30 July 2007 – The Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church TEOCTIST ARĂPAŞU (baptised Teodor) passed away. He was Patriarch of Romania for 21 years, from 1986 – 2007. Patriarch Teoctist joined the monastery as brother at Vorona Monastery in 1928, and then went to Neamţ Monastery, in 1931. He graduated the Monastic Seminary at Cernica Monastery in 1940. He was tonsured into monasticism at Bistriţa Monastery, with the name of Teoctist, on 6 August 1935, and ordained hierodeacon for this monastery, on 4 January 1937. In 1940, he was admitted at the Faculty of Theology of Bucharest and graduated it in 1945; in parallel he had various positions within the framework of the Archdiocese of Bucharest and served as deacon at the Patriarchate.
On 1 March 1945, he was transferred to the Eparchial Centre of Iaşi, and ordained hieromonk on 25 March 1945, and archimandrite in 1946. He attended the courses of the Faculty of Philology of Iaşi from 1945 – 1947, having been servant priest, then great eclesiarch at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Iaşi and exarch of the monasteries of the Archdiocese of Iaşi (1946 – 1948). From 1948 – 1950, he was vicar of the same Archdiocese. On 28 February 1950, he was elected and on 5 March 1950 ordained Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch with the title of Botoşăneanul. In this dignity he was secretary of the Holy Synod, rector of the University Theological Institute of Bucharest from 1950 – 1954 and headed various departments within the Patriarchal Administration.
On 28 July 1962, he was elected, and on 16 September installed Bishop of Arad, where he served for 10 years (December 1969 – December 1970, Bishop locum tenens of Oradea). On 28 January 1973, he was elected Archbishop of Craiova and Metropolitan of Oltenia, and on 25 February 1973 installed.
On 25 September 1977, elected Archbishop of Iaşi and Metropolitan of Moldova and Suceava, and on 9 October 1977, installed. From July 1980 till January 1982, he was Metropolitan locum tenens of Transylvania. After the death of Patriarch Iustin, on 31 July 1986, he became Patriarch locum tenens. On 9 November 1986 he was elected and on 16 November 1986 enthroned Archbishop of Bucharest, Metropolitan of Ungrowallachia and Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, serving till his death.
Works: “Metropolitan Iacob Putneanul, herald of the Romanian Orthodoxy, of the hopes of national unity and affirmation of the Romanian culture” (1978, Neamţ Monastery, 45 p.); and a lengthy edition entitled “Metropolitan Iacob Putneanul” 1719-1778. In the service of the Romanian Orthodoxy, of the hopes of national unity and of the Romanian culture” (1978, Neamţ, 128 p); Introductory study to Dosoftei”, “Divine Liturgy” (critical edition by N.A. Ursu, Iaşi, 1980, p. V-XLIV – edited at his initiative). He published studies, articles, speeches in “Biserica Ortodoxă Română”, “Glasul Bisericii”, “Mitropolia Moldovei şi Sucevei”, “Mitropolia Olteniei”, “Mitropolia Banatului”, Telegraful Român” magazines, books of prayer, pastoral letters. The articles and speeches published in magazines, as well as the forewords were gathered under the title “On the steps of the Christian service”, in 13 volumes (1980 – 2003). As Patriarch, he supervised all the editorial activity of the Bible and Orthodox Mission Institute. A series of works with theological and historical character, books of rite, as well as a new edition of the Synodal Bible (2002) were published with his blessing.