Alexandru Todea

Alexandru Todea
Born	June 5, 1912(1912-06-05) Teleac
Died	May 22, 2002(2002-05-22)
Resting place	Cathedral of Blaj
Title	Cardinal
Predecessor	Alexandru Rusu
Successor	Lucian Mureșan

Alexandru Todea (June 5, 1912, Teleac, Mureş County–May 22, 2002, Târgu-Mureş) was a Romanian Greek-Catholic bishop of the Alba Iulia Diocese and later cardinal. He was also a victim of the communist regime.

Born into a peasant family, he was the 13th of 16 children. After attending primary school in his native village, and high school in Reghin and Blaj, Metropolitan bishop Vasile Suciu send him to pursue his theological studies in Rome. He was created Cardinal-Priest on 28 June 1991 and given the titular church of Sant'Atanasio a Via Tiburtina.

Origin and studies

Alexandru Todea was born on 5 June 1912, the Teleac, the 13th of the 16 children of the peasants of George and Mary Todea. Primary school he attended in his native village and Cacuci, and secondary school in Reghin. Upper classes he attended at the School of Romanian boys unit "St. Basil the Great" in Blaj. In 1933 , in session in June, has passed the high school.

In autumn 1933 he was admitted first year student at the Theological Academy in Blaj. After a year of study at university followed Blaj in autumn 1934 , Bishop Vasile Suciu sent for higher theological studies in Rome , the College "De Propaganda Fide". As in the previous academic year ago (and promoted) first year at the Theological Academy in Blaj, the Eternal City was recognized directly in Philosophy II, and then followed five years of Theology. În acest timp a primit ordurile sacre , celibatar fiind. During this time he received ordurile sacred being single.

After Alexander Todea completed higher education in theology, and the doctoral dissertation titled The millennial doctrine, exegetico-dogmaticus Tractatus, in 1940, was promoted Doctor of Divinity.

Pastoral work until 1948

On 11 December 1938 while a student in Theology IV, was ordained in Rome deacon by Iuliu Hossu, bishop of Cluj-Gherla, the ambassadors of Romania accredited to Italy and the Holy See.

On 25 March 1939 , the feast of the Annunciation, Alexander Todea young deacon was ordained in Rome by Greek-Catholic bishop Russian diaspora, Alexander Evreinov, sometimes referred to as Bishop Evrainoff.

In 1940 he returned home and was appointed secretary to Metropolitan during arhipăstoririi Bishop Alexandru Nicolescu and early holiday Metropolitan, in apostolic administration of Bishop Valeriu Traian Frenţiu.

From 1941 he taught religion in the united Romanian normal school teacher, and then High School boys 'Basil' and other schools of Blaj, where he taught religion, Latin and Italian. He spoke the French power, since high school.

From 1945 until October 1948, Alexander worked as a parish and Todea Dean District Reghin. During this time he was arrested several times by the communist authorities.

Bishop and underground detention

After his arrest and removal Greek Catholic bishops United Church outlawed in 1948 occurred in the first phase three episcopal ordinations without the communist authorities: on 30 November 1948 was ordained priest Bishop John Ploscaru from Lugoj, on 6 March 1949 priest John Dragomir from Baia Mare and the 19 November 1950 was dedicated to Alexander Todea underground. With the Greek-Catholic bishops from Romania were arrested, including John Ploscaru and John Dragomir , Alexander's episcopal Todea was committed by Roman Catholic Bishop Joseph Schubert, in the chapel, baptistery of the cathedral "St. Joseph" in Bucharest. Recommendation to raise the level Todea archpriest bishop came from Cardinal Pietro Parente , his head doctor. [4] Todea was ordained as bishop Cesaropolis holder in fact Auxiliary Bishop Ioan Suciu , apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese of Alba Iulia and Fagaras (based in Blaj). He participated, in addition to the newly consecrated bishop and consecrated bishop, only Father George Guţiu, currently the oldest member of Catholic Bishops in Romania. Security soon found the new bishop's ordination and knew the name of the new bishop.

After consecration Bishop Todea continued to live and work underground, returning to Reghin. On 31 January 1951 , was arrested again and taken to headquarters Reghin Security, then at the Targu Mures , then was transferred to the Ministry of Interior, the Jilava and Uranus, which was investigated for 13 months. At trial in February 15th 1952, the prosecutor asked his condemnation to death. Bucharest Military Court sentenced him to hard labor for life. On 28 February 1952, was moved to Sighet, where all the other bishops were already imprisoned Romanian united with Rome, with the exception of Bishop Basil Aftenie, who was in Sighet and was killed in Bucharest on 10 May 1950.

In prison, he was given the task to clear the corridor and other places. Joking Alexandru Todea said:

"Head of măturoi."

The Security prison and addressed the appellation:

„Banditule!” "Banditule!"

After 13 years in prison, was pardoned in August 1964, when all political prisoners.

After his release he settled in Reghin, where thousands of illegally shepherding the local believers. On 14 March 1986 , was elected by the Conference of Catholic Bishops in the position of Metropolitan of the Romanian Church United with Rome, choice served the Holy See :

So, March 14, 1986 to be considered on the holiday ended the Metropolitan of the Romanian Church United, which took place on 5 June 1941, the death of Metropolitan Alexandru Nicolescu.

Archbishop of Alba Iulia and Fagaras, Bishop of the Romanian Church United with Rome

After 22 December 1989, Bishop Alexander Todea continued work in conditions of freedom. On 12 March 1990 , the Holy See released the title of bishop of Cesaropolis and given preferences Bishops Conference of 14 March 1986 , the Archbishop of Fagaras and Alba Iulia and confirmed him as Bishop of the Romanian Church United with Rome (Greek- Catholic).

Cardinal of the Church Universal

In 1991 he was elevated to the dignity of cardinal. Three years later, on 20 July 1994, he retired from the Metropolitan Blaj effective management of sickness.

End of life

He passed away on 22 May 2002. He was buried in Holy Trinity Cathedral in Blaj.

Works

For you teachers apostles, Printing Seminar Blaj, 1942 (Signed "Todea Father")

Niagara Youth, printing "Light" - Red Miron, Blaj, 1943 (Signed "Dr. Alexander Todea, priest-professor")

Youth Prayer, printing "Light" Red Miron, Blaj, 1945 (Signed "Hair. Dr. Alexander Todea, professor" is a prayer book of 400 pages)

Notes

1. Cacuci mother's village was situated not far from Teleac.

2. Hieromonk Dr. Sylvester A. Prunduş Plaianu OSMB & Clemente, (1992), Cardinal Dr. Alexander Todea. At 80 years (1912-1992), Edited by "order [Monastic] St. Basil the Great" Province "St. Peter and Paul" Romania, Cluj Gloria Printing, p 14.

3. Hieromonk Dr. Sylvester A. Prunduş Plaianu OSMB & Clemente, (1992), Cardinal Dr. Alexander Todea, p 18.

4. Alexander Petărlecean Ion Moldovan: Cardinal Alexander Todea. In memoriam, Blaj 2002, pp. 68 et seq.

5. The words "Dangerous for society".

6. Hieromonk Dr. Sylvester A. Prunduş Plaianu OSMB & Clemente, (1992), Cardinal Dr. Alexander Todea, pp. 37-38.

Sources

Hieromonk Dr. Sylvester A. Prunduş Plaianu OSMB & Clemente, (1992), Cardinal Dr. Alexander Todea. At 80 years (1912-1992), Edited by "order [Monastic] St. Basil the Great" Province "St. Peter and Paul" Romania, Cluj Gloria printing.

John M. Bota, (1994), Universal Church History of the Romanian Church from its origins until today, Publishing House "Christian Life", Cluj-Napoca.

References

• (Romanian) Biography, at bru.ro
• Valentin Borda and Mircea Borda, Alexandru Todea: protopop, episcop, mitropolit, cardinal în Biserica Română Unită cu Roma, Greco-Catolică, Târgu-Mureș: Casa de editură Petru Maior, 1999. ISBN 9789738018006
• Silvestru Augustin Prunduş and Clemente Plăianu, Cardinalul Dr. Alexandru Todea: la 80 de ani (1912-1992), Ordinul Sfînful Vasile cel Mare, Provincia "Sf. Apostoli Petru si Pavel", 1992. OCLC 31595331
• Silvestru Augustin Prunduş and Clemente Plăianu, Catolicism şi Ortodoxie Românească - scurt istoric al Bisericii Române Unite, Cluj-Napoca: Casa de Editură Viaţa Creştină, 1994.