partakingoftherightsenjoyedbytheotherofficiallyrecognizednations,withoutaltering
intheleasttheirpreviousGreek(Orthodox)faith".(HistoryoftheRomanianChurch,
Buda,1813,page140).

ItwasalsoPetruMaiorwhofurthernoted:"BothUniateandNonUniatepriestsflock
togetherinbrotherlycommunion,singingandofficiatingtogether,bothatfuneralsand
eucharists,sharingwithoutreticenceallspiritualandecclesiasticalrituals.Andwhatis
more,layUniatesindistinclygotoconfessiontoNonUniatepriests.Evenpriestsno
longerpayanyattentiontothedifferencebetweenUniatesandNonUniates,theyonly
callthemUniatesorNonUniatesinaccordancewiththehierarchtheyaresubjectedto
(Ibidem,page118).

Inspiteofthe,foreigners'variousattempsattearingasundertheRomanians'common
faithandorigin,thelatterhadnodifficultyintranscendingconfessionaldivergences,thus
remainingonewiththeirnation'smajoraspirations.BishopInochentieMicuinitiatedhis
people'snationalpoliticalemancipation,byrequiringtheirbeingacknowledgedas
Transylvania'sfounthnation.XVIIIthcentury"luminaries",whetherOrthodoxor
Uniate,havemassivelycontributed,throughtheirWorks,totheirentirenations.cultural
headway.Priestsandlayscholars,bothUniateandOrthodox,drewuptogetherthewell
knownSupplexlibellusValachorumTransylvaniaeof1791.Duringthefirsthalfofthe
XIXthcentury,BishopsVasileMogafromSibiuandIoanLemenifromBlaj,jointly
forwarded,followingcloselyinInochentieMicu'ssteps,bothtotheViennaCourtandto
theTransylvanianDiet,amplememoirsdemandingrightsfortheirflock.Ministersof
bothChurchesfoughtsidebysideinHorea'suprisal,inthe1848/1849revolutionand
duringthe18921894memorandamovement,enduredtogetherbanishmentand
impresionmentduringWorldWarIandjointlymilitatedforpoliticalunityin1918.

Suchbrotherlycooperationalsoaccountsfortheoftenrenewedattemptsatrestoring
Churchunity,therebypreservingnationalunityaswell.Letusremindafewsuch
attempts.InJune1711,theprotopopes'assembly,convenedinAlbaIuliaunderthe
presidencyofAtanasieAnghel,simplyrepealedtheUnionActenactedin1701.Itwas
onlyinNovember1711that,underhardpressureexertedbytheJesuit,theologian
imposedonhim,Atanasiewascompelledtorecant,andoncemoreprofessUniatism.

Aventuretorepealuniartismalsooccurredduringthegrandgeneralassemblyconvened
byBishopInochentieMicuinBlaj,onJune6th1714,attededbothbylaymenandclerks,
byOrthodoxandUniates.InkeepingwiththeJesuits'owntestimonies,Inochentie
plainlyaskedallthosepresent"whethertheywerestillinfavourofadheringto
Uniatism"incasetheRomanians'requirementswerenotallacknowledged.Accordingto
anothertestimony,theBishopofferedtotakecommandofthewholepeopleandtocross
theCarpathiansintoWallachia.WhileinRome,hisprotopopeswrotetohimin1747that
"theRomanianpeoplerenouncesUniatismandutterly,unanimouslyrejectsboththe
UnionandtheUniates".

TherevoltsledbyVisarionSarai,SofronieofCioara,orbyotherOrthodoxpriestsand
monks,wereactuallynothingbutfreshpopularventuresmeaningtorestoreChurch
unity.

NewattempstorelapsetoOrthodoxyoccurredafterEmperorJosephIIdecreedhis
ToleranceEdictonNovember8th1781.Takingadvantageoftheact'sprovisions,
numberlessvillagesinFagarasandHategareabrokeawayfromuniatism.Uponthe
instigationofthelocalpoliticalandecclesiasticalauthorities,EmperorJosephII
endorsed,onAugust20th1782,thesocalled"UnionPatent",therebyorderingthateach
ofthetwoRomanianChurches(namelytheUniateandtheOrthodoxones)shouldkeep
herownfaithfulandforbearoffurtherprozelytism.

AfreshventuretorestoreChurchunitywasattemptedin1798,thistimeinitiatedbythe
leadershipofbothdenominations.ThusUniateVicarsIoanParaofFagarasandIoan
BudaiofSibiu(theownbrotherofwriterIoanBudaiDeleanu),forwarded,togetherwith
OrthodoxprotopopesRaduTempeaVofBrasov,directoroftheOrthodoxschoolsin
SibiudioceseandIoanPopoviciofHondolHunedoara,vicarofSibiudiocese,ajoint
memoiraddressedtotheEmperorhimself,onthebasisoftheauthorityinvestedinthem
bymanypriestsandprotopopes.TheytherebyrequiredthatUniateBishopIoanBob
shouldresignandthattheleadershipofthereunitedRomanianChurchbeentrustedto
thetwovicars,IoanParaandIoanPopovici,eachwithadistinctconsistory,oneinCluj
andanotherinSibiu.Notesonthememoirweredrawnupby:theGovernorof
Transylvania,whoclaimedtheUniantobe"awellsetevil";theMagyarCatholic
BishopinAlbaIulia,theAulicChancellorofGaliciaandtheStateCouncillorinVienna,
alladmittingthattheRomanians'divisionwasextremelyusefulfortheHabsburgs'
empire.Thememoirwasthereuponburiedawayinarchives.

AstrongtrenddirectedtotherestorationofChurchunitymarkedthe1848revolution
throughoutTransylvania:ScholarsfrombothChurchesopenlydemandedtodoaway
withuniatism.UniateAugustTreboniuLaurianforinstance,wrotetoOrthodox,professor
NicolaeBalasescu(laterNifon):"LetallRomaniansgathertogetherasone,irrespective
ofwhethertheyareUniatesornot.LetusclaimforonesoleRomanianArchbishop
throughoutTransylvania.LetusbreakawayfromCatholicism!".OnMay8th1848,
duringameetingofRomanianscholars,heldinSibiu,UniateConstantinVivu"kept
urgingtheRomanianstowipeawaythisshamefulreligiousdistinctionandtobecomeall
one".AnotherUniate,AlexandruPalpiuIlarian,wrotethat,attheNationalAssemblyin
Blaj,manyhadproposed"planstoreformtheChurch,torestoretheMetropolitanate,to
reuniteUniatesandNonUniates".Thesamescholaradded:"Wemustneedsunite,that
therebenosuchthingasUniatesandNonUniatesamongstasRomaniansandlonger!".
OneofthedecisionsadoptedbytheBlajAssemblyclearlystatedasfollows:"The
RomaniannationdemandsthattheRomanianChurchshouldhenceforwardbefreeand
independentasagainstanyotherChurch,irrespectiveofconfessionaldifferences,equal
inrightsandprivilegestoalltheotherChurchesinTransylvania.Wefurtherdemandthe
immediaterestorationoftheRomanianMetropolitanateandoftheyearlyGeneral
Synod,accordingtooldcustomsinwhichsynodmaybeincludedbothecclesiasticaland
laydelegates."AnindependentChurchleader,placedabovealltheotherRomanian
bishops,wasalsoexpresslyrequestedinthememoirsdespatchedtotheemperor.The
retaliationswhichsuppressedtherevolution,therebymomentarilystiflingitsfreedom
andunityideals,prevenitedtheactualachievementofsuchChurchunityrestoratian.
Nevertheless,during1848manyparishesaroundAradrevertedtoOrthodoxy(theyhad
beenforcedtoacceepttheunionbybishopSamuilVulcanofOradea,backin1834).
Unfortunately,theelevationoftheBlajDiocesetotherankofMetropolitanate,in1853,
withitsnewlycreatedsuffragandiocesesofGherlaandLugoj,besidestheolderoneof
Oradea,considerablyhintieredfutureattemptsatrestoringsuchunion.

Notwithstandingallthat,underAndreiSaguna'sministry(18461873),severalUniate
parishesthroughoutTransylvaniadidrelapsetoOrthodoxy,despite,theauthorities'
interference,whichSagunahimselfmentionedinhismemoirs.Accordingtostillextant
records,someMaramuresparishesequallyrevertedtoOrthodoxyduringthefirst
decadeofthepresentcentury.

ManymeetingswerealsoheldbyUniateRomaniansin1912asaprotestagainstthe
settingupoftheHajdudorogMagyarGreekCatholicDiocese,comprisingboth
RomanianandRuthenianfaithful,andobviouslydestinedtothelatter'sforcibile
magyarization.IuliuManiuhimself,advocateoftheBlajMetropolitanate,openly
declared,attheAlbaIuliameeting,onMayl6th1912,thattheRomanianswould"break
theseal"oftheirUnionwithRome,shouldthepolicyoftheiruprootingand
denationalizationbepursued.
AmostfavourablemomenttoachiveChurchunityoccurredin1918.Politicalunity
couldnaturallypaveofwayofecclesiasticalunity.Unfortunatelyhowever,theproposal
toappointVicarVasileSuciufromBlaj(elected,butnotyetconfirmed),asmetropolitan
ofallTransylvanianRomanians(duetothevacancyoftheSibiusee),fellshortof
acceptance.ManysuggestianstorestoreChurchunitywereinexchangeadvancedbythe
contemporarypress.Thusforinstance,theissuedatedMarch21st1931oftheBlaj
newspaper"Unirea"(Union)suggestedthatallOrthodoxandUniatetheologiansand
hierachsmeetincongressandsettlethematterathand.BishopNicolaeIvanofCluj
repliedbyagreeingtoconvenea"sobornost"ofalltheRomanianhierarchsin
Transylvania,towardsresurrectingtheformerAlbaIuliaMetrapolitanate,withten
suffragandioceses.

WholeUniateparishes,togetherwiththeirownpriests,revertedtoOrthodoxyin
Maramures,BihorandallaroundClujandBlaj.Notableexamplesareparishessuchas
UpperUceaandDragusinFagarasarea,CheileCibului,PoianaandBucuresciin
Hunedoaradistrict,HambaandMetisinSibiudistrict,BagaciuandValeaLungaon
Trnavariver,Remeti,Virismont(today'sTisa),Sarasau,ValeaStejarului,Feresti,a.s.o.,
orCherelus,andNadasinMaramures,BodestiinAraddistrict,andOhabaLungain
Banat.Amongthepriests,letusmentionjustDr.StefanPopofIzvininBanat,an
outsbandinghistorian,lateraprofessorattheCaransebesTheologicalAcademyandDr.
IoanPasca,professorattheGherlaUniateTheologicalAcademythenappointedatthe
ClujOrthodoxAcademy,whereheactedforovertwodecades.Individualrecantations
wererecordedinmanyotherparishesthroughoutTransylvania,Banat,Crisanaand
Maramures.

An"official"attemptatrestoringChurchunitywasmadein1939.Inresponsetothe
ManifestoAppeallaunchedonFebruary18th1939andendorsedbyboth
Metropolitans,NicolaeBalanofSibiuandAlexandruNicolescuofBlaj,ahugeNational
ecclesiasticalAssemblymetatAlbaIuliaonFebruary27th1939,attendedbynearly
50000Romanians.Speecheswereutteredbybothmetropolitans,byuniversityprofessor
OnisiforGhibufromClujandbyprominentrepresentativesfromtheculturaland
ecclesiasticalmedia,allrequiringtheurgentrestorationoftheTransylvanian
Romanians'unityoffaith.AdocumentwasdrawnupinUnionHallduringthesupper
thatfollowedthemeeting,summingupthepreviousdiscussionsandofferingConcrete
proposalstowardsachievingsuchmuchsoughtforunity.Theactwasendorsedbythe
hierarchsofbothChurches,byvariousofficials,priestsandlayscholars.Unfortunately
however,allsuggestionsagreeduponduringtheAlbaIuliameetingofFebruary27th
1939couldneverbeputinactionorpracticeowingtotheimpendingWorldWarII,thus
dashingtothegroundwhateverhopeswereentertainedbothbyfaithfulandclergy.
ThereturntotheMotherChurchin1948
TheunityoffaithofallTransylvanianRomanianswasachievedshortlyafterthe
conclusionofWorldWarII.Owingtothesheerfactthatitwasaccomplishedunder
communistrule,manyhavedistorteditintoapoliticalactionperpetratedbytheatheistic
authoritiesofthattime.Althoughitisquitetruethatthecommuniststatewaskeenly
interestedinbreakingwhatevertiesourbelieversstillheldwiththeWest,itwouldbe
sheerexaggerationtoascribeeverythingtothestate.Furthermore,today'spressoften
claimsthatPatriarchAlexisIofMoscowhimselfhadissuedorderstothateffectto
PatriarchNicodemeofRomamia(died1948).Suchwildassertionsshouldbelightly
dismissed,sincetheMoscowPatriarchateneveractuallyinterferedintheinternallifeof
theRomanianOrthodoxChurch,whoalwaysmaintainedherfullautonomyand
autocephaly.

Itisneverthelessclearthatby1948allprerequisitesweremettowardsachievingsuch
reunion,asaresultofthenumerousproposalsadvancedhithertoandofthemanylocal
relapses,previouslymentioned.Furthermore,onJuly18th1948,throughDecreeno.
151/1948,RomaniadenouncedtheConcordatconcludedonMay10th1927withthe
HolySee.ItshouldbeemphasizedthatinaccordancewithArticle2oftheabove
mentionedConcordate,theTransylvanianGreekCatholic(orUniate)Church,deemed
autonomousbyRomania's1923Constitution,hadbecomeamereriteoftheCatholic
Church,innowaydifferentfromtheLatinorArmenianones,wherefromcanbeeasly
inferredtheclearintentionofwhollycatholicizingtheRomanianUniateChurch.Bythe
denunciationoftheConcordate,thisChurchceasedtobeamereriteoftheRoman
CatholicChurchandrevertedtoisformerstatusofautonomousChurch.

Letusalsorecordthefactthatduringthefirsthalfof1948,twoappealsweredespatched
toUniatepriestsandfaithfulltoreverttotheMotherChurch,therebyrestoringtheunity
offaith,ThefirstwaslaunchedbyMetropolitanNicolaeBalanfromSibiu(19201955),
inthespeechhedeliveredatBlaj,ontheoccasionoftheonehundredthanniversaryof
theNationalAssemblyheldanLiberyMoor,andthesecondbyPatriarchJustinian
Marina(19481977),onhisownenthronement,onJune6th1948.Takingintoaccount
boththeirregainofautonomyasaresultofthedenunciationoftheConcordate,andthe
twoabovementionedappeals,numerousUniateprotopopes,priestsandfaithfu1held
severalmeetingsduringJulyOctober1948,therebydecidingtorejointheirancestral
Church.ThusitwasthatonOctober1st1948,36Uniateprotopopesandpriests,
delegatedbytheir430colleagues,metinCluj,headedbyProtopopeTraianBelascu,and
formallydecidedtoreverttotheOrthodoxChurch,wherefromtheyhadsplit,nearly250
yearsbefore.ALLTHOSE36priestswerereceivedonOctober3rd1948inBucharest
byPatriarchJustinianandbytheothermembersoftheHolySynod,towhomthey
impartedtheirdecision.Theirexamplewasdulyfollowed,duringthesubsequentmonths,
byhundredsofotherpriests,whokeptpromptingtheirownflocktorejointheMother
Church.OnOctober21st1948thegreatChurchNationalAssemblymetintheAlba
IuliaOrthotoxCathedral,toacknowledge,inthepresenceofPatriarchJustinianandof
thewholeHolySynod,thereunionoftheRomanianOrthodoxChurch.

TheGreekCatholic(orUniate)Churchtherebyactuallydisappearedasaresultofmost
ofherclergyandfaithfulhavingjoinedtheRomanianOrhtodoxChurch.

Nevertheless,partofthehierarchsoftheRomanianUniateChurch,secondedbyasmall
sectianofherclergyandfaithful(mostlyscholars),byignoringthefrequentappealsto
unityaddressedtothem,refusedtoadheretotheOrthodoxChurch(thusBishopIuliu
HossufromClujevenanathematizedthe36priestswhohadattendedtheClujmeeting)
and,byinvalidatingtheConcorciate'sdenunciation,stillpersistedintheirdissenting
attitudeand,byalsorejectinganylegalframeworkfortheirownactivity,deemed
themselveshenceforwardpartoftheRomanCatholicChurch.

FollowinguptothereturnofmostoftheUniateclergyandfaifhfultoOrthodoxy,the
StateauthorityissuedDecreeno.358/1948,publishedinissueno.281oftheOfficial
Monitor,datedDecember2nd1948,whichstipulatedinArticle1asfollows:"Asa
resultofthelocalGreekCatholiccommunities(i.e.parishes)havingrelapsedto
Orthodoxy,wenowdecreethat,inaccordancewithArticle13ofDecreeno.177/1948,
allcentralandstatutaryUniateorganisms,suchastheMetropolitanate,Dioceses,
Chapters,orders,congregations,protopopiates,monasteries,foundationsorassociations,
whatevertheirdenominations,areherebydissolved".Anticle2providedthat:"Allgoods
andpropertiesbelongingtotheorganizationsandinstitutionsmentionedinanticle1
aboveexceptforthoseexpresslybelongingtotheirformerparishes,willherebybe
immediatelytakenoverbytheRoinanianState".ItisclearthatArticle1,farfrom
orderingthesuppessionoftheGreekCatholiccult,merelytookactofitsown
dissolution.AsforAnticle2,letusrememberthat,asaresultofthe1948reunion,allex
UniatepriestsandfaithfulwerefullyintegratedintoOrhtodoxparishes,towhichthey
brought,alongwiththen,theirformerparishes'entirepatrimony(whetherconsistingin
churches,parishhouses,orlands),whichentirelybecamethenewCommunities'indeed
lawfulproperty,whereastheremainderoftheirbelongingswastakenoverbytheState.
TheGreek(Eastern)riteRomanian
CatholicChnrchaftertheDecember1989
Revolution
Asaresultofthismemorableturnizngpointinourhistory,Completefreedomwas
grantedtoallreligiouscultsinRomannia.ThisalsoaccountsforDecreeno.9/1989,
repealingpreviouslymentionedDecreeno.358/1948.Withinshort,variousRomanian
priestsandbishopswerebusilyactivenowcalled"Greek(Eastern)riteCatholics"
naturallywithoutStaterecognition.InMarch1990,theVaticanappointed6Latinrite
Catholicbishopsand5"Greek(Eastern)"riteones,alsowithoutconsultingwith
RomanianStateauthorities,towhomtheymerelyannouncedsuchnominations24hours
inadvance.InreplytoprotestsissuedbyourMinistryforReligiousAffairs,theVatican
retortedthat:"Recentnominationswerebasedoncannonicallawsuchasitwasadopted
threeyearsagobytheVaticanCouncil,expresslystipulatingsuchaprocedure,without
requiringtherespectiveStateauthorities'beingnotifiedthereto".Afewinstancesof
similarnominations(inKolnandMinsk)wereprovided,withthementionthattheydid
"causesamefrictions",whereasa"likeprocedurewasrecentlyused"forPoland,
HungaryandCzechoslovakia,whoselayauthoritieswere"onlynotified,outofsheer
courtesy,afewhoursbeforactuallypublishingtherespectivenominations"(sethe
"Adevarul"(Truth)dailydatedMarch25th1990,page3).

Inotherwords,theVaticanstilldeemsitselfasuperstate,suchasitusedtobeduringthe
MiddleAges,apriorientitledtomeddleintootherstates'internalaffairs,thelaterbeing
lookeduponas"terraemissionis".Suchactsmaywellbeconsideredarealoffencefor
theRomanianStateandtheRomanianOrthodoxChurch,especiallyifwetakeinto
accountthataftertheRevolutionofDecember1989,allthenewhierarchs,electedbythe
ChurchElectoralCommittee,havereceivedconfirmationfromthePresident,according
toanancienttraditionoftheOrthodoxChurch.

WhoarethenewCatholichhierarchs?MetropolitanAlexandruTodea(born1912),
formerReghinpriestandprotopope,wasclandestinelyordainedatthehandsofBishop
JosephShubert,inSaintJoseph'sCathedralinBucharest,accordingtotheLatinrite
(whereasArchbishopTraianCrisanwashimselfordainedpriestinRoma,onJanuary6th
1982,byPopeJohnPaulIIinpersonalsoaccordingtotheLatinrite,toserveforthe
RomanianWesternUniateDiaspora).Othersbishopshadalsobeenclandestinely
ordainedbythePope'sexnuntiotoRomania,BishopIoanPloscarufromLugoj),assoon
astheMotherChurchwasreunitedin1948.Mostofthemhadlongsincedied.Three
newbishopsnamelythoseofCluj,Gherla,BaiaMareandOradea,wereconsecreted
duringthefirstmonthsof1990,allpreviouslyappointedbythePopeinMarch1990.

AssoontheDecreeno.9/1989wasenacted,GreekCatholichierarchswerefirmly
persusdedthatallOrthodoxpriestcomingfromformerUniatefamilieswould
immediatelyabjureOrthodoxy,togetherwithalltheirfaithful.Theyweremuch
mistaken,forhardly5or6prieststhroughoutTransylvaniadidactthatway.Itisalso
worthwhilenoticingthat,farfrombeingfollowedbytheirownflock,someofthem,on
thecontrary,wereperemtorilyrequestedtovacatetheirparishesatonce.Thereasonwhy
theyhadresortedtoapostasywaseithertheirfailuretoobtainurbanparishes,astheyhad
asked,ortheirutterlackofpriestlyconsience,sincetheywereonlyoutformaterial
gains.Afewothersweremere"opportunists",i.e.oldpriestswhohadrevertedto
Orthodoxyin1948,hadlongservedinOrthodoxChurchsuddenlyremembered,
immediatlyafterDecember1989,thattheyhadbeeninitially"unitedtoRome".When
weretheyactuallysincere?Therearealsosomepriests,ordainedbefore1948,whonever
relapsedbacktoOrthodoxybutfunctionedasteachersorbookkeepersinvariousState
institutionsthroughout19481989,someofthemevenpossessingthepreciousred
bookletsprovingtheiradherencetothecommunistparty,ofsadmemory,which,
vanishedwithoutatracein1989(suchanexpriestactuallyactedas"partysecretary"ina
SighetuMarmatieischool).TheypromptlyresumedtheircassockafterDecember1989.
Obiouslyallarenowintheirseventiesoreveneighties.Otherpristsarethoseordained
"clandestinely",asMetropolitanAlexandruTodeahimselfformallystatedinaninterview
grantedtothe"Flacara"(Flame)magazineinJanuary1990.Anyway,inearly1990,
manyUniatepriestswereordainedbytherecentlyappointedbishops,allrecruitedamong
professors,doctors,bookkeepersandotherssuch.

WhythenisitthattheOrthodoxChurchissoseverelyreprimandedtohaveallegendly
closelycooperatedwiththeodiousatheisticregimethroughout19441948?Thusfor
istance,inacablesentbyMetropolitanAlexandruTodeatoMr.NicolaeStoicescu,ex
ReligiousAffairsMinister,theRomanianOrthodoxChurchwastermed"ashaving
betrayedthenationinmomentoushistoricinstances"(seethe"Dimineata"(Morning)
dailydatedFebruary24th1990).Noteventherecentlyovertherowncommunistleaders
daredasmuch!OrisitsimplythatMetropolitanAlexandruTodeautterlyignoresthe
greatcontributionoftheRomanianOrthodoxChurch,throughhistory,tothepromotion
ofcultureandartistry,totheedificationofawholenation'smoralreligiouslife,ortothe
creationofapeacefulatmosphere,thatshouldforeverreignamongtheinhabitantsofour
country?Theverysamemetropolitan,inaninterviewgrantedtothebroadcasting
network"FreeEurope"onAugust27th1990,claimedthatthereasonwhycommunism
inRomaniaruledmoreharshlythaninanyotherEastEuropeancountry,istobesolely
ascribedtothefactthatitwasfirmlysupportedbytheOrthodoxChurch!Howareweto
judgesuchwildassumptions?

TheroleplayedbytheRomanianOrthodoxChurchisequallyslighted,ifnotdownright
contestedordenied,inmanyotherpressarticles.Inexchange,itisstronglyclaimedthat
theUniateChurchneverfailedthepeopleduringdecisivehistoricalevents,suchas:the
Transylvanianscooltrend,the1848Revolution,the1918politicalUnion,thefight
againstthe1940ViennaDictate,theresistanceagainstcomminism,a.s.o.(seethe12th
issue,datedMarch6th1990,page4,ofthe"Adevarulinlibertate"(Truthwithfreedom)
publishedinCluj).Therespectiveauthorsneverthelessfailtomentionthebrutaland
fraudulentmannerinwhichtheunionwithRomewasactuallyachievedin16971761,
withthemasivesupportofMagyarJesuitsdespatchedbyEmperorLeopoldIorof
GeneralBukow'stroops,sentbyEmpressMaryTheresia,nottomentionourforefathers'
diresufferingsthroughouttheXVIIIthcentury.Yettheyneverfailtoremindusofthe
sacrificesustainedbyUniatehierarchs,manyofwhomdiedincommunistprisonsor
labourcamps,orofthemanyUniatepriestorfaithfulwhotoiledandperishedatthe
DanubeBlackSeecanal.Anyway,whathastheOrthodoxChurchtodowiththat?As
thoughnumberlessOrthodoxpriestsandfaithfulwerenotequallyimprisoned,tortured
andkilledbythesamecommunists!Weretheyreallypersecutedbecauseoftheir
Orthodox,or,forthatmatter,Uniate,faith?Letallsuchauthorsbeatleastsincereand
admitthatallwereactuallyapprehendedandkeptinprisonduetopoliticalreasons
howeverimaginary,itisquitetrue,andirrespectiveoftheirconfession!Whyshouldwe
forgetaboutthecruelfateofourgreatOrthodoxtheologians,suchasprofessorsIlarion
FeleafromAradandLiviuGalactionMunteanufromCluj(bothkilledatAiud),Nichifor
Crainic,TeodorM.Popescu,DumitruStaniloaeandIonV.Georgescuorarchimandrite
BenedictGhius,SofianBoghiu,GrigoreBabus,ValeriuVartolomeuAnania,all
Bucharest?OvertenpriestsarestilllivinginSibiu,headedbyMetropolitanAntonie,
whobarelygotoutcommunistprisonsalive(someofthemafterover20years'
reclusion).

ItisalsowronglyclaimedthattheUniatehierarcywastheonlyonetohaveundergone
persecutionsafter1948.OneshouldbynomeansomitthesufferingsoftheOrtodox
hierarcs,throughouttheverysameperiod.LetusremembertheBassarabiaandBukovina
hierarchs,compelledtoabandontheirflocksasearlyas1944.Leusthinkofallthose
whosediocesesveryarbitrarlysuppressedin1948,whereupontheywereforcibly
deposedorremovedtovariousmonasteries(suchGrigoreLeu,fromHusi,Veniamin
NistorfromCaransebes,PartenieCiopronfromthearmy,a.s.o.)Letusequellyremember
BishopPolicarpMorusca,preventedfromreturningtohisfaithfulinAmericaandmany
AssistantBishopswhoseseeswerealsosuppressedatthattime.Ofworthymemoryis
alsoBishopNicolaePopovicifromOradea,whoin1950dareddemandtheyouth's
catechizationinpublicscools,whereuponhewasimmediatelydeposed(althoughhardly
47yearsold)anddespatchedtoCheiaMonastery,wherehewasconfinedtillhisdeath).

OnthebasisofhithertomentionedDecreeno.9/1989,MetropolitanAlexandruTodea,
secondedbymanyUniatebishopsandpriests,aswellasbyseveralscholars,
peremptorilyrequired,inrudearticlesandharshterms,whollydevoidofobjectivity,
immediaterestitutionofwhateverpropertybelongedtotheirChurchin1948("restitutio
inintegrum"),namely:allgoodshavingbelongedtoformerUniateparishes(whether
churches,parishhousesorcemeteries),andnowbelongingtoOrthodoxparishes(asa
resultoftheformeruniatefaithfulhavingrejoinedtheirMotherChurch),aswellas
whatevergoodswereseizedbytheStateasperDecreeno.358/1948(therebyforgetting
theirownpreviousabusiveseizureofmanybuildings,forestsandarablelandsbelonging
totheOrthodoxChurchfromtimesimmemorial).Raisingsuchclaimisuselessanyway,
consideringthatonApril9th1990,duringthemeetingheldinBucharest,withpresident
IonIliescuhimselfattending,byallhierarcsoftheTransylvanianOrthodoxChurchwith
thoseoftheGreek(Eastern)RiteCatholicChurch,itwasunanimouslyandexpressly
agreedthatworshipplacesbedistributedtoUniatesonlyinstrictproportionwiththe
officialyregistrednumberoftheirfaithfulineachparish!Well,sofaronlysuchisolated
requestswererecorded,especiallyintownsorinafewruralparishes,madebyex
Orthodoxpriests,andnotbythewholecommunity!TheVicarGeneraloftheCluj
GherlaDiocesesubsequentlystronglyprotestedagainstthisverydecision(takenbyhis
ownsuperiorhierarcs!),requiringrestitutionofallproperties,whetherarbitrarilyseized
fromtheOrthodoxChurchornot!Theverysamevicarmoreoverclaimsthattheex
UniatefaithfulasawholearebeingcompelledtoremainwithinthepaleoftheOrthodox
Church,whichwouldactuallyamount"toaspiritualgenocide,sincetheyaresubjectedto
priestsforciblyappointedbyanillegitimatehierarchy".TheVicargoesonassertingthat
theUniateChurchnownumbersnoleasthanthreemillionfaithful!Thetruthisthatback
in1948theyhardlyamountedtoonemillion,whereasnowtherearehardlyafew
thousandsleftofthem.(seethe"Dreptatea"(Justice)dailyofMay30th1990,issueno.
94,page3).

Facedwithsuchludicrousclaimsandaccusations,wecannotbutenquire:howcanone
possiblyraisesuchgroundlessclaims?Everyoneknowsthatsuchproperty,farfrom
belongingtotheOrthodoxChurchortoherhierarcs,entirelybelongstotheparishes
themselves,i.e.tothelocalfaithfulcommunities,aslawfullyrecognizedlegalpersons.
Therespectiveparishes,whethermadeupofoldOrthodoxbelieversorofexUniates
reunitedin1948,areneverthelesswhollyOrthodoxnowadays,beingbaptizedandraised
withintheMotherChurch,asequalsonsofthesameRomanianpeopleandofthesame
rightfulOrthodoxfaith!

Therearemanywhoevenclaim"therestitutionofconsciences".Thusthe"Viata
Crestina"(ChristianLife)periodicalinCluj,publishedinseveralsuccesiveinssues,the
statisticsoftheformerUniatedioceses,suppressedin1948.ManyoldUniatepriestsand
hierarcsabsolutelyrefusetotakenowadays'realityintoconsideration,namelythe
considerablesocioeconomi,culturalanddemographicalchangeshavingoccurredduring
suchalonglapseoftime.Thus,tobemoreconcrete,thevastmajorityofexuniateshave
bynowlongforgottentheinsignificantdoctrinaryorganizationalorliturgicaldifferences,
therebywhollyintegratingintotheiroldMotherChurch,asEminescuusedtocallour
OrthodoxChurch.Mostoftheyouthfulbelievershavenever,ifatall,heardabout
Uniatism.ExUniatepriestshavelongandfaithfullyservedatouraltars,many
youngstersfromfformerUniateparisheshavefollowedthecoursesofourOrthodox
Institutesandseminaries,lovinglyservingtodayeitherinformerlyOrthodoxorin
formerlyUniateparishes.Theoldchurcheshavebeenrestoredandfreshlypainted,or
newchurcheshavebeenerectedinmostofformerUniateparishes.Throughoutthe
totalitarianera,allpriestandfaithfulhavebeenworkingprayingandsufferingtogether
(irrespectiveoftheirspiritualallegiancebefor1948),lookingforwardtotheirrelease
fromdarknessandoppression.ThusitisthatthecrushingmajorityofexUniatefaithful
isreluctanttoreverttoUniatism,clingingtoOrthodoxy,whichfaithwaseversharedby
allRomanians,onbothsidesoftheCarpathians.Exceptforafewagedscholars(who,
incidentally,duringthedictatorship,eitherconcealedtheirtruereligiousfeelingor
frequentedMagyarRomanCatholicchurches),howmanypracticingfaithfularethere
stilllefttothesocalledGreek(orEastern)RiteCatholicChurch?Herhierarcsorpriests
couldwellseeitforthemselveswhileostensiblyofficiatingtheirliturgies"intheopen",
inpublicsquares,allegedlyforlackofproperworshipplace,therebydisplayingthe
constant"persecution"theyarebeingsubjectedtobothbytheRomanianOrthodox
ChurchandbyStateofficials.Thusforinstance,onlyabout3000to5000faithful
throughoutTransylvaniamanagedtogatheratBlaj,onFreedomMoor,fortheLiturgy
celebratedonMarch18th1990,despitetherepeatedpressinvitationsand
announcements.ItisfurtherofmajorsignificancethattensofthousandsofOrthodox
(formelyUniate)faithfulattendedin1990thepatronalfeastsoftheOrthodoxNecula,
BixadandPrislopmonasteries(forcefullyclosedbyGeneralBukowin1761).TheUniate
hierarcsneverthelessclaimtherestitutionofallchurchestheypossessedbackin1948,
evendeprivedoftheirfaithful!

SucharestitutionastheywishcouldonlybeachievedthroughGeneralBukow's
barbarouspractices,backin1761,whenhearbitrarlygranted515OrthodoxChurchesto
theUniates.Foreverone'sinformation,wewouldstressthefactthattheGreekCatholic
Churchalreadydisposesofmanyprivatechaples,whicharemorethanenoughforher
fewbelieversandadherents.Furthermore,inBaiaMareProtopopiate,Orthodoxpriests
evensuggestedauthenticRomanianbrotherhood,effectiveimmediately,byjointor
alternativeworshipinthesameOrthodoxchurches,byofferingtoprovidematerial
assistancetobuildnewchurchesortohireprivateresidenceswhereintosetupchapels.
Allsuchproposalswereutterlyrejected.StillmoresignificantisthecaseoftheLugoj
churchpresentedbytheTimisoaraArchdiocesetotheUniatesforthesakeofpeace.
Oncehehedtakenitover,theLugojUniateBishop,IoanPloscaru(80yearsold),
hastened,asallegingthatithadbeen"defiled"bytheOrthodox.We'restillintheDark
Ages,apparently!

Moreover,inmanycasesGreekCatholicsareresortingtoopenviolenceagaingstthe
Orthodox,tryingtoarbitrarlyseizethelatter'schurches.Ashiningexampleisthe
incidentoccasionedinBaiaMare,onNovember11th1990,whenasmallgroupofupto
200Uniates,broughttherefromneighbouringvillages,attemptedtohinderbyundue
violencetheceremonyoftheenthrounementofthenewOrthodoxBishopofMaramures,
firstbypreventingthehierarcsfromenteringduringtheliturgy,whereasover300000
Orthodoxfaithfulwerepeacefullylisteningandpraying.

Furthermore,Uniatepriestsare,asoflate,becamingincreasinglyandvisiblyestranged
fromtheoldOrthodoxcanonical,dogmaticalandliturgicalrulesandregulations,stillin
force.Herebelowareafewsuchinstances:theyinvalidatetheOrthodoxsacramentsand
liturgies:thustheychristenasecondtime,theyignoremarriage,extremeunctionand
funerals;
theydonotfastbeforofficiatingtheHolyLiturgy;
theyfailtoobservethetraditionalfastsinstitutedbytheChurch;
veryoftentakethemselveandgivethefaithfulEucharistwithazymn;
farfromabidingbytheold"chaunts"commonlyusedintheUniteChurch,theynow
imitatethespecificRomanCatholicsongs;
theyoftendiscardOrthodoxgarmentsandpreferCatholicrobes;
theyoftenordainpriestsdevoidofanytheologicalbackgroundorformation.

AsagainstthetroublesnewlyfomentedbytheresurgenceofUniatism,theHolySynod
oftheRomanianOrthodoxChurchtookafirmyetconstructivestanceasearlyasJanuary
1990,byopenlydeclaringbothitsreadinessfordialogue,anditsdeterminationtorespect
everybeliever'sfreedomofconscience,whoshouldbelefttochoseforhimselfand
expresshisoptionforonecultoranother.TheHolySynodisfurtheroftheopinionthat
allchurchpropertyincludingplacesofworship,shouldbefairlydivided,instrict
accordancewiththeprincipleofproportionality.FacedhoweverwiththeUniates'
rejectionofdialogueandopenresorttoviolence,theHolySynodhaslaunchedseveral
appeals,allmadepublic,towardsrestoringconfessionalpeaceandgoodwillamongthe
sonsofthesamenation.Unfortunately,farfrombeingheardandcompliedwith,such
callsweredeliberatelyignoredorevenmisconstruedbyUniatehierarchs

Futureprospects
Inviewoftheabove,itisquitecleartoeveryonethatthepresentGreekCatholic
hierarchyisintentuponrestoringitsChurchinRomaniathroughthesamemeansof
constraint,intimidationandcheatingasweresounscrupulouslyesedbackintheXVIIth
century.Throughallhisacts,MetropolitanAlexandruTodeaonlydismantleshispeople's
unityoffaith,bysowinghateanddivisionamonghisownbrethren.Eventhoughno
longersupportedbytheJesuitsorbytheImperialCourtinVienna,heisfullyseconded,
inexchange,bythelocalRomanoCatholicBishops.Thisalsoaccountsforthefactthat
thebishopsofbothCatholic"rites"inRomaniahavelatelybeenholdingfrequent
meetingandconsultations,whilestubbonlyrejectingwhateverdialoguewiththe
representativesoftheOrthodoxChurchtheyhaveactuallyderivedandsplitfrom.
Uniatismobviouslybecomesanevergreaterdrawbackinthewayofthetenyearsold
theologicaldialoguebetweentheOrthodoxandtheRomanCatholicChurches.Thejoint
internationalCommissionforsuchdialoguemetinseveralplenarysessions:Patmos
1980,Munich1982,Crete1984,Bari19861987,NewValaamoFinland1988and
finallyFreising1990.OnDecember7th1965wereconcurrentlylifted,bothinRome
andinConstantinopole,byPopePaulVIandrespectivelybytheEcumenicalPatriarch
Athenagoras,theanathemasthrownonJuly16th/24th1054.

Duringthe6thPlenumoftheJointCommissionforOrthodoxRomanCatholic
Dialogue,heldinFreising,nearMunich,onJune7th/15th1990,Uniatismwas
discussedatlength.ItwasagainremarkedthatUniatismasamodelofrestoringChurch
Unity,automaticallyexcludeddialogue.Allthosepresent,includingCatholics,agreed
thatUniatismshouldberejected,asitisfoundedondivision,ontearingasunderthe
BodyofasisterChurch.Whereveritwasestablished,itbroughtaboutbutmiseryand
trouble,fomentingconstanttensionsbetweenthetwosisterChurches,namelythe
OrthodoxandtheCatholicones.

SincebothChurchesseeksinceredialogue,asameanstowardsrestoringChristianunity,
thesettingupoftheUniate(EasternRiteCatholic)Church,tornawayfromtheOrthodox
Churchandlyingbetweenthetwo,withoutcompletelysharingthedoctrineofeitherof
them,couldservebuttoembittertheirrelationsandhinderorblocksuchdialogue
altogether.Aprominentprofesso,suchasErnstChristianSuttnerfromtheVienna
CatholicTheologicalFacultydeems"CatholicismandUniatismasmutuallyexclusive"
(see"DialogueundUniatismns",inthe"UnaSancta"wouldbetheuseoftheUniate
Church,whokeepscausingnewtensionsentirelycontrarytotheecumenicalspirit,such
asitisproclaimedbyallChristianconfessions?Whowouldbenefitnowadaysofsuch
furtheranceofintestineconfessionaldissensions,whenTransylvaniaisalreadypreyto
muchmoreserioustroublesahead?Whyshouldwesplitagain,after42yearsofinternal
peace?Whooftoday'sfaithful,whowerebaptizedfourorfivedecadesago,wouldstill
caretoaccepttheteachingsaboutfilioque,thepurgatoryortheazymaorwouldagreeto
attendotherthanOrthodoxliturgies?ShallweagainbedividedforthesakeofthePope,
whomweshoulreverentlylookuponas"TheHeadoftheUniversalChristianChurch
andasSaintPeter'sSuccessor"?YetarewenotOrthodoxCristians,actuallythe
followersofhisbrother,theHolyApostleAndrew,"thefirstcalled"bytheRedemptor
(cf.John1,4041),whopreachedinourownDobrogea(thenScythiaMinor)and
convertedtheGetesandDacians?Shouldwenotratheradhere,inourmissionarywork,
tothe"primacy"ofservingtheRomanianpeople,insteadofthePope?

SinceRomaniansdidreach,evenintheirtenouspast,arealethical,linguistic,cultural
andspiritualunity,despiteunnaturalpoliticalboundaries,itisthemoresorequiredofus
todaytokeepinviolatetheunityoffaithwhichtheyhandeddowntousthroughcountless
generations,asasacredandinvaluableinheritance.Anyrelapseintofreshconffessional
divisionswouldactuallymeanabetrayalofourmajornationalinterests.

WethereforeallsharethesacreddutyofmaintainingtheunityoffaithdreamtofbyPetru
MaiorattheonsetoftheXIXthcentury,bythe1848revolutionarypatriots,bythe1918
unionists,bymetropolitansNicolaeBalanandAlexandruNicolescu,aswellasthose
presentattheAlbaIuliaassemblyachievedinthefulfilmentofthisglorioustask!Future
prospects

Inviewoftheabove,itisquitecleartoeveryonethatthepresentGreekCatholic
hierarchyisintentuponrestoringitsChurchinRomaniathroughthesamemeansof
constraint,intimidationandcheatingasweresounscrupulouslyesedbackintheXVIIth
century.Throughallhisacts,MetropolitanAlexandruTodeaonlydismantleshispeople's
unityoffaith,bysowinghateanddivisionamonghisownbrethren.Eventhoughno
longersupportedbytheJesuitsorbytheImperialCourtinVienna,heisfullyseconded,
inexchange,bythelocalRomanoCatholicBishops.Thisalsoaccountsforthefactthat
thebishopsofbothCatholic"rites"inRomaniahavelatelybeenholdingfrequent
meetingandconsultations,whilestubbonlyrejectingwhateverdialoguewiththe
representativesoftheOrthodoxChurchtheyhaveactuallyderivedandsplitfrom.
Uniatismobviouslybecomesanevergreaterdrawbackinthewayofthetenyearsold
theologicaldialoguebetweentheOrthodoxandtheRomanCatholicChurches.Thejoint
internationalCommissionforsuchdialoguemetinseveralplenarysessions:Patmos
1980,Munich1982,Crete1984,Bari19861987,NewValaamoFinland1988and
finallyFreising1990.OnDecember7th1965wereconcurrentlylifted,bothinRome
andinConstantinopole,byPopePaulVIandrespectivelybytheEcumenicalPatriarch
Athenagoras,theanathemasthrownonJuly16th/24th1054.

Duringthe6thPlenumoftheJointCommissionforOrthodoxRomanCatholic
Dialogue,heldinFreising,nearMunich,onJune7th/15th1990,Uniatismwas
discussedatlength.ItwasagainremarkedthatUniatismasamodelofrestoringChurch
Unity,automaticallyexcludeddialogue.Allthosepresent,includingCatholics,agreed
thatUniatismshouldberejected,asitisfoundedondivision,ontearingasunderthe
BodyofasisterChurch.Whereveritwasestablished,itbroughtaboutbutmiseryand
trouble,fomentingconstanttensionsbetweenthetwosisterChurches,namelythe
OrthodoxandtheCatholicones.

SincebothChurchesseeksinceredialogue,asameanstowardsrestoringChristianunity,
thesettingupoftheUniate(EasternRiteCatholic)Church,tornawayfromtheOrthodox
Churchandlyingbetweenthetwo,withoutcompletelysharingthedoctrineofeitherof
them,couldservebuttoembittertheirrelationsandhinderorblocksuchdialogue
altogether.Aprominentprofesso,suchasErnstChristianSuttnerfromtheVienna
CatholicTheologicalFacultydeems"CatholicismandUniatismasmutuallyexclusive"
(see"DialogueundUniatismns",inthe"UnaSancta"wouldbetheuseoftheUniate
Church,whokeepscausingnewtensionsentirelycontrarytotheecumenicalspirit,such
asitisproclaimedbyallChristianconfessions?Whowouldbenefitnowadaysofsuch
furtheranceofintestineconfessionaldissensions,whenTransylvaniaisalreadypreyto
muchmoreserioustroublesahead?Whyshouldwesplitagain,after42yearsofinternal
peace?Whooftoday'sfaithful,whowerebaptizedfourorfivedecadesago,wouldstill
caretoaccepttheteachingsaboutfilioque,thepurgatoryortheazymaorwouldagreeto
attendotherthanOrthodoxliturgies?ShallweagainbedividedforthesakeofthePope,
whomweshoulreverentlylookuponas"TheHeadoftheUniversalChristianChurch
andasSaintPeter'sSuccessor"?YetarewenotOrthodoxCristians,actuallythe
followersofhisbrother,theHolyApostleAndrew,"thefirstcalled"bytheRedemptor
(cf.John1,4041),whopreachedinourownDobrogea(thenScythiaMinor)and
convertedtheGetesandDacians?Shouldwenotratheradhere,inourmissionarywork,
tothe"primacy"ofservingtheRomanianpeople,insteadofthePope?

SinceRomaniansdidreach,evenintheirtenouspast,arealethical,linguistic,cultural
andspiritualunity,despiteunnaturalpoliticalboundaries,itisthemoresorequiredofus
todaytokeepinviolatetheunityoffaithwhichtheyhandeddowntousthroughcountless
generations,asasacredandinvaluableinheritance.Anyrelapseintofreshconffessional
divisionswouldactuallymeanabetrayalofourmajornationalinterests.

WethereforeallsharethesacreddutyofmaintainingtheunityoffaithdreamtofbyPetru
MaiorattheonsetoftheXIXthcentury,bythe1848revolutionarypatriots,bythe1918
unionists,bymetropolitansNicolaeBalanandAlexandruNicolescu,aswellasthose
presentattheAlbaIuliaassemblyachievedinthefulfilmentofthisglorioustask!

ENCLOSURE
UniatescolarsreferringtotheUnionwiththeChurch
ofRome
1.InochentieMicuontheRomanians'situationafter1701

"ThereforedoboththeUniateclergyandtheRomanianpeoplenowbitterlycomplain
that,despitehavingmadeuseofallimaginablemeanstoprovetheirtrueandsincere
adherencetotheUnion,yethavetheygainednothingsofartherebybeingstilldeemed
neitherschismaticsnorCatholics.ForLatinriteCatholicslookdownonthemandaccuse
themoflukewarmzeal.ThusdoUniatesnowrealizethattheyhadfaredmuchbetter
whileschismatics,forthenweretheyalwaysprotected,bothbyRomanianprincesandby
Muscovy,whosemanifoldsopportrenderedthemfarmorenoteworthy,bothatthe
ImperialCourtandinTransylvania.Andevenweretheirdesiresnottobefulfilled,yet
didtheyatleastdeemitnoinjurytothemselves,astheywellknewtheywerebyno
meansentitledtosuchastheywished".

(FromAugustinBunea'smonography:"BishopInnocentKlein",Blaj,1900,page119).

2.BishopInochentieMicuontheJesuittheologian

"Farfromdefendingtheclergyfromtheabusesoftheirhereticalbrethrenorfrom
enlighteningthemandguidingthemtowardstruth,theJesuittheologiansareonlyintent
uponconverting,nay,uponestrangingRomaniansfromtruth.Forfarfrombeingguided
byapostoliczeal,inwhichcasetheywouldhaveamplemanoeveringroomwithinthe
Magyarnationitself,theyaremostlyledbythekeendesiretofurtherdiminishand
destroythealreadyshakyfoundationoftheUniateBishop.Theymightwellcontent
themselveswiththeirClujCollegiumandwiththeirrichresidencesinSibiu,AlbaIulia,
BrasovandOrhei,whencetheyarefreetodespatchwhateverpropagatorsoftheCatholic
faiththeyplease.Yetfarfromdeemingthatproper,theyratherseekrestthanwork,and
ratherthanconvertingthemselsesintonewapostles,theywouldlorditoverbishopsand
clergyandwouldseizepartofthe3000florinsamountdestinedtothebishop,without
takingintoaccountthefactthattheUniateclergyisutterlydestitutebothoffoodand
garments.Quitethecontrary,theywouldliketoalsobringthebishoptoruin,whichin
facttheyhavealreadymanagedtoachieve,asthelatter,whohardlyhasadecenthomeof
hisown,mustnowalsoprovidefortheJesuit'squarters,forhisvegetablesandfor
whateverisfurtherrequieredbothbyhimselfandbyhishorses,therebybecomes
actuallythelatter'spurveyor.Suchisthedire,fallenstateoftheepiscopaldignitytoday!
Suchisourmiserablelot,whoselikeishardlytobefoundanywherealseinEurope!"

(FromAugustinBunea:"BishopInnocentKlein",Blaj1900,pages149150,excerptfromamemoirdated
September14th1741).

3.SamuilMicuontheJesuittheologian

"AnotherDiplomawasinssuedthisyear(1701)byEmperorLeopold,whoseoriginal
beingfoundlacking,rumoursofitwerereceivedwithconsiderablesuspicion:foritwas
claimedthattheactwasonlyenactedforthebenefitoftheJesuittheologianattachedto
theRomanianbishop,thattheformer'spositionmaythusbefurtherstrenghtened.Thatis
accountabletothefactthatvariousRomanianBishop,suchasBaronInochentieKlein
andPetruPavelAron,openlyexpressedtheirloathingofsuchdiploma,whichtheywould
notacknowledge.ForinhisdonationgrantedtoBishopAtanasie,inssueduponthevery
samedayoftheyearwhentheSecondLeopoldineDiplomawasalsoinssued,the
EmperorpraisedAtanasieIforhiswitandlearning,whereasinthediplomahestipulated
thatthereasonwhyaJesuitpaterisattachedtohim,ashisLatintheologianandcausarum
auditorgeneralis(i.e.ecclesiasticaljudge)laypreciselyinAtanasie'sownignoranceof
canonicalregulations.

Atthatverytime,directionswereissuedbyArchbishopKollonichofStrigonium,
carefullydetailingtherightsanddutiesoftheJesuittheologian.Accordingtothose
instructions,thewholeepiscopalchargewaswhollyassumedbythetheologian,whereas
thebishopwasonlyleftwithanemptytitle,sothathemightwellbetermedthe
theologian'svicar.Otherofficialinstructions,allegedlyissuedbytheHolySee,further
reducedthebishop'spowerandauthoritybyplacingtheJesuitaboveboththebishopand
theclergy,forthebishopwasnowforbiddeneithertopayvisits,ortoordainpriests,or
topunishunrulybehaviour,ortopresideoverjudgement,ortoissuedirectionstohis
ownclergy,ortohireorremovehisownservantswithoutthetheologian'sprevious
consent,ortowriteanddespatchletterswithoutfirstshowingthemtothetheologian,or
eventocoveneasynodortogiveadvisewithoutthetheologianagreeingtoallthatand
more".

(FromGheorgheSincai's"Works.VolumeIII,RomanianChronicle",editorFloreaFugariu,Bucharest,
1969,pages262263).

4.GheorgheSincaionUniatism

"Uniatismfinallyprovedbeneficialtopriestsonly,fortheyweretherebyexemptedfrom
manyhardshipsalthoughwithgreatreluctance,whereasthenobilitytherebyreapedno
advantagewhatsoever.IndeedtheLatins(Catholics)hadreachedtheiraimofprevailing
overtheCalvinists(byfarthestrongeratthattime),throughcheatingtheRomaniansand
thusalluringthemintotheirowncamp.

WithoutoffencetothosesincerelydevotedtotheChurchofRome,letusconfessthat
Uniatismwasneverachieved,norisvalid,outofgenuineattachmenttoCatholic
customs,butitwasonlyacceptedonconditionthatweRomaniansmightstillclingtoour
Easternrites,forthefourflorentinedivergingpoints(forgivemeformyrudeness)are
notonlyutterlyignoredbythemassofilliterateandstupidRomanians,butalsohardly
comprehendedatallbyourveryscholars,whousuallymisinterpretthemandcanbarely
makethemselvesunderstoodonetoanother".

(FromGheorgheSincai's"Works.VolumeII,RomanianChronicle"editedbyFloreaFugaciu,Bucharest,
1969,page184).

5.PetruMaioronBishopIoanPatachi(17231727)
andhisliturgicalinnovations

"Athanasie'ssuccesor,asbishopofTransylvaniaRomanians,upontheformer'sdeath,
waselectedIoanPatachiorNemes,onwhomtheEmperorhadbestowedthetitleof
"liberbaro".AlthoughbornRomanianandOrthodox,hehadembracedCatholicism,
wherefrom,uponbeingelectedbishopbyTransylvanianRomanians,heagainrelapsedto
Orthodoxy.Ipersonallyheard,whenbutachild,oureldersvouchforhisadherenceto
Popishfaith:someofthemevenassuredthathehadjoinedtheJesuits.

IoanPatachiprovedtoberatherascholasticthanadogmaticaltheologian,sincehe
absolutelyforbadetheuseofthe"Sevensacramentschurchbook"printedinRamnicin
1724,whichmaintainsthatduringtheHolyLiturgybreadisconvertedintothebody,and
wineintotheblood,ofourLordJesusChrist,asaresultofthefollowingwords:"Turn
ThouthisbreadintoThinehonouredChrist'sbodyandthecontentsofthishereglass,
intoThinehonouredChrist'sblood".HadwereallytakenBishopIoanPatachi'sorder
seriously,wewouldthenhavehadtodiscardthebooksofthemostlearnedLatin
scholars,whoequallyteachandstronglyprovethattheeucharistisreallyfulfilled
throughsuchwords.

AssoonastheJesuittheologianwasimposedontheRomanianBishop,hehastened,as
thoughitwerehisutmostconcern,toabolishtheOrthodoxcustomtoallowdivorcesin
caseofadulteryandtoacknowledgesubsequentmarriagesinthatparticularinstance,by
introducingthePapists'entirelyoppositelaw.Hehadtimedhisactionwell,forBishop
IoanPatachihadnotonlystudiedtheologyinaCatholicschool,buthadhimselfabided
bythePopishlawforlongyears.Thusitwasthatboth,equallyfamiliarwithCatholicism
andquiteignorantofOrthodoxy,utterlyimposedthisnewlaw,forbiddinganydivorce.
NeverthelessRomaniansstillclungtoGreekOrthodoxy,fortheyhadonlyacceptedthe
UnionwithTomeonconditionthatnoPopishcustomshouldeverbeimposedonthem
eitherbytheirownBishop,or,muchlessso,byforeigners".

(FromPetruMaior's"HistoryoftheRomanianChurch",Buda,1813,pages376377,384,385,387)

6.PetruMaioronUniatistpropagandaunder
BishopAtanasieRednic(17641772)

"ThereafterBishopAthanasieRednic,PetruPavelAron'ssuccessor,decidedtogopreach
Uniatismalloverthecountryhimself,soastopersuadetheOrthodoxtoacceptthe
Union.Nowhewasratherenclinedtobeamonkthanabishop,forhewasaroughman,
notgiventotamingoralluringthemob:thushewoulddragtheOrthodoxinirons,tohis
gatherings,forcingthemtolistentohissermons,forthemostpartfullofbookishness
unintelligibletothecommunbulk.FurthermorehehadhadtheFlorentinecouncilpainted
onabigcanvas,quiteresemblingahugetree.IfIrememberright,Photius,the
ConstantinopolitanPatriarch,wasdepictedinthemannerofabrokenbranch.Amongthe
attendingfatherwasalsodepictedPetruPavelAron,thelatebishop,familiartoallbyhis
figureandbearing.Amongtheaudiencewereconversantwiththehistoryofthe
FlorentineCouncil,heldin1439.AndsincePetruPavelAronhadneveractuallyattended
theFlorentineCouncil,asheappearedtohave,inthatpainting,allpriestskeptderiding
thepreacher'steaching,whichtheydeemedentirelyfalse,sothatthecommonpeople
wouldequallyabhorboththepaintingandthebishop.SoitwasthatallBishop
Athanasie'spainsweretonoavail,whereuponhewouldreturnhome,dumbfoundedand
discomfited,togetherwithhislearnedclerks".

(FromPetruMaior's"HistoryoftheRomainianChurch",Buda,1813,pages114115).

7.PetruMaioronUniateTheologians

"Therearestillthoseamonguswho,havingstudiedtheologyinRome,firmlybelieve
thatalltruthderivestherefrom,totheextentthattheywouldgladlylaydowntheirvery
livesforthesakeofthePope'sdominion.Oh,woulditthatGodhadprotectedour
Romaniannationfromsuchscholarsandtheologians,whowouldprevailoverallthrough
theirpompoushabitsandglisteninggarments.Whenevertheyopentheirmouthsabout
Rome,theyexpectyoutostopspeakinginstantly,nottobudgeandtolistenflabber
gasted.Assoonasyouattempttocontradicttheirfabulousargumentswiththesupportof
theHolyFathers,oftheoldcanonsandoftheancienthistoryoftheChurch,youare
taxedasbeingschismaticandworsethanheretic.Theyactuallyexpecteveryonetobow
lowtothem,tocallthemrabbis,nay,excellenciesoreminences,allwhichtitlesare
againstmonkishregulations.And,tocrownitall,theyaretherebyconvincedthatthey
striclyabidebyChurchcanonsandfaithfullyserveGod.Otempora,omores!".

(FromPetruMaior's"Procanon",secondedition,publishedbyProt.Dr.GrigoreMarcu,Sibiu,1948,pages
6869).

8.SimionBarnutiu(18081864)ontheUnionwith
theChurchofRome

"WhileRomaniansweregallantlyopposingsuchdirecalamities,Transylvania'sCatholic
Magyarshadfallenquitelowandtheirnumberhadconsiderablydiminishedunderthe
ruleoftheReformedPrinces,sothattheywereutterlyunabletoachieveanythingatall,
whetherintheDietortowardssupportingtheirownCatholicbrethren.Nowthen,
availingthemselves,intheirpredicament,oftheopportunityofhavingbeenconquered
bytheHouseofAustria,theytriedtoallureRomanianstoanewconvenant,bybinding
themselve,underoath,tograntthemalltherights,privilegesandfavoursenjoiedbythe
CatholicChurch,providedonlythattheywouldrenouncetheEasternOrthodoxChurch
andwouldadheretotheWesternCatholicone.Thataccountsforthefactthatthe
Romanians,intheiranxietytogetoutoftheirsoreplight,finallyacceptedsuchunion
withtheHungarians(Ideliberatelyrepeatit:withHungarians,notwithRome),for
increasingtheCatholicfaithandimprovingtheRomanians'lotwerebynomeansthe
aimspursuedbyHungarians,thelattermerelytaingdueadvantageofsuchfavourable
circumstancesaswerementionedabove,soastoattractRomaniansintheirowncamp.
Indeed,littledidtheycarefortheRomanians'soulorhappiness,theywerebuteagerto
subjectthem,insteadoftheCalvinisticSuperintendent,totheAlbaIuliaBishoportothe
ClujJesuitrector.ThatiswayImadeboldtosaythat,farfromseekingtheRomanians'
welfare,theHungarianswereonlyintentonsecuringtheirownsupremacy.Thatisalso
whyIfurtherventureaddthattheStrigonium(Esztergom)Archbishopactuallyascribe
suchuniontothedesireofupholdingtheMagyarChurchandofsubjectingand
dismantlingtheRomanianone.ThatiswhytheArchbishopmanagedtopersuadeboth
EmperorLeopoldandmanyRomaniansthereto.Thatiswhyhespreaditamongstthe
Jesuits.

ItwasalsotheStrigoniumArchbishopwhoafterwordsestrangedpartoftheRomanians
therefrom,throughhisunpopularJesuits,andwhoisquitelikelytofurtheralienatethe
heartsofalltherest,shouldhefurtherinsistuponhisclaimsofimposinghis
metropolitanate,protectorate,primacy,supremacy,orwhateverelsehechosestocallit,
upontheRomanianChurch.ForitwasunderthewingofthisStrigoniumArchbishopric
thattheJesuitsusedtomanufactureforgetdiplomas,ImperialdecreesandPapalbulls
directedtotherenewedsubjectionoftheRomanianChurchunderthenameofFagaras
Bishopric.TheRomanianpriests'simplicityalonepreventedtheutterdownfallofthe
RomanianMetropolia,fortheykept,evenaftertheUnion,chauntingastheyhadalways
usedtodointheirownchurches,andwouldstillbowtotheirownarchbishop,muchto
thePapists'discomfitureandrout.

LetusneverthelessadmitthatfromsuchUnionsprangasuntoafount,considerable
materialreliefaid,whichtheRomanianswereinsoreneedof,astheCalvinisticPrinces
hadutterlydeprivedthemofwhatevergoodstheirChurchhadpreviouslyowened.Letus
furtheradmitthattheveryprivilegenowenjoyedbyRomanianpriestsnottopersonally
sitinjudgementunlessbeforanecclesiasticalcourtoftheirownwasduetotheUnion.
LetusalsoadmitthattheBlajschoolsthemselvewereestablishedasaresultofthissame
Union,wherefrommanyRomanianswereenlightened,byenablingthemtostudyabroad
andthustorestoreustothebeginningsofourhistoryandtoreawakenourconscienceto
ourRomanorigin,therebysowinganewtheseedsofancestralvirtuesinDacia'ssoil.Let
usevenfinallyadmitthatitwastheUnionwhichshooktheRomaniansoutoftheir
torpor,bybreathingnewlifeintothemandbyinspiringandpromptingthemtostrive
evensinceInochentieMicu,towardsbetteringourlot.Yetletusnotforgettoequally
recollectthemanywoundsdtoourbodypoliticthroughtheUnion,ifwereallywishto
setourrelationshipswiththeHunsoundbasesineveryrespect.

AssoonastheUnionwascompleted,therewastheJesuitpaterrectorpresidingoverour
synodalmeetingsinthesamaplaceformelyheldbythereformedsuperintendentand
therealsowastheJesuittheolgiancloselysupervisingourbishop,whoseeverystephe
keepswatchingasthoughhewereamalefactor.Whatdiferenceisit,I'maskingyou,
betweensuperintendentofTefecsandJesuitBaranyi?Whichoneofthemprovedtobe
morebeneficialtousRomanians?ImmediatelyupontheUnion,TheCatholicBishopin
AlbaIuliasubjectedourownArchbishop,byappointinghimhisVicarandkeptscolding
andwatchingandobstrutinghim,whereastheArchbishopofStrigoniumpromptly
strippedhimofhisarchepiscopaldignitybyappointinghimhissuffraganBishop,
therebyagainplacingourChurchunderHungariandomination.Ourclergywasthereby
inducedtonewservility,coupledwithdisgustinginfatuation,whichthisfreshservitude
favours,especiallyasagainstNonUniates,whoenjoynoprivileges.Whatsinhasour
Churchcommitted(letusask,asBishopInochentiedid)thatthemereadherencetoheris
nowconsideredasinfamousdesertionfromthetruefaith,unlesshavingagreedtosuch
Unionbeindeedamostgrievoussin?ForthisUnionbroughtaboutsuchbitterhate
amongstusRomaniansthatishasbeenragingunabatedforovereightyyearsnow.
Pardonme,brothers,forIwouldratherforbeartodescribethehellishfurywhichtoreour
peopleapartduringthoseunhappytimes,orthequarrelsthatbrokebetweenfathersand
sons,orthefrequentfightsbetweenbrothers,occurringfornoreasonatall,ortorelate
howourpriestskeptanathematizingoneanother,whileMagyarnoblemenandbishops
werehardatworkpleadingwiththeCourtforforcibleUnion,exhortingUniatebishops
andmonkstoprozelytizeamongstRomanians,whoweretooblindtoseethattheyhad
becomemeretoolswherebyHungarianenvykeptfomentingintestinedissentionsintheir
midst.WhocouldevertellRomanians'sufferingsduringthosetroubles?Thesocalled
NonUniateswereleftdestitute,withoutpriestsandwithoutbishops,tilltheyfellunder
Serbiandominion.Therewasnolawtoprotectthemintheirwnland,whereasthe
delegateswhomtheirenemiesconstantlydespatchedtheirbondage.Sointorelablewere
thehardshipsenduredbytheRomaniannationaftertheUnion,thatasearlyas1735,that
isjust35yearslater,theUniateprotopopeNicoaraBoianuutteredthisbittercomplaintto
BishopIonichie:"IverymuchfearthattheonlygainweshalleverreapoutofthisUnion
ofourswillbebrotherlyhateandcruelremorse".Shortlyafterwards,anotherprotopope,
preachingwithinthewallsofthisverychurchcriedoutinanguish:"TheRomanianwere
grosslycheatedintoUniatism".Onlyitwasfartoolateforlamentationsnow:hateamong
brothersrandeep,whiletheRomanians'sleeplessenemieskeptconstantwatchlestsuch
hellishflamesshouldeverbeextinguished".

(FromSimionBarnutiu's"RomaniansandHungarians.SpeechutteredintheBlajCathedralonMay2
nd/14th1848".PrefaceandcommentsbyG.BogdanDuica,Cluj,1924;apudCorneliaBadea,"The
Romanians'1848Revolution.Anaccountsubstantiatedbydatesandtestimonies",volumeI,Bucharest,
1982,pages456458).

9.AugustinTeboniuLaurian(18101881)ontheecclesiasticaldivision
ofTransylvanianRomanians

"BesidesalltheseImperialDeceesandOrders,Transylvania'sGovernmentandDiet
provedsoskilfullinmessingeverithingup,thatRomanianswereleftassorelyoppressed
anddespoiledoftheirrightsastheywerebeforetheUnion.Accordingtoimperial
derceescompleteequalityshoulhavereignedamongstthefouraccknowledgeconfession,
namelyCatholic,Lutheran,CalvinisticandAryan(orUnitarian),meaningthattheclergy
shouldhaveenjyedequalfreedomsandexemptionsandthelaymenequalrights,in
accordancewiththeirrespectivestatusofnoblemen,freecitizensorserfs.Beingnow
includedamongstCatholics,Romanianswerefullyentitled,bothpoliticallyand
eclesiastically,topartakeofallbenefitsenjoyedbythelatter,fromthemostexalted
nobilitydowntothehumblestpeasantry.Catholicshadconsiderablyincreasedin
numberasaresultoftheRomanian'sUnion,asagainsttheothersects,whichtheybyfar
exceeded...".

"FarfromreapingsubstantialgainsasaresultoftheUnion,Romanianslostalot
therebyexceptforminorexemptionsenjoyedbysomeoftheclerk.Thusweredeprivedby
theprevailingheterodoxoftheirformerindependenceasRomaniansandEastern
Orthodox;theylosttheirArchdiocese,whichwaspromptlydegradedintoamere
Bishopric,closelysubjectedtoJesuitcensorship.Theyevenlosttheirownnationality.
FormostoftheRomanianswhogradually,andmostlyperchance,rose,duetotheirfresh
prerogativesasUniates,tohigherdignitiesthanthoseenjoyedbyCatholicMagyars,
wouldabjuretheEasternfortheWesternCatholicrite,byclaimingthattheywereboh
alike,therebyalsoestrangingthemselves,atastrokefromtheirownpeopleand
convertingthemselvesintoHungarians.Thereareonlytoomanysuchinstances.So
deplorablydemoralizingweresuchexamples,thattheRomanianationcouldneversoar
outofitsplebianstate,sincewhoeverrosetohighplacesorfavours,wouldimmediately
alsorenouncehisownpeople.Sucharethefarreachingconsequencesofthismachiavelic
corruption!Romaniansmustneedsknowthattheyaresuch,andevenshouldtheyallbe
turnedintoCatholics,yetshouldtheystandbyoneanotherasRomaniansandbeproudof
theirRomanextraction".

(From"MagazinistoricpentruDacia"(DacianHistoricalReview),volumeIV,Bucharest,1847,pages326
329).

10.AugustinTreboniuLauriantotheOrthodox
ProfessorNicolaeexortinghimtocontribute
totherestorationofChurchunity

"Whatabout,you,myfarawaybrother?Whydoyoukeepsilent,Whydoyouallsit
still?Nowisthetimetomeet,totalk,tosendpetitions,bothtotheGovermentandtothe
Saxons'Diet.LetallRomaniansgathertogetherasoneandproceedtotheirownunion.
AskforyourownRomanianarchbishopinTransylvania.BreakawayfromtheCatholic
Union.MantheBanatdioceseswithRomaniansonly.SetuptwobishopsinBanat,onein
Arad,oneinOradea,oneinBukovinaandtwomoreinTransylvaniaproper.Theyall
maywellclamourfortheirownRomanianarchbishop.ConveneageneralRomanian
synod".

(FromSilviuDragomir's"LettresexchangedbyTransylvanianscholarsin1848"in"HommagatoIon
Bianu",Bucharest,1927,pages156157.

11.AlexandruPapiuIarian(18281878)

"SuchweretheconditionunderwhichwasachevedtheRomaniansUnionwiththe
ChurchofRome":itwasthereforearealcompactconcludedbythemwithTransylvanian
Catholics,whowerethensorelyoppressedbyCalvinists.Itwasfurthermore,asfaras
Romaniansatleastwereconcerned,asincere,genuinepoliticalact,wherebythelatter
feltcertainthattheywouldnotjustescapepersecutionsandhardships,butthatthey
wouldalsogainequalrightswiththeothernationsandconfessions".

"Yet,farfromreapinganyadvantages,outofsuchUnionexceptforafewexemption
grantedtosomeclerksandhierarcs,Romaniansstoodtogainnothingatall,onthe
contrary,SaxonsandHungariansweresodeftintrespassingwhateverdecreesorlaws
wereinssuedbytheImperialCourt,thetupto1848,theystilldeemedRomaniansasa
toleratednation,byalwaysdistributingdignitiesamongthethreenationsandthefour
acknowledgeconfessions.TheyseldomappointedUniteRomaniansatallbyclaiming:
"It'struewenominetedaCatholic,butyouarealsoCatholics,sowhatdifferencedoesit
reallymake?"AsforthefreslyappointedUniteRomaniandignity,hewascompelledto
becameafullfledgedCatholic,therebyturningHungarian.ThusupperclassRomanian
inteligentsiawasquicklymagyarized,thereaftersuchrenegadesprovingmoredangerous
totheirformerbrethrenthanbornandbredHungariansthemselves.Immediatelyafterthe
Union,Romaniansalsolosttheirmetropolitanate,sincetheArchbishopinStrigonium
assumed,togetherwiththeprotectorate,therightoflordingitoverTransylvania's
Romaniansastheirmetropolitan.concurrently,heappointedfromamongthelower
clergyaJesuittheologiantosupervisetheRomanianbishop'sactions,whichhedidmore
strictlythanhadeverdonetheCalvinisticsuperintendentsbefore.Suchstepwasjustified
bytheBishop'sallegedignorance,whichhesharedwiththemassofthisfaithful".

"Latelyhowever,uponbecomingincreasinglyawareofhavingbeencheatedthroughthis
Union,furtherincensedbytheJesuits'arroganceandoutragerousconduct,many
Romanians,impelledbothbyfanaticismandbyignorance,andequallyinstigatedby
foreigners,whoneverfavouredtheirunion(asPetruMaiorwellsaid:foreignerswould
everfomenttheRomanians'division),havebeguntodeviatefromUniatism.Wallachian
andSerbianmissionariesroamingthecountrysideprozelytizing.Cruelhateandbloody
fraternalquarrelshavesprunguplikemushrooms,duetothedivergingopinionsof
UniatesandNonUniates".

(FromAlexandruPapiuIlarian's"HistoryoftheRomaniansinDaciaSuperior",volumeI,Vienna,1852,
pages5760).
12.AlexandruPapiuIlarianonUniatetheologians

"NotonlySincai,butalsoBishopMicuandmonkKlein,PetruMaiorandallthe
enlightenedscholarsinXVIIIthcenturyBlaj,werefullyawareofalltheevilsbrought
aboutbytheUnion.Harkye,RomanianJesuitsinOradeaMareorGherla,ye,who,
notwithstandingtoday'senlightenmentandfreedom,stilldareurgeRomanianstoattend
theCatholicCouncilinPesta,yewhoseboldnesspromptsyetobrestowthehatedand
strangenameofCatholicsuponusRomanians,ye,whobysuchcriminalmeans,still
strivetotearasunderaconsiderablesectionofournation,bewareyeofProphetSincai's
anathemasandhastentoconvertyourselves,whilethereisstilltime!".

(FromAl.PapiuIlarian"Gh.Sincailifeandworks",Bucharest,1870,pages3234).

13.UniteRevd.DrStefanPop(18661947)accountingforhisrelapseto
Orthodoxy,
onJune2nd1923

"ItwasnotoutofpersonalresentmentorduetoanyquarrelwithYourExcellencythatI
leftthepaleoftheGreekCatholicChurch.

Soasnottoannoyyoubythelenghtofmyargument,letmesolemnlyswearuntoyou:
thereasonsofmyrecantationarederivedfrommylifelongstudies,whichfully
persuadedmeofthepurityoffaithoftheEasternOrthodoxChurch,therebyalsofortifing
myotherinnerconviction,namelythattheEasternOrthodoxChurchistherealMother
ChurchoftheRomaniannation,whosefutureIcanonlythinkofwithintheframework
ofitsnationalautonomousandautocephalousChurch,freeofanyoutwardinterferences.

ThecarefulstudyofboththepastandthepresentoftheChristianChurchcanbutrender
anyone,anywhere,alwaysandforever,fully,utterlyandactivelyOrthodox.

ThehistoryofOrthodoxy,dulyblendedwithRomanian'spast,presentandfuture
existence,saintlyandinsollublybindsonetotheHolySynodoftheMotherland's
metropolis.Therecanbenoredemptingtruthandsoul'srestbeyondthisRomanian
OrthodoxMeccaofours:therecanbenonationallifeandpeace,nocompleteRomanian
bliss,outofHerpale!LetusferventlyhopethatourUniateRomaniansinTransylvania
andBanatwillfinallyrealizeitnowthat"thetimahasbeenfulfilled"afterovertwo
centuries'aimlesswanderingsandestrangement,andthathavingseenthetruthatlong
last,theywillhastentorejoinourtraditionalRomanianOrthodoxChurch".

(FromStafenPop's"RomaniantroublesaroundtheAradOrthodoxEpiscopalSee",Arad,1929,pagesII
III).
14.UniateProfessorRevd.Dr.IoanPasca(18921949)accountingforhisrelapse
toOrthodoxy(January1st1924)

I,undersigned,herebyresignfromallfunctionshithertoentrustedtomycare.Yetupon
tendingmyresignationfromthemainpositionIwashithertochargedwith,namelythat
ofspiritualdirectoroftheGherlaTheologicalAcademy,Idodeemitmydytytoacquaint
youwiththereasonsaccountingformydecision.Icannotinmyconsciencecontinueto
fulfillmyjob,which,initself,whetherIlikeitornot,perpetuatesthereligiousdivision
perpetratedbyforeignersamoungstthesonsofthesamenation,withthesolepurposeof
annihilatingus.NowthatIhavebecomefullyawareofthefactthatourpeople'sreligious
division,farfrombeinganactoffaith,wasactuallyeitherforciblyimposedtousby
foreignersorachievedthroughfavoursandprivileges,Icouldn'tpossiblyfurther
contributetorehabilitateandperpetuatesuchwrongs,whosenefariousconsequencesare
growingincreasinglyobvioustoall.Endlesslawsuits,constantmisunderstandings
betweenpriestsandtheirfaithful,decisionsarrivedatwithrespectnotofjusticebutof
opportunities,theweakeningofdisciplineamongstbothclergyandpeople,moral
dissolutionwhichforgivesordeliberatelyignoresmajorcanonicaloffences,allthese
originateinourreligiousdivisiononlyandthereinnowayoutofsuchimpendingchaos
andruinbutthevoluntaryreturntotheMotherChurch,therebyrestoringourreligious
unity".

(Fromthebooklet:"RomanianpriestsbreakingthesealstheirUnionwithRome",Arad,1924,pages16
17).