National Symposium “Bartolomeu Valeriu Anania – Voice from the Agora of the Citadel” – 2nd Edition

The Orthodox College “Metropolitan Nicolae Colan” from Cluj-Napoca is organizing, during March 28-29, 2024 (Thursday and Friday), at the Metropolitan Museum of Cluj, the second edition of the National Symposium “Bartolomeu Valeriu Anania – Voice from the Agora of the Citadel” . During the event, for two days, through several clerical and lay personalities, teachers, people of culture, collaborators and close associates of Metropolitan Bartolomeu, students will have the opportunity to get to know the personality of the metropolitan, theologian, prose writer, poet and playwright Bartolomeu Valeriu Anania , a worthy role model.

The festive opening took place on Thursday, March 28, from 3:00 p.m., with the service of the Reverend being performed at the tomb of Metropolitan Bartolomeu in the hierarchs’ necropolis at the headquarters of the Metropolitan Cathedral. Professors from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology, teaching staff and students from the Orthodox College “Mitropolitul Nicolae Colan” from the municipality, representatives of the Cluj County School Inspectorate (ISJ Cluj), as well as other guests, participated.

Next, in the event hall of the museum, His Eminence Father Andrei, Archbishop of Vad, Feleac and Cluj and Metropolitan of Cluj, Maramureş and Sălaj, spoke a word of blessing, spoke about the personality of the worthy of remembrance Metropolitan Bartolomeu and urged the students to read his literary work.

Also, Prof. Amalia Gurzău, school inspector within ISJ Cluj, appreciated the activities organized by the Orthodox College and conveyed the message to the general school inspector of Cluj county, Prof. Marinela Marc.

During the symposium, the personality of the great hierarch and scholar, the work and the impressive achievements achieved during his life were evoked by distinguished people of culture, collaborators and close associates of Metropolitan Bartolomeu: Fr. lect. university dr. Bogdan Ivanov – president of the “Metropolitan Bartolomeu” Foundation and academic staff at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology of Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj-Napoca, priest Ioan Pintea – director of the “George Coșbuc” County Library Bistrița-Năsăud and lect. university Dr. Vlad Mureșan, teaching staff at the Faculty of European Studies in Cluj-Napoca.

The event was completed with a poetry recital from the work of Metropolitan Bartolomeu and several musical moments supported by the boys’ choir of the Orthodox College “Mitropolitul Nicolae Colan”, directed by Fr. Prof. Dr. Petru Stanciu, the Girls’ Choir of the Orthodox College and the “St. Ecaterina” Choir of the Orthodox College, both conducted by the archdiocese. Prof. Dr. Daniel Frumos. A musical moment was also supported by Maria Taloș, a student at the “Gheorghe Dima” National Academy of Music in Cluj-Napoca.

The demonstration was moderated and presented by Fr. lect. university Dr. Liviu Vidican-Manci, director of the institution of theological education.

The symposium will continue on Friday, March 29, from 12:00, also at the Metropolitan Museum of Cluj, where volume II of the book “Meetings with Bartolomeu Anania. Journal pages (2000-2011)”, signed by Dr. Nicolaeta Pălimaru, published by Renastrea Publishing House of the Archdiocese of Cluj in 2024. They will speak: Archim. Dr. Dumitru Cobzaru – exarch of the monasteries of the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj, poet and editor Mircea Petean, Prof. Dr. Ramona Burcă, as well as Dr. Nicoleta Pălimaru, editor-in-chief of Renaștea Publishing House and author of the book. At the same time, the students who participated in the symposium with different literary and artistic creations in memory of Metropolitan Bartolomeu will be awarded, according to the program. Also, the three choirs of the Orthodox College and other students of the educational institution will support artistic and musical moments. More details HERE

The symposium is organized by the “Mitropolitul Nicolae Colan” Orthodox College from Cluj-Napoca, with the support and involvement of the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj, the “Mitropolitul Bartolomeu” Foundation, the Cluj County School Inspectorate, the Cluj Metropolitan Museum, the “Octavian” County Library Goga” and other institutions.

Short biography

Metropolitan Bartolomeu Anania (March 18, 1921 – January 31, 2011), translator of the Bible and outstanding founder, wisely shepherded the Cluj Diocese for 18 years, in the period 1993-2011, managing to dynamize its activity, to respond promptly and efficient to the new and increasingly diverse demands of the modern world. The name of Metropolitan Bartolomeu is linked to the historical act of re-establishment, in 2006, of the Metropolitanate of Cluj, as a revival of the old metropolitanate of Feleac, founded at the end of the 15th century, by Saint Voivode Stephen the Great and protected by his descendants.

The hierarch is buried in the crypt of the hierarchs at the headquarters of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Cluj-Napoca, where he sleeps forever with Bishop Nicolae Ivan, Archbishop Teofil Herineanu and Bishop Vasile Flueraș (Someșanul). Currently, in front of the Cathedral in Avram Iancu Square, there are statues of two hierarchs (Bishop Nicolae Ivan and Metropolitan Batolomeu Anania). They were inaugurated and consecrated in 2018, on the feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle. Thus, the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj symbolically marked the Centenary of the Great Union, by cultivating the memory of great people of the Church, but also by marking some places and symbolic events, which illustrate the 100 years since the reunification of the country. The detailed biography of Metropolitan Bartolomeu HERE

More photos HERE

Text and photo: Darius Echim / Mitropolia Clujului