Ioan Bob
Encyclopedia
Ioan Bob, was Bishop of Făgăraş and Primate of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church from 1783 to his death in 1830.
Romanian family in October or November 1739 in Orman, near Iclod in Kolozs County, now Romania
. He attended the secondary schools by the Jesuits but fallen ill he could not enter in seminary
. In 1764 he entered as novice
in the Basilian
monastery of Blaj
. After some months, because he could not bear the strict discipline, he withdraw from the monastic life working simply as lay administrator of the monastery. In 1773 he was sent by his friend Bishop Grigore Maior
to study in Trnava
where he graduated in theology.
Returned to Romania, after a period of illness he moved to Blaj where on 25 December 1777 he was ordained a deacon
and on 8 April 1778 a priest
. He worked for some months in the diocesan chancery
. In 1778 he was appointed Dean in Daia Română
and in 1779 to Târgu Mureş.
In 1782 the Primate of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church, the bishop of Făgăraş Grigore Maior, resigned. According to the praxis the electoral synod was convened in August 1782, and Bob resulted the third voted. Nevertheless he was designated by the Emperor Joseph II on 21 October 1783, probably because he was the only not-monk voted, and confirmed by Pope Pius VI
on 15 December 1783. Accordingly he was consecrated bishop
on 6 June 1784 by Grigore Maior
and enthroned on 2 July 1784.
Bob was a firm supporter of the rights of the Romanian population under the Holy Roman Empire
. He actually, along with the Orthodox
bishop Gherasim Adamovici, signed and brought before the Imperial Court of Vienna on March 30, 1792 the Supplex Libellus Valachorum
. This courageous act anyway was rejected.
Bob introduced an authoritarian model of leadership in his Church which led also to some clashes. He died on 2 October 1830.
He wrote a Dictionary of Romanian language
published in Cluj
(1822-1823), with about 11,000 Romanian words, which also give the equivalent of the Latin
and Hungarian
. He promoted the printing of religious books, handbooks and theological books. He also supported the edition of the Bible
in Romanian known as Bible of Blaj (translated by Samuil Micu and published in 1795), the second translation of the Holy Scriptures in Romanian.
Life
Ioan Bob was born from a nobleNobility
Nobility is a social class which possesses more acknowledged privileges or eminence than members of most other classes in a society, membership therein typically being hereditary. The privileges associated with nobility may constitute substantial advantages over or relative to non-nobles, or may be...
Romanian family in October or November 1739 in Orman, near Iclod in Kolozs County, now Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. He attended the secondary schools by the Jesuits but fallen ill he could not enter in seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. In 1764 he entered as novice
Novice
A novice is a person or creature who is new to a field or activity. The term is most commonly applied in religion and sports.-Buddhism:In many Buddhist orders, a man or woman who intends to take ordination must first become a novice, adopting part of the monastic code indicated in the vinaya and...
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 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....
. After some months, because he could not bear the strict discipline, he withdraw from the monastic life working simply as lay administrator of the monastery. In 1773 he was sent by his friend Bishop Grigore Maior
Grigore Maior
Gavrila Grigore Maior was Bishop of Făgăraş and Primate of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church from 1773 to his resignation in 1782.-Life:...
to study in Trnava
Trnava
Trnava is a city in western Slovakia, 47 km to the north-east of Bratislava, on the Trnávka river. It is the capital of a kraj and of an okres . It was the seat of a Roman Catholic archbishopric . The city has a historic center...
where he graduated in theology.
Returned to Romania, after a period of illness he moved to Blaj where on 25 December 1777 he was ordained a deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
and on 8 April 1778 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 worked for some months in the diocesan chancery
Diocesan chancery
A diocesan chancery is the branch of administration which handles all written documents used in the official government of a Roman Catholic or Anglican diocese....
. In 1778 he was appointed Dean in Daia Română
Daia Româna
Daia Română is a commune located in Alba County, Romania. It has a population of 3,109. It is composed of a single village, Daia Română.-References:...
and in 1779 to Târgu Mureş.
In 1782 the Primate of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church, the bishop of Făgăraş Grigore Maior, resigned. According to the praxis the electoral synod was convened in August 1782, and Bob resulted the third voted. Nevertheless he was designated by the Emperor Joseph II on 21 October 1783, probably because he was the only not-monk voted, and confirmed by Pope Pius VI
Pope Pius VI
Pope Pius VI , born Count Giovanni Angelo Braschi, was Pope from 1775 to 1799.-Early years:Braschi was born in Cesena...
on 15 December 1783. Accordingly he was consecrated 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....
on 6 June 1784 by Grigore Maior
Grigore Maior
Gavrila Grigore Maior was Bishop of Făgăraş and Primate of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church from 1773 to his resignation in 1782.-Life:...
and enthroned on 2 July 1784.
Bob was a firm supporter of the rights of the Romanian population under the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
. He actually, along with the 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...
bishop Gherasim Adamovici, signed and brought before the Imperial Court of Vienna on March 30, 1792 the Supplex Libellus Valachorum
Supplex Libellus Valachorum
Supplex Libellus Valachorum Transsilvaniae is the name of two petitions sent by the leaders of the ethnic Romanians of Transylvania to the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold II, demanding equal political rights with the other ethnicities of Transylvania and a share of the Transylvanian Diet proportional...
. This courageous act anyway was rejected.
Bob introduced an authoritarian model of leadership in his Church which led also to some clashes. He died on 2 October 1830.
He wrote a Dictionary of Romanian language
Romanian language
Romanian Romanian Romanian (or Daco-Romanian; obsolete spellings Rumanian, Roumanian; self-designation: română, limba română ("the Romanian language") or românește (lit. "in Romanian") is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova...
published in 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...
(1822-1823), with about 11,000 Romanian words, which also give the equivalent of the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
and Hungarian
Hungarian language
Hungarian is a Uralic language, part of the Ugric group. With some 14 million speakers, it is one of the most widely spoken non-Indo-European languages in Europe....
. He promoted the printing of religious books, handbooks and theological books. He also supported the edition of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
in Romanian known as Bible of Blaj (translated by Samuil Micu and published in 1795), the second translation of the Holy Scriptures in Romanian.