Patriarch Nicodim of Romania

Nicodim (Romanian pronunciation: [nikoˈdim]), born Nicolae Munteanu ([nikoˈla.e munˈte̯anu]; 6 December 1864, Pipirig, Neamț County, Romania – 27 February 1948, Bucharest), was the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church (Patriarch of All Romania) between 1939 and 1948.

His Beatitude

Patriarch Nicodim of Romania
By God's mercy, Archbishop of Bucharest,
Metropolitan of Ungro-Vlachia,
Locum tenens of the throne of Caesarea Cappadociae and
Patriarch of All Romania
ChurchRomanian Orthodox Church
SeeBucharest
Installed5 July 1939
Term ended27 February 1948
PredecessorPatriarch Miron of Romania
SuccessorPatriarch Justinian of Romania
Personal details
Born
Nicolae Munteanu

(1864-12-06)6 December 1864
Pipirig, Neamț County, Principality of Moldavia
Died27 February 1948(1948-02-27) (aged 83)
Bucharest, Romanian People's Republic
BuriedRomanian Patriarchal Cathedral
NationalityRomanian
DenominationEastern Orthodox
Alma materKiev-Mohyla Academy, Russian Empire
Patriarh Nicodim (centre), with Mihai I (right) and Gheorghiu-Dej (left) at a reception at the Soviet embassy, 1946

Biography

He studied theology at the Kiev-Mohyla Academy, Russian Empire and became a monk at Neamț Monastery in 1894. Nicodim was supportive of the Royal Family of Romania and a notable anti-Communist, refusing to give support for the Soviet-backed Communist regime in the process of installation in Romania in 1945–1947. Immediately, rumors circulated to the effect that he had been murdered, perhaps with Soviet approval. However, all available evidence indicates the patriarch died of natural causes.[1]

Nicodim Munteanu was buried at the Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, next to the first Patriarch of Romania Miron Cristea.

Notes
  1. Adrian Cioroianu, Focul ascuns în piatră, p. 310. Bucharest: Editura Polirom, 2002, ISBN 978-973-68-1076-3
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