Bishop Sofronie of Oradea officiated on Sunday the Divine Liturgy at the “Lord’s Resurrection” Orthodox Cathedral in Oradea to celebrate a century from the re-establishment of the Diocese of Oradea through Royal decree.
On this occasion, the hierarch spoke of the historical meaning of the day of August 30 for the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Oradea and gave thanks for all the good things worked by God in it.
The celebrations will continue on September 19 and 20 with two consecrations: that of the new church at the Izbuc Monastery and that of the newly-built Orthodox Diocesan Cathedral in Oradea. The latter has as patronal feasts the Lord’s Resurrection and Holy Hierarch Andrei, Metropolitan of Transylvania.
The consecrations have been symbolically scheduled after the great feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross.
The signing of the Trianon peace treaty, in 1920, assured international recognition for the union of the three provinces inhabited by Romanians in one national state.
“The Law to re-establish the Old Diocese of Greater Oradea in Transylvania” was signed in 1920 by Ferdinand I the Unifier, King of All Romania and had one article: “The former Romanian Orthodox Diocese from Oradea-Mare, in Bihor County, is re-established in its historical rights”.
After 200 years, the Diocese of Oradea could have again its bishop on its historic episcopal throne.
Between 1715-20 and 1920, the diocese had not been officially abolished, but the Austrian authorities did not allow a bishop to reside in Oradea. In that period, the Bishop of Arad was Locum-tenens of the throne of Oradea, but the Oradea eparchy was not included in the Diocese of Arad.
The year 2020 also marks 340 years from the first written mention of the Orthodox Diocese of Oradea (in 1680) and 325 years since the diocese and its bishop, Efrem, were mentioned in the Diploma issued by Austrian Emperor Leopold (in 1695).
Source: basilica.ro
