Teoctist Blajevici

Teoctist Blajevici (born Teodor Blajevici; February 23, 1807 – June 27, 1879) was an ethnic Romanian Orthodox cleric from the Duchy of Bukovina in Austria-Hungary.

Born in Tișăuți village, he attended gymnasium in nearby Suceava, followed by high school and professional training at the theological institute in Cernăuți until 1831. Ordained a priest in 1832, he served in the parishes of Storojineț and Prisăcăreni until 1837. He then became a monk, taking the name Teoctist. He became a spiritual adviser at the theological institute's seminary in 1857. He offered catechism for young seminarians, was part of the diocesan administration, taught as a substitute at the gymnasium and normal school in Cernăuți, was abbot of Dragomirna Monastery (1863-1874) and of Cernăuți Cathedral (1874-1877). He was elected Metropolitan of Bukovina and Dalmatia in 1877, serving until his death in Cernăuți two years later. An erudite man, he wrote poems and fables in a vivid folk language. Publishing both in books and magazines, he used the pen name Teoctist Șoimul (“the falcon”). He wrote a Romanian-language grammar and three religion textbooks, making him among the first Romanian authors of school textbooks in these subjects.

References

• Emil Satco, Alis Niculică (eds.), Enciclopedia Bucovinei, Vol. I. Suceava: Editura Karl A. Romstorfer, 2018. ISBN 978-606-8698-22-9