PROTOPOPUL SIMION STOICA DE ALBA IULIA – COLABORATOR AL LUI SOFRONIE DE LA CIOARA SI APĂRĂTOR AL ORTODOXIEI
THE PROTO-PRIEST SIMION STOICA FROM ALBA IULIA – COLLABORATOR OF SOFRONIE DE LA CIOARA AND DEFENDER OF ORTHODOXY

Summary/Abstract: The Proto-Priest Simion Stoica from Alba Iulia – collaborator of Sofronie de la Cioara and defender of Orthodoxy. In the midst of the religious turmoil of the middle of the eighteenth century the institution of the Orthodox District of the Archpriest of Alba Iulia that had been previously dissolved through Unionist adhesion in 1701, was restaured. No monographic study has ever been dedicated to its occupant, Simion Stoica, although he was engaged in numerous and important actions of consolidation of the Orthodoxy. He was involved in the preparations of the Synod of Alba Iulia, which was held between February 14th – February 18th 1761 and which constitutes the climax of the movement of Sofronie. He was also involved in reorganizing the Orthodox hierarchy through the “reinforcement” of priesthood in his district (priests that have been ordained in Valachia) and in the distribution of Holy Antimensions in Râmnic; hence, establishing connections to the defenders of the Orthodoxy, even with Sofornie of Cioara (if we were to reflect upon on the names he received: „Sofronie’s agent”, “spy”, “comrade”, “partisan”, Sofronie’s man”, etc.), and then with the leaders from Răsinari (Bishop Dionie Novacovici, Secretary D. Eustatievici). Thus, Archpriest Simion Stoica proves to be deeply engaged in the most important revolutionary movement, both as duration and extent, in the Romanian history until that point.

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