Reorganizarea Seminariilor Teologice din Vechiul Regat, prin Legea clerului mirean și a seminariilor (29 ma i 1893)
Reorganization of theological seminaries in the Old Kingdom, through the Law on the Clergy and Seminaries (May 29, 1893)

Summary/Abstract: The theological seminaries in Romania are schools established to train worship personnel and are a product of the modern era. A significant legislative change in the history of seminary theological education occurred in 1893 with the promulgation of the Lay Clergy and Seminaries Law. This law, passed by Take Ionescu and approved by Parliament, aimed to reduce the number of Seminaries in the Old Kingdom to five. Specifically, three schools were to have three classes each in Roman, Curtea de Argeș, and Râmnic, while Bucharest and Iași would have two schools with an additional five classes, resulting in an eight-year study program. Lower Seminary graduates could gain admission to the 4th class of Upper Seminaries either through an entrance exam or by enrolling in other public schools. The Ministry only approved the ordination of graduates from the eight-class Seminary program, and those seminarians with four-class education, who were not ordained at the time of the Law’s enactment, could request positions in Dobrogea or roles as singers.The purpose of this text is to present the historical context in which the Ministry of Cults and Public Instruction took on a predominant role in supervising the activity of theological Seminaries, leading to a reduced influence of the Church in educational matters. Throughout this analysis, we will explore the various steps of this new educational program, drawing from documents issued by the legislative bodies of the state and the church press. The primary goal was to enhance the educational process in priestly schools.

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