Few people today know who Bishop Sofronie Vulpescu of Râmnic was, appointed to lead the Diocese of Oltenia during the difficult years of the First World War, when many ministers of our Church suffered to the point of sacrifice, being beaten, interrogated, robbed and sentenced to many years in prison alongside their soldiers and parishioners 1. Although he was the only Romanian hierarch imprisoned by the German authorities, who held a hostile attitude towards the occupiers, only a small number of works have been written about his life and work. Apart from the scant information provided by his own writings and by those who lived through those times, the textbooks on the History of the Romanian Orthodox Church or a few priests with a passion for history, who have briefly recounted his efforts in the service of culture and the nation, we have no further information about him. This seems understandable when we consider that he incurred the antipathy of some of his contemporaries, who did not hesitate to portray him in a negative light and to attack him vehemently in the pages of various publications of the time. For this reason, based on the accounts we have to date, we consider it appropriate to reconstruct his life and work in order to gain as complete a picture as possible of his character and to restore him to his rightful place amongst the worthy hierarchs of Oltenia.
To better understand his deeds, we must first know who he was before being elected to lead the Diocese of Râmnic in 1913, following the death of Bishop Ghenadie Georgescu. Upon closer examination of his life, we discover that the new hierarch was born on 9 February 1856 into an old family of priests in the village of Lupșanu, Ialomița County (now in Călărași County), and was christened Ștefan 2. Historical sources indicate that he had a brother named Marin, the father of the renowned theologians and musicians Traian and Mihail Vulpescu, who later became a priest in his native village3 After completing primary school in the town of Călărași, the young Ștefan, ‘in keeping with an age-old tradition amongst the sons of our villagers, who excel in their studies at primary school’, attended the lower classes of the Nifon the Metropolitan Seminary in Bucharest until 1877, where, under the influence of renowned teachers, he acquired a refined theological education, which would assist him in the mission he was to fulfil within the Church. Inspired by a love of learning, he continued to the fifth form at St Sava High School in the capital, distinguishing himself as one of the school’s best pupils.
Returning home from his studies on 6 December 1878, Ștefan married at the age of 22. Having a natural inclination towards the Holy Orders, on 24 and 25 March 1879, he was ordained a deacon and priest at the church in his home village, and was later entrusted with the role of sub-dean of the Borcea parish, in Ialomița County, until 1889. At the same time, he began his teaching career, having been appointed a schoolteacher in the village of Lupșanu between 1879 and 1886.
Having been widowed on 4 March 1882, Father Vulpescu resolved ‘to devote himself to higher ecclesiastical education’ and, in 1890, enrolled at the Central Seminary in Bucharest for secondary-level studies, which he completed three years later. In the same year, he also served as a cantor at the Church of Saint Spyridon the New in the capital, and in November 1893, he was tonsured a monk at Cernica Monastery, taking the name Sofronie. His love for the Church and his zeal for learning caught the attention of Metropolitan Ghenadie Petrescu, who, impressed by his qualities—‘valuable for a clergyman of distinction’—appointed him a minister at the Metropolitan Cathedral. In this capacity, ‘pursuing his education with great diligence’, he enrolled at the Faculty of Theology, from which he graduated with a degree, having defended his thesis Man’s Free Will as the Principle of Moral Action on 14 April 1898.
A mere glance at the accounts of the time shows us that his chosen theological studies, but above all his ‘profound knowledge of the rituals of church worship, as well as the piety with which he celebrated the Liturgy and the holiness of a life untouched by the slightest disturbance’ were highly regarded by Metropolitan Iosif Gheorghian, who ordained him protosinghel on 2 February 1897, keeping him by his side at all the metropolitan services 4. Consequently, in this capacity, he was present on 7 July 1899 at the consecration as bishop of Calist Botoșăneanul, alongside Mr Vasile Oiaga and the priest Pavel Savin 5, and on 19 May 1900, in the quarter within the Metropolitan See’s courtyard, at the death of Bishop Dositei Botoșăneanul Periețeanu, together with Ion Cornoiu, director of the Metropolitan Chancellery, and subsequently at the funeral service held at the Church of Saint Spyridon-Nou 6.
The year 1900 marked a turning point in Sofronie’s life, as he was appointed vicar bishop of Râmnic, succeeding Gherasim Timuș, who had been elected bishop of Roman in February. With his post now vacant, the Holy Synod appointed him on 8 May from among three candidates, alongside Father Economu Gheorghe Georgescu, of the Romanian Chapel in Paris, and Archimandrite Teodosie Athanasiu. Elected by the government and confirmed by royal decree on 12 May 1900, he was consecrated as a bishop six days later in the Metropolitan Cathedral by Iosif Gheorghian, receiving the title ‘Craioveanul’7 (the Bishop of Craiova). On this occasion, he delivered a word of thanks, from which we quote a few lines intended to convey the emotion he felt at that moment:
“Nominated among the candidates for the office of Bishop bearing the title of ‘Craioveanu’ by Your Eminence, and elected by a vote of the Holy Synod at its sitting on 8 May during the previous session; and subsequently recommended by the faithful and High Council of the Throne of His Majesty the King, who, by the decree read out at the sitting of 12 May during the spring session, was pleased to confirm me; and this election and confirmation being sealed by my ordination as a Bishop on the feast day of the Ascension of the Lord (18 May) by His Eminence the Archbishop and Metropolitan Primate and Most Reverend Bishop of Argeș and Râmnicu-Noul-Severin, who graciously presided over my ordination in the Cathedral Church of the Holy Metropolis of Ungrovlahia.
Now that all this has been accomplished today, with profound respect and boundless gratitude, I thank the Holy Synod for its kindness in appointing me to the high office of the Episcopate.
I pledge before God and the Holy Synod, of which I have been deemed worthy to be a part, that I shall devote all my efforts to the Church and that I shall always be subject to the decisions of the Synod, guiding my work according to the wise and fatherly counsel of Your Holinesses , always keeping in my heart and mind my own salvation in the Lord, as well as that of the righteous Christians, for whose spiritual needs the Holy Synod has appointed me; and for Your Eminence and for Your Holiness, I shall pray to the good Lord to grant you many years, as you rightly proclaim the word of truth”8
This special moment in his life was to continue at the Metropolitan Palace, where, in the presence of the Primate of the Church, the two hierarchs and numerous guests, he thanked all those who had contributed to his election to the rank of bishop:
‘Moved to the very depths of my heart by the solemnity that marks my elevation to the high office of the Episcopate, from a humble hieromonk serving the Church of St. Metropolis of Ungrovlahia, I cannot refrain from saying, with the Prophet-King: ‘What shall I render unto the Lord for all that He has bestowed upon me?’
Having passed through many trials, the Most Good God has called me in my humility and entrusted me with this high office. To Him, therefore, I must henceforth dedicate my whole life; I shall offer my prayers to the Lord before all His people.
As the son of a priest, raised near the church, I confess with all my heart and soul that throughout the life which the Good Lord will grant me, from this day forward, I shall work without ceasing for the good and benefit of the Church, under the guidance of Your Eminence, whose hand, bestowing gifts, blesses, guides, comforts and encourages.
I promise before God, Your Eminence and all those present, that I shall uphold the peace of the Church, and that I shall submit myself entirely to its teachings and rules, under the guiding protection of the Holy Synod of our Holy Church; and in particular, I shall conduct my work in accordance with the gentle, wise and fatherly counsel of Your Eminence, Your Eminence, my master, protector and benefactor – to whom I have clung with humble love, especially whilst here in the Metropolis, I who have had the good fortune to be in the presence of His Eminence Your Eminence, witnessing the evangelical and angelic gentleness that protects all those who yearn for the precious friendship of the heavenly Lord, – in these times when the foundation of our holy religion must be upheld and guided for the good and happiness of the fatherland […]
And I shall respect and love the Most Reverend Bishops just as much: His Grace Gherasim of Argeș and His Grace Atanasie, for whom I shall in particular harbour special esteem and affection with sincere love, as lieutenant of His Grace’s God-blessed Diocese; my former professors at the Faculty of Theology…”9.
To our regret, despite these very comprehensive speeches, which have been preserved to this day in the historical sources of the time, his work as vicar bishop has not received much attention from historians. Scant and vague reports indicate that, shortly after his election, on 5–6 July 1900, Sofronie Craioveanu took part in the Vespers service and the Divine Liturgy at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iași, alongside numerous priests and hierarchs of the Church, who were present to mark the 25th anniversary of the archpastoral ministry of Metropolitan Iosif Naniescu of Moldavia and Suceava 10.
Other documentary sources at our disposal demonstrate that Sofronie was a man of culture, with a thorough theological education, fully immersed in his teaching work at the Nifon the Metropolitan Seminary in Bucharest. Thus, in 1901, having been delegated to attend the final examination of the eighth-form pupils, he submitted the following report to the Metropolitan:
‘In accordance with Your Eminence’s Order No. 1654 of 27 April this year, to attend, as a delegate on behalf of the Archdiocese, the end-of-year and final examinations of the eighth-form pupils at the Nifon the Metropolitan Seminary; I travelled to the town on 29 April, 2 and 3 May and attended the examinations in the subjects covered by the pupils during the year, namely Liturgics, Pastoral Theology and the Greek language only, since, for the other subjects, the scheduled examination times—set for between 2 and 3 p.m.—coincided with the hours during which the Holy Synod was also holding its sessions, as the spring session was in progress. On this occasion, I humbly respectfully submit the following: generally speaking, the pupils in this class – three in number – answered with more than satisfactory clarity, to all the questions posed both by the respective teachers and by the assistants; from this, it was possible to see the significant progress made in substantiating the answers given, basing them on quotations from the Holy Scripture at every turn when religious matters were concerned, with the knowledge befitting future shepherds of the people, as required by the age in which we live.
And more specifically: with regard to Liturgy, it is evident from the answers given that the students have grasped the subject matter and know it in considerable detail, demonstrating a very clear understanding, with detailed explanations, regarding the practical aspects of all the duties the priest is called upon to perform in his holy mission, both within the church and amongst the faithful; they clearly know everything that must be done in the administration of the Divine Mysteries of our holy Christian faith, to which, with God’s help, they will be called; so that, as regards the ritual of our holy Church, they will know of their own accord – to put into practice what they have learnt here in theory, when, according to the needs of our Holy Church, they are called upon to fulfil the task of ministers of the altar and enlighteners of the people.
As regards Pastoral Theology, as the applied branch of Theology in general, they are also thoroughly familiar, down to the smallest detail, with the duties incumbent upon the shepherd of souls towards his flock throughout his pastoral life; the qualities they must possess, as well as the faults they must avoid, and the manner in which the shepherd, as guardian of the speaking flock, should act to remove the obstacles that stand in the way.
As for the study of the Greek language—the language from which the liturgical books have been translated into our own and in which the works of the Holy Fathers are written— – that inexhaustible spring from which the teachings of our holy religion flow – the knowledge possessed by the pupils will be sufficient for them to comment on the various passages of Holy Scripture in the future.
In addition to all this, the diligence in the fulfilment of their duties and the perseverance which the respective teachers show in instructing the pupils in the subject matter are beyond any praise that could be bestowed upon those who propose such subjects, which are of the utmost importance to the future priest.
But what must be added is the fatherly care, the efforts they make, and the keen interest that the trustees of this educational institution show in the smooth running and intellectual and moral progress – which is evident at every turn – giving the pupils ever-new impetus and encouraging them to be mindful of their sacred calling, so that, at any examination session I was able to attend, I always found one or two of them in the examination hall, accompanied by the Headmaster, taking great care to ascertain, at close quarters, the body of knowledge the graduates have acquired and with which they must enter society upon completing their studies at this school.
If I were to address the material aspects of this Seminary, it must be noted – as is generally known – that it possesses spacious premises comprising two blocks of buildings, the old and the new; in the new building there are: on the ground floor, the classrooms and the gymnasium, which are quite spacious and hygienic; on the upper floor, the art room, where music and craft lessons take place, the dormitories, the library and the lecture theatre with its equipment for physics and chemistry experiments, all kept in a state of perfect cleanliness; – in the old building, which has two storeys, the upper storey houses the offices of the Board of Trustees and the teaching staff. This year, the Board of Trustees has converted two fairly large halls into a beautiful and spacious chapel, fully equipped with everything necessary, where pupils attend religious instruction; whilst on the ground floor, apart from the dining hall and the kitchen, there are the service quarters, all kept in a state of perfect cleanliness.
Having carefully observed the progress made at the end of the school year by the eighth-form graduates of this Seminary, we can note with satisfaction that: based on the answers given, all the pupils were declared graduates […] it was possible for them to be imbued with a light that awakened conviction, as well as a lively and upright conscience, thus establishing within them the duties of the future priest in the arduous and thorny mission of serving the holy altar and guiding the flock with the word of God.
These, in brief, are the findings following the order I have been deemed worthy to receive; I humbly submit them to Your Eminence’s attention, for your consideration”11
As is evident from other sources dating from the early 20th century, on 2 July 1904, on the occasion of the commemoration of the four-hundredth anniversary of the death of Prince Stephen the Great, Vicar Bishop Sofronie took part in the memorial service held in Bucharest, alongside Bishops Nifon Ploieșteanu and Calist Botoșăneanul, in the presence of King 12. Equally noteworthy is the fact that, on 2 June 1908, he took part in the unveiling of the bronze bust of Professor Nicolae Nitzulescu at the Faculty of Theology in Bucharest, who had passed away in 1903. Also present at this impressive commemoration were the faculty’s professors and students, former pupils and admirers, as well as the wife and son of the renowned professor13 A few years later, on 19 May 1911, on the occasion of the memorial service marking the first anniversary of the passing of Bishop Melchisedec of Pitești, he was present, together with Archimandrite Visarion Ionescu, the abbot of the monastery, and a group of four hieromonks and two deacons, at the Divine Liturgy celebrated at Cernica, where his tomb is located 14.
Brief records indicate that, in February 1912, he attended the ceremony in Curtea de Argeș, alongside the bishops of Râmnic and Dunărea de Jos, for the installation of Calist Ialomițeanu as Bishop of Argeș 15, and in the autumn of that same year, on 25 November, he was present at the funeral service for Bishop Ghenadie Georgescu of Râmnic, at Bellu Cemetery in Bucharest, where, overcome by overwhelming emotion, he delivered a eulogy worthy of being reproduced in the following lines:
‘During the four years I worked with His Grace, I was able to get to know and appreciate the noble soul of the one who has fallen asleep in the Lord. A conscientious administrator, he never neglected the interests of his flock, whose needs he knew well, having travelled to every corner of his diocese, inspecting all the churches. A worthy hierarch, he had founded his life upon the Gospel principle which teaches us to love our neighbour as ourselves. To these qualities was added a warm sense of being a good and enlightened patriot. A great lover of historical monuments, His Grace had the desire to establish a monastery in the Banat region of Oltenia, at Tismana. A cruel death took him away before he could fulfil this wish of his. Filled with respect and love for his soul, so beautifully endowed, we bow our heads before the will of the Almighty and say: ‘May God forgive him, and may his memory be eternal!’”16
A final piece of news tells us that, on 15 August 1912, Sofronie took part in the patronal feast of the Church of the Icon in Bucharest, together with the deacons Ioniță Mateescu and Marin Vulpescu, from the Kretzulescu Church. A skilled celebrant of the Divine Liturgy, but above all a gifted preacher, at the end of the Divine Liturgy he delivered the homily on the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, impressing those present with his admirable theological eloquence 17. Unfortunately, this is all the information we have about the future hierarch of the Oltenian diocese.
Following the passing of Bishop Ghenadie, the following announcement regarding the new episcopal elections in Râmnic appeared in the ‘News’ section of the newspaper Viitorul on 4 December 1912:
‘Immediately after the Christmas holidays, the grand electoral college will be convened to elect a new bishop of the Diocese of Râmnic and Noul Severin, to succeed the late Bishop Ghenadie. In high ecclesiastical circles, the election of His Grace Bishop Teofil of Ploiești, Vicar of the Holy Metropolis of Bucharest, is regarded as a foregone conclusion; it is said that the government has also agreed to this candidacy. Initially, two candidates were put forward: Bishop Teofil and Bishop Bartolomeu, the administrator of the Church Property Office; however, as His Grace Bishop Bartolomeu has not yet reached the age of 40 required by law, the only serious candidacy remaining is that of His Grace Bishop Teofil. His Grace Bishop Sofronie of Craiova and His Grace Bishop Meletie of Constanța will also stand as candidates; both have stood in previous episcopal elections. However, these candidacies have no chance of success as they are supported by only a small majority of the members of the Holy Synod18
Although he was not among the favourites, the vicar bishop was entrusted with the task of provisionally leading the diocese until 5 May 1913, when he was elected to the post by the Grand Electoral College with 124 votes. Other accounts of his appointment indicate that his opponents were Teofil Mihăilescu, Meletie Constănțeanul, Bartolomeu Stănescu, Calistrat Bârlădeanul and Gherasim Safirin, who together received 96 votes. After the result was announced, Sofronie, supported by the conservative-democratic wing, ‘19’, delivered a moving speech to those present, which was to mark a new chapter in his life:
‘At this very moment, the most significant of my life, when God’s will, expressed through the voice of the great college, calls me to the arduous task of spiritual guidance of one of the most important and distinguished dioceses in our country, my soul is filled with great emotion. Deeply moved by the lofty and holy calling which you place upon my shoulders today, I am fully aware of the shortcomings and countless needs of the Orthodox faithful and of our Holy Romanian Orthodox Church.
Yet, having firm hope in the Gift of God, who heals what is infirm, fulfils what is lacking and strengthens what is weak, and equally in the Cross of the Lord God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, who ‘made apostles out of fishermen and martyrs out of pagans’ and bearing in mind the examples set by my predecessors, from the earliest to the most recent, I believe I shall be able to live up to your expectations. From this day forward, I am sent to ensure the strengthening of the faith and the unbroken preservation of the ancient Christian traditions of my people, who dwell in that part of the country wherethe greatest and holiest works of Romanian Orthodoxy and nationalism were conceived and brought to full fruition.
We are all familiar with the intelligent and energetic nature of the people of Oltenia, who are driven to great deeds, and this will greatly lighten the burden of my task, for I shall find there open minds and warm hearts that will value and embrace my labours – thus far – in the various fields conducive to the good of the Church and the nation.
I am a former country priest; I have lived for a long time amongst the villagers and am well acquainted with their various needs, both spiritual and material. I promise here that I shall pay the closest attention to my spiritual children, especially the destitute, oppressed and afflicted, endeavouring, by my very presence amongst them as often as possible, to bestow upon them the necessary blessings and counsel, interceding wherever the need arises for solidarity, support and the alleviation of their social hardships; for a people who are strong in faith and enjoy a good and stable material condition are a people who are strong and to be feared even in the wider world’.
Aware of the lofty mission to which he had been called, he concluded by giving thanks “first to God, the Triune God, who has caused me, the humblest of the humble and the least among my brothers, to be raised to the office of Bishop of the Diocese of Râmnic-Noul Severin”, then to the state authorities and the members of the Grand College, for the trust placed in him, promising that he would be “a force for peace and brotherhood, and the most ardent supporter of all the great and beneficent ideas so essential to the advancement of our Holy Church and the Romanian state, for whose happiness I shall sacrifice everything, even my very life”.
Although the information is limited, it is worth noting that Sofronie then addressed those present in the Metropolitan Palace, where he once again thanked them, promising that he would fulfil his episcopal duties with all zeal and faith and “would be a watchful guardian for the good of the Church!”20.
In particular, we note here the speech by Metropolitan Conon Arămescu-Donici, who, taking “note with particular satisfaction” of his election, addressed him as follows: “Your Grace, you are fortunate from the very start, for whilst we were Archimandrites for many years and subsequently shepherded smaller dioceses, Your Grace is called to shepherd the largest diocese. Go and shepherd with vigour and love, living your life in accordance with the commandments of the Church, for you are at an age when you can still work for the good of the Holy Church. When you begin your ministry, say, as the ploughman does when he breaks the first furrow: ‘God help me’.”
On the other hand, no less interesting is the address delivered by the Minister of Religious Affairs and Public Education, Constantin Dissescu, a native of Oltenia, who, “deeply moved in these moments of celebration”, felt the need to say: “The words spoken by His Eminence the Metropolitan Primate increase my joy even further. I rise above the joy brought by this personal act and think of the two powers that must go hand in hand for the prosperity of our nation. Long live these two powers: the Church and the Nation’21
Commenting on the event in the magazine Neamul românesc, the great historian Nicolae Iorga described the mood surrounding the May elections as follows:
“Why would Archbishop Sofronie Vulpescu of Craiova not have wanted to be a bishop in a country where the leading positions are held by men whose pasts do not differ greatly from his own: political manoeuvring, petty financial dealings, a façade of activity and ‘energy’, courage bordering on the most brazen audacity? An entire party, an entire Government, recognised in that well-built and good-natured prelate holiness itself – for it is only absolute holiness, lofty idealism and an unblemished reputation that the Romanian episcopate needs in order to regenerate itself – and, following the usual formula – the Holy Spirit descending upon the deliberations of the majorities, which is always governmental – they bestowed him upon Oltenia, as the successor to the astute Ilarion, the holy Calinic, the great scholars Chesarie and Filaret, and Antim, whose mind and hand were blessed by God. The candidate knew full well that it would be so, and knew better than we did why it would be so; and so, instead of taking his seat in the Chamber, thinking with a heavy heart of the formidable responsibility that awaited him, at the heavy duty he was to undertake before God and man – in days of old, such a candidate would have waited on his knees before the icons for the heavenly decision to be conveyed through men! –, His Grace – so to speak – was making the rounds amongst the members of the political club to which he belonged and was exchanging preliminary kisses, as soon as he had secured a majority plus one, with his merry godfathers. A jovial joker, causing a stir with the flush on his face at the sight of Bishop Calist, who is a die-hard conservative. And, when the result was announced, he pulled from his vest pocket the sheet of paper covered in typewritten letters – it’s best to take every precaution – and read out what he had written, or what had been written for him. He was applauded – everything about him and the way he presented himself struck a deep chord.
Metropolitan Conon received his new colleague in the neighbouring palace. And His Eminence spoke. And the things he said deserve to be noted with that sense of gratitude and relief one feels when, in a difficult situation, someone nevertheless speaks the truth straight to one’s face. He spoke of the ‘good fortune’ of the new bishop, who had not ‘worked’ like others and yet ‘reaped where others had sown’, wished him well in living up to the responsibilities entrusted to him, and stated that he recognised one quality in him – energy – which can be put to good use, especially in his twilight years. “We shall see!”22
Confirmed on 6 May, he was installed in his new post the following day in the presence of King Carol I, who, as he presented him with the episcopal crozier, said to him with firmness and high esteem: “I entrust to you the episcopal crozier to shepherd the flock of the Diocese of Râmnic-Noul Severin.” In the address delivered on this occasion, the man who was to provide spiritual leadership for the whole of Oltenia highlighted some of the guiding principles of his ministry and the importance of the Diocese in the history of our people:
“With deep humility and profound emotion, I receive from Your Majesty’s noble hand the Pastoral Staff, the symbol of episcopal authority, for the spiritual guidance – to a safe harbour – of the faithful Christians in the Diocese of ‘Râmnicu-Noul Severin’, which is protected by God.
As I step into this high office, to which the voice of the Nation has called me, I feel overwhelmed by a heavy responsibility towards God, towards Your Majesty and towards the country, which has honoured me with this high office! Yet, placing my hope solely in the Lord and keeping before my eyes the shining examples, full of magnificent and uplifting deeds, of my predecessors, the burden of this responsibility is lightened. And indeed, Sire, God has appointed me to preserve and strengthen the faith, and to inspire and increase love for all that is Christian and Romanian in that part of our country, whose land and history are dear to us all.
This corner of our homeland is linked to the greatest and holiest events of our national, historical and ecclesiastical past. It was here that works were conceived and brought to fruition which determined the fate and future of our nation. From here emerged the most distinguished and eminent historical figures, both in the ecclesiastical and national spheres: the founding of the country’s oldest diocese, the establishment of the first monasteries, the prints from the oldest printing presses for the translation of the Holy Scriptures into the language of our forefathers, alongside heroic deeds and the movements of reawakening and liberation from foreign rule, forge from this little corner of the earth the most precious treasure of all Romanians. It was also to this part of the country that the honour was bestowed, thirty-six years ago, to welcome into its bosom the former Prince and now the current King, so that from here the message might be proclaimed to Europe with the roar of cannon that the Romanian people wish to live free and independent.
Behold so many deeds accomplished by great hearts and noble souls who sacrificed themselves for the good of the people and the advancement of our Holy Church.
It is the duty of us all to preserve the memory of all these deeds, to pass them on to future generations with unwavering conviction, and to emulate and apply them to the needs of the present. A people that does not cherish its past and the lessons it can draw from it is a people destined to decline.
As for myself, I solemnly pledge that I shall preserve this precious treasure, thanks in part to the labour and dedication of the Church’s representatives in this region, and I shall make it the banner that must guide my steps in the arduous mission that awaits me.
So help me God’.
His speech was appreciated by the King, who, aware of the significant role played by the people of Oltenia in the spiritual life of the nation and of the newly elected bishop’s capacity for hard work,expressed his confidence in his qualities to spread the noblest sentiments to the furthest corners of the diocese:
“Entrusting to you the pastoral crozier which the blessed and ever-memorable His Grace Ghenadie bore with great worthiness, you are called to continue with the same zeal the work of the spiritual guidance of My beloved people of Oltenia, who have always been so steadfast in their faith.
The holy places, found in every county of Oltenia, are the most resplendent testimony to the love with which our forefathers cherished the Church. I have no doubt that these magnificent monuments of the past will find in Your Grace a faithful guardian.
I am also certain that you will preach, to the farthest corners of the vast Diocese beyond the River Olt, the beautiful Christian virtues, unwavering love for the Church and, above all, the unity of all for the elevation of patriotic sentiment.”
Beyond this moving appeal from the country’s leader, it is worth mentioning the speech delivered at the Metropolitan Palace, in the presence of the high-ranking bishop and several guests, where the man who was to devote all his strength to the service of the Church and the righteous Christians of Olt demonstrated, once again, that he is a remarkable orator:
‘By the will of God, glorified in the Holy Trinity, I was elected two days ago as Bishop of the Diocese of “Râmnicu-Noul Severin”, and today, in accordance with the time-honoured custom, I received the pastoral staff from the august hand of His Majesty the King, the head of our national sovereignty.
This event, the most significant of my life, has moved me to the very depths of my soul. And this is because, from now on, I no longer belong to myself; I no longer live for myself, but I am, and must live, for others—for my spiritual sons on the right bank of the Olt, to whom I shall devote all my efforts and toil.
Great has been the mercy and compassion of Almighty God towards me, His unworthy servant, and just as great must be my struggles and endeavours to walk in the ways of the Lord.
With my mind fully awake, aware of all the hardships of the new office with which I am entrusted today, and relying entirely on God’s grace, I walk with courage and with all my heart along the path that has been opened to me.
And now the duty of my conscience compels me to express my deepest gratitude to all my protectors and benefactors, beginning with my Most Reverend Lord, the Primate Metropolitan, to whom, as I declared at the time of my election, I shall remain bound by boundless devotion for the efforts he made on the occasion of my election and investiture; to the Minister for Religious Affairs, the eminent jurist and unsurpassed statesman, the chosen son of our Holy Church, to whom I shall retain the highest esteem and sincere affection, coupled with my unwavering devotion, for the full support he has given me throughout my life, ever since I was privileged to know him.
To both Your Eminence and Your Excellency, the Minister—both representatives of ecclesiastical authority— I pledge my wholehearted and patriotic support for the fulfilment in deed of all those needs for the good of the Church and of our homeland. I shall be a faithful and devoted servant of my people and my country.
I would also like to thank all those who have worked hard and encouraged me with their love during these significant days in my life.
I shall pray throughout my life for the spiritual and physical well-being of all, first and foremost for His Majesty the King, our dear and wise Sovereign, the founder of modern Romania, for Her Majesty the Queen, the mother of the orphans and the blind in this country, as well as for the entire Royal Family…’23
He delivered similar words at the enthronement ceremony on 16 June 1913, held in Râmnicu-Vâlcea with great solemnity, in the presence of the town’s officials, the archpriests of the five counties of the diocese and a significant number of priests and the faithful:
‘By the will of God the Almighty, glorified in the Trinity, the final act of my consecration as Bishop of the God-protected Diocese of “Râmnic-Noul Severin” is today brought to completion. Called by the voice of the representatives of our nation, who on 5 May met with the Holy Synod of the Holy Autocephalous Romanian Orthodox Church and the Higher Ecclesiastical Consistory in a grand electoral college, to this high honour, I was entrusted with the pastoral staff by His Majesty the King on 7 May.
With all justice having been fulfilled and having been deemed worthy, with the help of the Almighty, by the will of the nation and the Church, and by the august royal approval, to ascend the steps of this Episcopal See, I believe this to be the most fitting moment to declare that: by the grace of God we are what we are, just as, by the grace and help of God, we all form His Church, the Church of the living God, in which God may be glorified, and that people, by doing His will, may be deemed worthy of all good things and of the very salvation of their souls.
But if, Minister, venerable fathers and beloved sons in the Lord, through God’s Gift and His great mercy we are called and raised to the dignity of sons of His Kingdom; if by His Gift we are all here on earth, having been chosen as a holy kingdom, a people to be cared for, let us never for a moment forget that the same divine Gift and Grace, according to the words of the Apostle: He has appointed some in His Church as apostles, others as prophets, others as evangelists, others as pastors, others as teachers […] All of them workers in His vineyard. All of them are servants for the edification of the faithful, but each is appointed to his own ministry.
And, brothers and sons, if this is the divine order in His Church, we must not let our thoughts wander, nor allow our minds to stray from our holy calling, from our holy mission and commission, but let each one, with the fear of God, with faith and with love, labour to fulfil the work of his ministry. Let each one, in the fulfilment of his ministry, prove himself worthy of his calling. Let us all work not merely to fulfil our duty, regarding this as a burden, for then we are not working according to the Gospel, but so that our righteousness may exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, just as the Lord teaches us; and then the labourer is worthy of his wages.
But what, then, is the nature of our service?... O brothers and sons, let us not allow our thoughts to wander, nor let our minds stray from the Gospel. The Lord urges us to take up His yoke and tells us to learn from Him, for He is gentle and humble in heart; His yoke is easy and His burden light. He teaches us that through it we shall find rest for our souls. And from the distribution of gifts, for each person, for the work of their ministry. The Apostle teaches us that: all ministry must be for the edification of the faithful, for the building up of the body of Jesus Christ, so that we may all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God.
This is our calling, this is our mission; this is the work of our ministry, a lofty and noble calling and ministry.
I assure you that I am still overwhelmed by the emotion of the first two solemn moments of my life, for a heavy burden has been placed upon my shoulders and much is demanded of my feeble strength from this day forward. Here, as I embark upon a new spiritual labour, the field of our Holy Romanian Orthodox Church awaits me. It is arduous work because, in this part of the country in particular, the past shines forth with its pious memories of steadfast religiosity and unwavering patriotism. I am called to preserve this precious legacy left long ago by my faithful predecessors, who vied with one another in virtue. It is my duty to be ever a sleepless sentinel, an unwavering watchman in the Lord’s vineyard, lest the thief and enemy of our faith and ancestral virtues should slip into the spiritual fold.
This is why I feel the thrill and unease of these moments, being imbued with this eternal truth, for the great significance of the task does not lighten its responsibilities. Nevertheless, I shall set about this work with confidence, placing my hope not so much in my own feeble strength as in the mercy and help of the Good and Merciful God, who ‘strengthens the weak and makes up for what is lacking’; May Your word be with me, Lord!
I shall be guided on this path – using as my Ariadne’s thread – the shining examples from the lives of the saints of the Christian Church, as well as the great figures of the hierarchs from the ecclesiastical life of Oltenia, distinguished, some by a spirit of righteousness, cultivated and full of energy, such as the worthy Antim Ivireanul, others through tireless labour devoted to culture and ecclesiastical scholarship, such as Bishop Damaschin, the interpreter of Romanian texts, whose work drew in part upon the printed works of the enlightened Chesarie, who himself had a worthy successor in the erudite Filaret. But how can I forget so many warm-hearted souls devoted to the faith of our forefathers, amongst whom the good and holy Calinic shines in our memory, and, more recently, the gentle figure of the blessed in memory, the much-mourned Bishop Ghenadie, who preached Christian love throughout the entire Diocese and provided such sound guidance that, he rightly deserved the words of His Majesty the King that he had fulfilled ‘with great worthiness’ the duty to which he had been called.
In particular, I shall not overlook the fruits that may be reaped through canonical visits, so diligently cultivated by my late predecessor, His Grace Ghenadie. To be constantly present amongst towns, villages and communities of all kinds; to guide everyone, in good times and bad, along the path of the Gospel teachings; to instil in them the fear of God, love of the law, of the nation, of the throne and the dynasty… this shall be my constant aim. I shall not forget to preach the most beneficial love amongst our various social classes, to encourage the cultivation of spiritual energies amongst the rural population, for whom the state, above all, through schools and the Church, maintains so many institutions and sources of culture. For it is only through the existence of a people enlightened in spirit and improved in body that any future progress can be guaranteed, and the fulfilment of the most sacred aspirations we cherish in our hearts as Romanians and as Christians. That is why I rejoice from the depths of my soul that here in the Diocese, alongside so many church-run schools (the choirs) we also have the Seminary itself, the re-establishment of which honours our past and respects the cultural tradition of Oltenia’s ecclesiastical life—a time when printing houses, psalm-singing schools and schools of scriptural learning flourished, including our own Seminary at the beginning last century. This seminary is rising once more, thanks to the goodwill and zeal of our political leadership and, in particular, of the Minister for Religious Affairs. The establishment of such institutions here gives me high hopes for the future, for I shall have the joy of devoting all my love and diligence to them, so that through them I may knead good dough for spiritual nourishment for the spiritual children entrusted to my care.
Filled with such feelings in my heart and thus understanding my duty as Bishop of this God-blessed part of the country, I declare to you that I come with an open heart amongst those among whom I have served for 12 years as Vicar General, for I know the people of Oltenia to be welcoming and open-hearted, good Christians and good patriots, who have never betrayed the virtuous legacy of their forefathers. Well, I hope that they will welcome me with the same warmth with which I now walk amongst them with confidence. And I like to believe that this is so, when I see the special interest with which you surround me and when, amongst us, with unfailing zeal, there is an adviser to Her Majesty, a native son and a lover of this county, who is at the same time a chosen son of the Church, through his devout faith and the richness of religious culture that adorns his soul. All of you who welcome me in this way will find in me an open heart, ready to unite the thoughts and good deeds of everyone for the fulfilment of our ecclesiastical ideal. And I am delighted to say that I come into the midst of a priesthood that is becoming ever more aware of its mission, and into the midst of diligent labourers in the Lord’s vineyard, amongst whom I shall consider myself a greater fellow labourer, on the path towards those same goals where our work converges or must converge.
I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to His Majesty the King, our beloved Sovereign, who has had the high and august goodwill to confer upon me the insignia of this new honour, confirming me as Bishop of this Diocese and addressing me with most encouraging words; I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Minister for Religious Affairs and the Government’s representative, to whom I ask to convey my most sincere sentiments. I thank him for the trouble he has taken in reading out my decree of appointment and for enhancing, through His Excellency’s distinguished presence, the grandeur of this solemn occasion.
At the same time, I feel it is my duty to thank my Most Reverend Lord and Spiritual Father, Dr Konon, Metropolitan and Archbishop of Ungrovlahia, Primate of Romania and President of the Holy Synod of the Holy Autocephalous Romanian Orthodox Church, through whose kindness the letter of recognition amongst his suffragan bishops was read to me by His Reverence the Director of the Chancellery of the Holy Synod, the letter of recognition amongst his suffragan bishops, for which I express my gratitude and assure him of my profound respect and devotion.
Well then, building upon the foundations laid previously through the wise guidance of the unforgettable leaders of our Holy Church, I shall devote all my efforts in the future, and all the more so as I have the great joy in my heart to look back on a past enriched by so many cherished names, an inspiration and an impetus for the work ahead, and in my faithful and beloved people of Oltenia, such a love for their homeland and their faith that, I can confidently assure them that they will find in their new Bishop a warm heart, ever ready to welcome, in harmonious cooperation, their thoughts and good deeds, for the fulfilment of our cherished ideal.
The warm welcome I have received from everyone, for which I remain deeply grateful, is for me a powerful incentive to work diligently.
The presence here of the Minister for Religious Affairs, as a representative of the government, fills my soul with beautiful hopes, for we all know him to be a good Christian and a good Romanian, a warm supporter and ever eager to see the flourishing of our Holy Church, from whose centuries-old culture he, as a chosen son, has drawn much nourishment.
I am firmly convinced that through the warm concern of our wise leaders, through your faith and love, through the diligence of our good priests—among whom I shall count myself a collaborator in nurturing the spiritual energies of our faithful people—the ship of the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ will prevail, just asit has always triumphed in that glorious past and in these blessed and God-sustained lands, from which sprang the powerful sparks of the great Christian virtues…”.
His appointment as bishop was welcomed with joy even by Minister Constantin Dissescu, who, observing the installation ceremony closely, drew his attention to the mission entrusted to him and his duties, saying to him as follows:
“Today’s celebration, held on the occasion of Your Grace’s installation in the episcopal see, adds nothing to the power bestowed upon you—divine power through the episcopate, and power of national sovereignty through your election as Bishop, as Bishop by the people through the vote of the grand electoral college and through the entrusting of the pastoral crozier by His Majesty the King. The purpose of today’s solemn ceremony is solely to consecrate the legality of the priesthood from the perspective of the relationship between the Church and the State. We now bestow an eternal mark upon your ecclesiastical life, for within our ecclesiastical organisation, the priesthood is not merely a sacred office, but also a social function. P.S. You represent not only a religious philosophy united with the moral principles of life in action—the noble ideals to which you give substance—but also an idea of nationality, just as the priests of ancient times did.
This dual nature of our mission has been for the good of the Romanians at all times and in every place. The Christian ideal, understood in this way, has preserved Christian nations under the most autocratic Christian or pagan rulers. The particular significance of your election as Bishop of the most historic diocese in Romania has been unanimously recognised, and rightly so. This significance stems from the circumstances that brought about the religious crisis, the unrest and turmoil within our Church, as well as the qualities of Your Grace’s character. The crisis and unrest are due to several causes […]
I was speaking just now of the merits of Your Grace’s character. One of the most important, it seems to me, is the energy and the distaste you have for anything ambiguous. An ancient Celtic legend tells us that the spirit of the old oak trees passed into those who formed the priestly class.
When we see today, not only here but also in other countries, the submissive, compliant and ambiguous nature of certain church figures, we might be tempted to believe that the Celtic legend is a mistaken superstition. This is not the case, for in the Romanian Church—whether lay or monastic—numerous figures combine piety with energy and resolve. You are one of these, and I find the strongest evidence of this in the history of Your Grace’s ministry.
Your Grace have always understood that in our Church the Archbishop, the Bishop and the Metropolitan are not merely a contemplative ‘entity’, but also an organ of action. That is why, whenever the Church or the Romanian nation, wherever it may be, has been threatened, you have not wavered to the right or to the left, but have fought. And as for the criticism – oh Lord, who is not criticised and slandered, especially when doing good! – it left you unmoved, and you were right to do so, for a man must remain indifferent to both praise and abuse.
I am reminded of a remark made by Victor Hugo in 1833: ‘Never before have I been so criticised for the mistakes I have made as this year. And yet I have never felt better.’ I have said the same to myself many times. I ask Your Grace not to forget these words and to utter them at least on the day you were elected Bishop.
Continue, Your Grace, to bear in mind that quietism—that habit of immersing oneself in the pleasures of one’s own life, whilst taking no interest in what is happening around you—is a Christian heresy; in other words, a sin from which we must flee.
I have no doubt, Your Grace, that with the help of the clergy who welcomed you with such enthusiasm and hope, and of the civil authorities, you will carry out a comprehensive programme for the advancement of ecclesiastical and national life.
Advice? What better advice can we give than that contained in the Holy Gospel, which we have just read? The advice given by our Lord Jesus Christ to the Good Shepherd. Recall the words of the Saviour: ‘I know the eternal Father, just as the Father knows Me’.
The mission you have is great and holy, for the episcopate is the Gospel put into practice in individual and social life. Whilst all priests possess the power to renew through the celebration of the Holy Mystery of Baptism, you possess, as Saints Epiphanius and Chrysostom rightly say, a creative power: That of making priests, who are the lifeblood and light of the earth.
In these troubled times in which we live, you can do us in the wider world a great service by forging bonds of peace amongst citizens. I have no doubt that, should the need arise, you will say in due course, in accordance with the words of the Gospel: ‘I give you My peace and My life’, following the example of the great hierarchs who have presided over the See of Oltenia. In this way, you will enrich our ecclesiastical and national life.”
Listened to with keen interest, both speeches made a deep impression on the audience and were reproduced in the pages of the magazine The Romanian Orthodox Church in 1913. In this context, the person who recorded them went on to note at the end: “We, too, offer our warmest wishes that the work of His Grace Bishop Sofronie may be fruitful and of sole benefit to the Church and the people. We need, as has been so aptly said, apostles, not mere servants – men devoted solely to the common good!’24.
Also at this time, during his installation, Father Grigore Popescu Breasta, then diocesan inspector, spoke a few words on behalf of the clergy and the faithful of ‘this ancient and most beautiful Diocese’, who “have today been deemed worthy to welcome into their midst, for steadfast spiritual leadership, the nation’s newly elected representative and, from now on, Bishop and spiritual leader of this part of the country.
From this day forward, between us—the clergy and the people—and Your Grace, our supreme spiritual father, a relationship like that between father and son is established; therefore, with sincere and heartfelt love, we say to you: ‘Welcome among us!’
With your ascension to the episcopal throne of this Diocese, you have taken upon yourself, alongside the care of the souls in this region, the entire ancestral heritage associated with this significant Diocese. We all know—and the history of the past bears witness to this—that Oltenia has been the cradle of all the great movements in every sphere of our Romanian endeavour. Blessed by God with fertile soil and proud landscapes, it has been and remains home to the purest of the Romanian people, an inexhaustible wellspring of national energy throughout the ages. No Romanian, wherever they may be from, can fail to be overcome by a sacred thrill when treading upon these lands, for wherever they may turn their gaze, they will find the memory of some historical event—whether religious or secular—of a pious and learned hierarch or of a valiant and wise ruler. Every single inch of this land is dear to us all, for it has been trodden by bodies that defended and warmed it, and by hearts that loved it.
In the distant antiquity of this region’s past, the bishop’s see to which you have ascended has always shone like a bright star, having been graced by such illustrious figures as Damaschin, Antim, Filaret and others. The entire host of these holy hierarchs of this Diocese, together with the whole host of Oltenian patriots, have laboured hard to enlighten, comfort and strengthen—both spiritually and physically—the orthodox Christians of this region. They formed, preserved and strengthened our entire ancestral heritage, which today passes into Your Grace’s care.
Having now received this heritage, which is linked to this bishoprick, you have a duty to preserve and enrich it in accordance with the needs of the times and the spiritual requirements of the Christian faithful.
In this regard, rest assured, Your Grace, that you will have the full, sincere and enlightened support of the more than 800 priests of Oltenia, ready to sacrifice themselves for the fulfilment of the entire ideal and programme of pastoral activity that you will set out.
The clergy in this region, for the most part, is wholeheartedly committed to the moral, social and economic uplift of the peasantry, being convinced that in doing so it serves a just and holy cause – the elevation and strengthening of the nation and our ancestral homeland.
This is the clearest proof that the ministers of the altar in this region are ready to follow all sound advice and helpful guidance that may come from Your Grace. In this regard, too, the path has already been laid out by Your Grace’s two enlightened predecessors. It must be continued along new, brighter paths, suited to the needs of every kind that assail us from within and without.
The faithful of this region are accustomed to seeing, emanating from this ancient see, nothing but light, encouragement to work in every sphere, and help and sound counsel for every physical and spiritual need. It is our hope that, from now on, all these blessings will abound ever more, to the joy and comfort of all!
With the energy with which God has endowed you – and which has been recognised here by one of the most distinguished advisers to the Romanian throne; the experience and work carried out in the literary, ecclesiastical and educational fields are sure guarantees that our expectations will be crowned with success.
I conclude, Your Grace, by asking you to accept through me, your humble adviser, on behalf of the clergy of Oltenia, his feelings of wholehearted submission, unwavering devotion and deep esteem, praying to God that He may grant you many years so that you may worthily and honourably shepherd the flock entrusted to you towards the good and soul-nourishing pasture!’25
In order to paint as accurate a picture of him as possible, it is worth quoting here a lesser-known characterisation by one of his contemporaries, which sheds some rather interesting light on his personality and concerns: “The new Bishop is a man of theological learning and fine spiritual qualities. The higher clergy has gained a worthy member. We wish him every success in the arduous yet noble calling of the episcopate”24.
However, in order to provide a balanced picture whilst remaining objective, it is only fair to say that he also had many opponents, who attacked him in the press in an attempt to prevent his election. Thus, the Bucharest newspaper Seara waged a fierce campaign against the candidate voted for by the Grand College, calling him, amongst other things, ‘Popa Iapă’25. One of his main opponents, who attacked him with rather unflattering words in the pages of this publication, as well as in Facla, was the poet Tudor Arghezi, who disliked him because of some disagreements with Ion Cornoiu, the dean of the Faculty of Theology in Bucharest and a close associate of the great satirist26 It was a difficult period in his life, but with patience and tact he managed to overcome it, devoting all his creative energy to the service of the Church and our nation, and securing his place amongst the most distinguished figures of Romanian culture.
- 1
Rev. Prof. Mircea Păcurariu, ‘The Church’s Contribution to the Realisation of the Act of Union of 1 December 1918’, in The Romanian Orthodox Church, vol. CXVI (1978), no. 11–12, p. 1255 (hereinafter cited as BOR).
- 2
B., ‘Bishop Sofronie Vulpescu’, in Consolatorul, vol. III (1900), no. 4, p. 51 (hereinafter cited as C); Rev. Grigore N. Popescu, The Romanian Clergy and the Unification of the Nation – Prisons and Camps –, vol. II, ‘Vremea’ Press, Bucharest, 1940, pp. 346–347 (‘The Vulpești family of Lupșanu originally hail from Rășinari, Sibiu. The first of them, who settled in Bărăgan, are also known by their monastic names: Antim the Monk and Dorotei the Monk – names they received upon taking monastic vows at the monasteries of Cernica and Căldărușani, when each donated 600 sheep to the abbacy. We also know that Dorotei the Monk’s lay name was Dobre Vulpe. He had a son, Popa Stoica of Lupșanu, and Popa Stoica had two sons: Ștefan [known as Sofronie as a monk] and Marin, a former priest also in Lupșanu”.).
- 3
Rev. Prof. Dr Nicu Moldoveanu, The History of Church Music among the Romanians, Basilica Publishing House, Bucharest, 2010, p. 139.
- 4
B., Bishop Sofronie Vulpescu…, pp. 51–52; Rev. Niculae Șerbănescu, ‘The Bishops of Râmnic’, in Mitropolia Olteniei, vol. XIV (1964), nos. 4–6, pp. 205–206 (hereinafter cited as MO); Rev. Prof. Dr Niculae Șerbănescu, ‘The Hierarchs of the Oltenian Lands in the First Hundred Years since the Autocephaly of the Romanian Orthodox Church: 1885 – 25 April – 1985’, in MO, vol. XXXVII (1985), nos. 5–6, p. 347.
- 5
† Sofronie, Bishop of Râmnic-Noul Severin, Orthodox Church Calendar for June 1916, ‘Bishop Sofronie’ Printing House, Râmnicu-Vâlcea, 1916, p. 157.
- 6
Hieromonk Marcu Petcu et al., Pages from the History of Orthodox Monasticism in Romanian Theological Journals * Notable Figures, National Library of Romania Publishing House, Metropolitan Iacov Putneanul Publishing House, Bucharest-Putna, 2011, p. 427, cited in Stoica, ‘The Late Bishop Dositeiu Botoșăneanu Periețeanu’, in C, vol. III (1900), no. 2, pp. 23–24.
- 7
B., Bishop Sofronie Vulpescu…, p. 53; ‘The Debates of the Holy Synod during the Spring Session. Year 1900 – Minutes of the meetings of the Holy Synod during the spring session of 1900”, in BOR, vol. XXIV (1900), no. 4, pp. 68–69; Marcu Petcu et al., Pages from the History of Orthodox Monasticism…, pp. 191–192.
- 8
“The debates of the Holy Synod during the autumn session. The year 1900. Minutes of the meetings of the Holy Synod during the autumn session of 1900”, in BOR, vol. XXIV (1901), no. 10, pp. 4–5.
- 9
B., Bishop Sofronie Vulpescu…, pp. 53–54; G., ‘A New Bishop’, in BOR, vol. XXIV (1900), no. 2, pp. 225–226.
- 10
D., ‘The 25th Anniversary of the Archpastoral Ministry of His Eminence His Eminence Metropolitan D.D. Iosif Naniescu”, in: BOR, vol. XXIV (1900), no. 5, p. 371.
- 11
‘A Report’, in BOR, vol. XXV (1901), no. 3, pp. 329–331.
- 12
G. Floru, ‘The Fourth Centenary of the Death of Voivode Stephen the Great – 2 July 1504 – 1904’, in Amvonul, vol. VII (1904), no. 4, pp. 33–39.
- 13
Drag. Demetrescu, ‘Impressions from the Russian Church in the capital’, in BOR, vol. XXXII (1908), no. 4, pp. 361–362.
- 14
† Sofronie, Bishop of Râmnic-Noul Severin, Orthodox Church Calendar for the month of November 1915, ‘Bishop Sofronie’ Printing House, Râmnicu-Vâlcea, 1915, pp. 158–159.
- 15
C., A. P., ‘The Election, Consecration and Installation of the New Bishop of the Diocese of Argeș, His Grace D.D. Calist Ialomițeanu”, in Calea Vieței, IX (1912), no. 2, pp. 33–45.
- 16
P. G…, ‘The Death of P. S. Ghenadie Georgescu, Bishop of Râmnic-Noul Severin’, in BOR, vol. XXXVI (1912), no. 9, vol. XXXVI, pp. 852–853.
- 17
† Sofronie, Bishop of Râmnic-Noul Severin, Orthodox Church Calendar for the month of November…, p. 168.
- 18
‘The Election of the Bishop of Râmnic’, in Viitorul, 1912, 4 December, no. 1734, p. 3 (hereinafter cited as V).
- 19
Alex. Mavrodi, ‘Following yesterday’s episcopal election’, in V, 1913, 7 May, p. 3; I. Irimescu Cândești, ‘The Grand College. The Election of the Bishop of Râmnic’, in V, 1913, 7 May, p. 3; Cătălin Raiu, Democracy and Statolatry: Social Christianity in Bartolomeu Stănescu. Bishop of Râmnicu-Noul Severin (1875–1954), University of Bucharest Press, Bucharest, 2014, p. 83.
- 20
G., ‘P.S. Sofronie, Bishop of Râmnic-Noul Severin. His Election and Installation’, in BOR, vol. XXXVII (1913), no. 2, pp. 150–155.
- 21
I. Irimescu Cândești, The Great College…, p. 3.
- 22
N. Iorga, ‘Bishop Sofronie’, in Neamul Românesc, vol. VIII (1913), 12 May, no. 46, pp. 705–706.
- 23
G., P.S. Sofronie, Bishop of Râmnic-Noul Severin…, pp. 155–160.
- 24a24b
G…, ‘The Installation of P. S. Sofronie, Bishop of Râmnic – Noul Severin’, in BOR, vol. XXXVII (1913), no. 3, pp. 254–264.
- 25a25b
G., ‘Occasional Sermons’, in BOR, vol. XXXVII (1913), no. 4, pp. 377–379.
- 26
G., A New Bishop…, p. 226.