The canonization of Saint Simion Stefan was proclaimed locally 15 years ago in Alba Iuliatranslated

The canonization of Saint Hierarch Simion Stefan, Metropolitan of Transylvania, was proclaimed locally 15 years ago at the Cathedral of Reunification in Alba Iulia.

Little information has been preserved about the first years of the life of Saint Simion Stefan. It is assumed that he attended primary and secondary school in Alba Iulia, and before his election as metropolitan he served as a hieromonk in an Orthodox monastery in the same city.

A period of confessional pressure In 1643, he was elected metropolitan, being the successor of Saint Hierarch Ilie Iorest, removed from the seat and imprisoned for confessing the Orthodox faith.

The 13 years in this ministry were marked by difficulties. Because the authorities of the principality supported the expansion of Calvinism, the Romanian Orthodox believers were subjected to confessional pressures, and the freedom of organization of their Church was restricted.

The metropolitan also had to deal with some interference in the diocesan organization. Of the 20 existing Orthodox archdeaconships in Transylvania, only three were under his jurisdiction, the others being abusively removed from the metropolitan authority, with the support of Prince Gheorghe...