It is 158 years since the birth of the first Patriarch of Romania, Miron Cristeatranslated

Saturday marks 158 years since the birth of Elie (Ilie) Cristea in Toplița, in Harghita county. He would become the first Patriarch of Romania.

The young Elie became a monk in 1902, he was elected Bishop of Caransebeș in 1909, and on December 18, 1919 he was elected Metropolitan Primate of Romania.

Before becoming a bishop, he was involved in coordinating the construction of the Cathedral in Sibiu and in the cultural emancipation of Romanians in Transylvania.

Participant in the union of Romanians in 1918 As a bishop, in 1918, he participated in the Great National Assembly in Alba Iulia, where Transylvania united with Romania. After the Great Union, in the capacity of Metropolitan Primate, he became the main supporter of the construction of the Cathedral of the Salvation of the Nation.

He also established the Biblical and Mission Institute, created new dioceses and contributed to the revitalization of historical episcopal centers, such as Tomis, Oradea and Cluj.

In 1925, after the Autocephalous Orthodox Church of Romania was elevated to the rank of Patriarchate – a natural consequence of the union of Romanians in their own unitary national state – Metropolitan Primate Miron Cristea was elected Patriarch of Romania.

The first Patriarch of…