www.byzcath.org Forums News & Events Church News Cardinal Alexandru Todea of Romania

It has been announced that Cardinal Alexandru Todea retired Archbishop of Fagaras and Alba Julia Romanian Byzantine Diocese.

I will try and get more information latter today.

Peter M. Preble

This is the message of our Metropolitan from Romania:

Blaj
May 22/2002

The Romanian Greek-Catholic Metropolitan, United to Rome, announces, with deep sorrow, the passing away of His Eminence the Cardinal Alexandru Todea, on Wednesday, the 22nd of May, at 4:00 PM.

The time of the glorious Resurrection that the Church is living now, this time when we celebrate "the trampling of death" and the beginning of another life, new and eternal, inspires us all, sons and daughters of the Romanian Catholic Church of Romania, all of us belonging to this people, all the spiritual sons of Cardinal Alexandru, to deepen our spiritual reflections on Eternity.

In union with the Church in which he was born, raised and educated, which he served with total generosity, he offered the sacrifice of his ten years of suffering for the Church and his country, in union with Jesus Christ,the Bridegroom of his life, who sacrificed Himself, died and resurrected for our Salvation.

We are persuaded that,through his passing from this world to the Father, completing the crown of the 12 Greek-Catholic bishops martyrs of faith, the Cardinal Alexandru is interceding and obtaining for the Church, for our country and us all, graces and blessings from God, the Lord of Life.

LUCIAN

Archbishop and Metropolitan

Dumnezeu sa-l odihneasca intre Sfintii Sai!

I've also found the informations about the funerals:

THE ROMANIAN GREEK-CATHOLIC METROPOLITAN SEAT UNITED TO ROME,


With deep sorrow as well as with the confidence that he earned his place in the Heavenly Kingdom, beside the other bishops martyrs,announces that
His Eminence, the Cardinal ALEXANDRU TODEA,
returned to the Father's home on the 22nd of May, 2002.

The casket containing the Cardinal's body will be transferred from Reghin to Blaj on Saturday, May 25th at 10:30 PM.
There will be continuous prayer vigil in the Cathedral.

The funerals will take place in the Metropolitan Cathedral from Blaj on Tuesday, May 28th at 10:00 AM.

Dear Friends,

Eternal Memory to him from a son of a Romanian mother!

Alex

Biographical data about His Eminence Dr. Alexandru Todea, honorific member of the Romanian Academy


Born on the 5th of June,1912, in Teleac, the Mures County, as one of the 16 children of Gheorghe and Maria Todea.

First studies: 7 years of elementary school in his village.

Intermediate studies: the first 4 years at the Petru Maior's College in Reghin and the last 4 years at Saint Basil the Great High School, in Blaj.

In the fall of 1933, he starts his theological studies at the Saint Trinity Academy of Theology in Blaj.

In the fall of 1934, the Metropolitan Vasile Suciu sends him to Rome to persue his theological studies at De Propaganda Fide University. He is ordained priest on March 25th,1939. He obtains his PHD in Theology in 1940, upon his return to Romania.

He starts his activity as a priest and professor of Religion, Latin and Italian in various schools in Blaj; at the same time he is the secretary of Alexandru Nicolescu Metropolitan Seat.

In October 14th, 1945, he is appointed archpriest of the Archpriesthood of Reghin and he remains in this function until the 14th of October, 1948, when he is arrested. The Catholic Church of Byzantine-Romanian rite was suppressed in 1948.

Between 1946 and 1948 he was arrested and set free 5 times for his attitude against atheism. When he was arrested in October 14th, 1948, by the Political Police from Reghin, he manages to escape and go into hiding, in the same town. He was found and arrested again on the 30th of January, 1951.

In clandestinely, His Eminence Iosif Schubert ordained him bishop, with the title of Cezaropolis, in November 19th, 1950, in the baptismal chapel of the Roman-Catholic 'Saint Joseph' Cathedral, in Bucharest.

After his arrest, he was judged in 1952, February 15th, together with other priests and condemned to hard labour and life sentence; in court the prosecutor had asked for a death sentence.

During his years of detention he passed through the Ministry of Internal Affairs' penitentiaries of Bucharest, Sighetul Marmatiei, Ramnicul Sarat, Jilava, Pitesti, Dej, Aiud, Vacaresti, Gherla, from where he was set free on August, 1964. He returns to Reghin where he gets involved in an intense pastoral activity. He sends over 30 memorandums to the communist governmental authorities asking for the freedom of the Greek-Catholic Church.

He is elected, in secret, as Metropolitan of the Greek-Catholic Romanian Church, United to Rome, on the 14th of March, 1986, by the Bishops of the
Metropolitan Seat of Alba-Iulia and Fagaras in function at that time; he is recognized as Archbishop of Alba-Iulia and Fagaras, as well as Metropolitan of the Greek-Catholic Church, United to Rome, by the Pope John Paul II, on March 14th, 1990. His investiture took place on the 7th of October of the same year, at the Campia Libertatii, in Blaj.

On June 28th, 1991, Pope John Paul II raised him to the rank of Cardinal.

On April, 1992, a vascular accident affects his health seriously.
In July 20th, 1994, the Holy Father accepts his resignation from the Church leadership, for health reasons. As honorific Archbishop of Alba-Iulia and Fagaras, he accompanied the Church with his prayers from his residence in Reghin, where he was warmly welcoming all those who were willing to see him.

Romanian,

Thanks for the translated information.

Peter

Eternal Memory!