Porumbăcean, Claudiu et al. (szerk.): Satu Mare. Studii şi comunicări. Seria istorie-etnografie-artă 29/2. (2013)

Istorie

EPISCOPIA ORTODOXĂ A MARAMUREŞULUI ÎN PERIOADA INTERBELICĂ

Daniela BĂLU

Keywords: Diocese, Orthodox, interwarperiod, reestablishment, Maramureş, Satu Mare

Abstract: The organization of the Romanian Orthodox Church after the Great Union followed for several years the model of before 1918, being structured mainly on geographical regions:

1. Church of the Old Kingdom (the territory of Romania before the Great Union of 1918)

2. Church of Transylvania

3. Church of Bucovina

4. Church of Basarabia.

Once the country’s borders were established, the legislative union of the Orthodox Church was also necesary. The new organisation of May 1925 included:

1. Metropolitan bishopric of Ungro-Walachia

2. Metropolitan bishopric of Moldavia and Suceava

3. Metropolitan bishopric of Transylvania, Banat, Maramureş and Crişana

4. Metropolitan bishopric of Bucovina

5. Metropolitan bishopric of Basarabia.

“The generation of the Great Union” was also troubled by the issue of the re-opening the Orthodox Diocese of Maramureş. They militated to determine several parishes to return to orthodoxy, and the cases of change in religious identity was multiplied after 1920. The situation of Orthodox religion is consolidated; there will be numerous changeovers to Orthodox confession in several localities in Maramureş and Satu Mare.

The reestablishment of Orthodox parishes led the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, on the base of the Apostolic Canon 34, to approve the reestablishment of the Orthodox Diocese of Maramureş on July 1, 1937. It belonged to the Metropolitan bishopric of Bucovina, with the main residence in Sighet. In December 29,1938 the first holder of the Orthodox Diocese of Maramureş, IPS Vasile Stan was enthroned.

From a geographical point of view, the new Orthodox Diocese of Maramureş had under its jurisdiction the territory of the counties of Maramureş, Satu Mare and half of Sălaj, respectively from the eastern border surrounding the city of Carei (today in Satu Mare County). The administrative units of the Diocese of Maramureş were divided into five deaneries:

1. The archpriestship of Cetatea de Piatră (Chioar) — Baia Mare

2. The archpriestship of Sighet

3. The archpriestship of Vişeu

4. The archpriestship of Satu Mare

5. The archpriestship of Sălaj — Carei.

Satu Mare - Studii şi Comunicări, nr. XXIX/II, 2013, p. 113-126