Teacher Ioan from Bălgrad (Alba Iulia) – a commitment made for the re-affirmation of Orthodoxy in Transylvania and in advertising the Romanian School
DASCĂLUL IOAN AL BĂLGRADULUI – O ANGAJARE ÎN REAFIRMAREA ORTODOXIEI TRANSILVĂNENE SI ÎN PROMOVAREA SCOLII ROMÂNESTI (SECOLUL AL XVIII-LEA)

Summary/Abstract: Teacher Ioan from Bălgrad (Alba Iulia) – a commitment made for the re-affirmation of Orthodoxy in Transylvania and in advertising the Romanian School System (the 18th century). The Orthodox School from Alba Iulia from the late 18th century represents an important episode of the religious life of the city and, moreover, of the entire Transylvania, even if it has not been fully discussed. It has only been mentioned, but there are not any monographic treaties written on this theme. As part of the programme which supported the local Orthodoxy, the school from Bălgrad, that was guided for over a quarter of century by Ioan, the teacher, generated and supported a prosperous cultural phenomenon – the foundation of the first Orthodox schools in the villages around Alba Iulia. In the confessional context of those years, the relationship between Ioan the teacher and the two very firm supporters of Orthodoxy: Sofronie, the monk, and Simion Stoica, Archpriest of Bălgrad, has as much relevance as the cultural dimension of the former. The teacher from Bălgrad is mentioned again in some documents from 1786, in the context of the preparations done for the inauguration of the new Orthodox state schools, period during which he attends a training course at the school from Sibiu. He is also mentioned among the financial supporters of the “Holy Annunciation” Church from Centru (one of Alba Iulia’s districts). This represents only a first step of the research of this subject which has revealed, throughout the process, aspects have not been explored up to this point and which have determined us to attempt their full recovery. We hold the desire of re-developing the theme at length.

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