Grigore Maior
Encyclopedia
Gavrila Grigore Maior was Bishop of Făgăraş and Primate of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church from 1773 to his resignation in 1782.
). He studied at Cluj
and later from 1740 in the College of the Propaganda, Rome
where he on 28 January 1747 got a doctorate in theology and philosophy. He entered in the Basilian
monastery of the Holy Trinity in Blaj
taking the name of Grigore, and on 25 December 1745 he was ordained a priest
. He taught languages (Latin and Hungarian) in Blaj.
On 30 June 1764, following the death of the Primate of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church, the bishop of Făgăraş Petru Pavel Aron
, the electoral synod convened and Maior resulted the more voted. Nevertheless the Hasburg monarch
, Empress Maria Theresa, designated Atanasie Rednic
as new bishop. Maior, unhappy he was not appointed bishop, murmured against the appointment of Rednic. For this reason András Hadik, the commander of the Habsburg army in Transylvania, imprisoned Maior in Sibiu
for three and a half months, and later confined him in the monastery of Mukachevo. In 1771 Maior pleaded Emperor Joseph II, who was visiting the monastery, and succeeded to be released and started to work as censor
of books in Vienna
.
At the death of Rednic, the electoral synod, on 15 August 1772, again voted for Maior, who this time was designed also by the Empress on 27 October 1772 and appointed by Pope Clement XIV
on 8 March 1773. His consecration as Bishop
took place on 23 April 1773 in a chapel of the imperial palace in Vienna, by the hands of the Croat Vasilije Božičković
. Empress Maria Theresa was present to the ceremony and was very impressed by the beauty rituals of the Byzantine rite
and by Major's speech, to who the Empress bestowed a golden cross and a valuable ring.
As Primate of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church he sent many students to study in university abroad and he worked hard for the expansion of the Church, obtaining in the first two years the joining of a considerable number of new villages. These efforts created resentment at him by Protestants and Orthodox
who complained at the imperial court. He also sided for the social claims of the Revolt of Horea, Cloşca and Crişan
. For these reasons he was forced to resign, as he did on 13 March 1782.
He died in a monastery in Alba Iulia
in February 1785.
Life
Gavrila Maior was born in 1715, in Sărăuad, Szatmár County (TransylvaniaTransylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
). He studied at Cluj
Cluj
Cluj may refer to*Cluj-Napoca, county seat of Cluj County, named Cluj until 1974*Cluj County, Romania*Cluj-Napoca International Airport*U Cluj, a Romanian sports club*U Cluj, a Romanian football club*CFR Cluj, a Romanian football club...
and later from 1740 in the College of the Propaganda, Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
where he on 28 January 1747 got a doctorate in theology and philosophy. He entered in the Basilian
Order of Saint Basil the Great
The Order of St. Basil the Great also known as the Basilian Order of Saint Josaphat is an monastic religious order of the Greek Catholic Churches that is present in many countries and that has its Mother House in Rome. The order received approbation on August 20, 1631...
monastery of the Holy Trinity in Blaj
Blaj
Blaj is a city in Alba County, Transylvania, Romania. It has a population of 20,758 inhabitants.The landmark of the city is the fact that it was the principal religious and cultural center of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church in Transylvania....
taking the name of Grigore, and on 25 December 1745 he was ordained a priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
. He taught languages (Latin and Hungarian) in Blaj.
On 30 June 1764, following the death of the Primate of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church, the bishop of Făgăraş Petru Pavel Aron
Petru Pavel Aron
Petru Pavel Aron was Bishop of Făgăraş and Primate of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church from 1752 to his death in 1764. He also translated the Biblia Vulgata into Romanian .-Life:...
, the electoral synod convened and Maior resulted the more voted. Nevertheless the Hasburg monarch
Habsburg Monarchy
The Habsburg Monarchy covered the territories ruled by the junior Austrian branch of the House of Habsburg , and then by the successor House of Habsburg-Lorraine , between 1526 and 1867/1918. The Imperial capital was Vienna, except from 1583 to 1611, when it was moved to Prague...
, Empress Maria Theresa, designated Atanasie Rednic
Atanasie Rednic
Atanasie Rednic was Bishop of Făgăraş and Primate of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church from 1765 to his death in 1772.-Life:...
as new bishop. Maior, unhappy he was not appointed bishop, murmured against the appointment of Rednic. For this reason András Hadik, the commander of the Habsburg army in Transylvania, imprisoned Maior in Sibiu
Sibiu
Sibiu is a city in Transylvania, Romania with a population of 154,548. Located some 282 km north-west of Bucharest, the city straddles the Cibin River, a tributary of the river Olt...
for three and a half months, and later confined him in the monastery of Mukachevo. In 1771 Maior pleaded Emperor Joseph II, who was visiting the monastery, and succeeded to be released and started to work as censor
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
of books in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
At the death of Rednic, the electoral synod, on 15 August 1772, again voted for Maior, who this time was designed also by the Empress on 27 October 1772 and appointed by Pope Clement XIV
Pope Clement XIV
Pope Clement XIV , born Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli, was Pope from 1769 to 1774. At the time of his election, he was the only Franciscan friar in the College of Cardinals.-Early life:...
on 8 March 1773. His consecration as Bishop
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
took place on 23 April 1773 in a chapel of the imperial palace in Vienna, by the hands of the Croat Vasilije Božičković
Vasilije Božičković
Trifun Vasilije Božičković was the first bishop of the Eparchy of Križevci from the erection in 1777 to his death in 1785.-Life:Vasilije Božičković was born on 11 February 1719 in the village of Batinyan, near Zagreb...
. Empress Maria Theresa was present to the ceremony and was very impressed by the beauty rituals of the Byzantine rite
Byzantine Rite
The Byzantine Rite, sometimes called the Rite of Constantinople or Constantinopolitan Rite is the liturgical rite used currently by all the Eastern Orthodox Churches, by the Greek Catholic Churches , and by the Protestant Ukrainian Lutheran Church...
and by Major's speech, to who the Empress bestowed a golden cross and a valuable ring.
As Primate of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church he sent many students to study in university abroad and he worked hard for the expansion of the Church, obtaining in the first two years the joining of a considerable number of new villages. These efforts created resentment at him by Protestants and Orthodox
Romanian Orthodox Church
The Romanian Orthodox Church is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church. It is in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox churches, and is ranked seventh in order of precedence. The Primate of the church has the title of Patriarch...
who complained at the imperial court. He also sided for the social claims of the Revolt of Horea, Cloşca and Crişan
Revolt of Horea, Closca and Crisan
The Revolt of Horea, Cloșca and Crișan began in Zarand County, Transylvania, but it soon spread all throughout the Apuseni Mountains...
. For these reasons he was forced to resign, as he did on 13 March 1782.
He died in a monastery in Alba Iulia
Alba Iulia
Alba Iulia is a city in Alba County, Transylvania, Romania with a population of 66,747, located on the Mureş River. Since the High Middle Ages, the city has been the seat of Transylvania's Roman Catholic diocese. Between 1541 and 1690 it was the capital of the Principality of Transylvania...
in February 1785.