Considered the most prominent bishop of the Romanian Country throughout its history, Saint Antim Iberian remains in the memory of our Church as a man of rare complexity. Typographer, architect of churches, calligrapher, sculptor, preacher unparalleled knowledge of foreign languages, Metropolitan of Georgian proved while being a good organizer of the Church, the spirit philanthropic and bending toward the needs of the faithful whom he served. What has left posterity his work homiletics, the Didache, we show that we face a peerless orator. Antim Monastery in Bucharest, foundation, is also a sign of the love of God and of understanding Metropolitan and testament he wrote confesses love that nourished his flock to the lack of materials. For all these facts, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church Metropolitan him past Antim Iberian among the saints at June 21, 1992.

Metropolitan Anthimos of Iberia was one of the most brilliant Romanian Orthodox Church hierarchs of the Romanian Country. His merits are even greater, as he was not Romanian. The beginnings of our life are little known. It is known that he was Caucasian or Georgian (Iberian). Born in 1650, young Andrew (name received at baptism) fell captive Turks. Released from captivity he lived near the Church of Constantinople, where he learned the young sculpture, paintings and Greek, Arabic and Turkish. Around 1690 the ruler Constantin Brancoveanu brought him in Romanian Country, which became his second home. Here he found a propitious cultural space, where they met and worked under the patronage of Prince Brancoveanu, brightest Italian and Greek culture, along with renowned scholars and Romanian Orthodox hierarchs. Brancoveanu was surrounded by a group of distinguished scholars, reputed in the Southeastern continent and in the Middle East. Among them were the Sevastos Kiminites former professor and rector of the Great School of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, John Cariofil, and he was a professor and rector at the same Mare school Patriarchate, Ion Comnen, physician and philosopher, Jacob Pylarino, doctor, Count Bartolomeo Ferri, an excellent medical practitioner, dressed with elegance amazing and pleasing to the eyes of the inhabitants of Bucharest, Manu Apostol, businessman concerned to invest in printing books, Ion Romania, a pseudonym hiding Secretary Giovanni Candido Romano, Antonio Maria Chiaro AGER secretary in 1709 after just brought from Florence, doctors Marignazzi Evangelista, a good practitioner, later Tsar’s physician, and Michael van der Beck Schendos, aromân despite its name, concerned with medicine and riches Oltenia. Among them are the scribe Antim Ivireanul.În 1691, became the leader of printing in Bucharest. In 1696, he was abbot of Snagov Monastery, where he founded a new printing press and a rich typographic activity for five years. Printing paper continued in Bucharest, between 1701-1705. In 1705 he was elected bishop of Râmnic. In early 1708, he was elected bishop of the Romanian Country, shepherding the faithful in this Romanian Romanian principality until 1716.

Sermons that have enriched the Romanian language

One of the chief concerns of Metropolitan Anthimos of Iberia was edification of the faithful in word. His famous Didache (Teaching) are very valuable by their content. It’s about 28 sermons spoken during his serving at various cathedrals, the Virgin and the saints, plus seven occasional speeches. His sermons have had an obvious social, condemning through their mores of contemporary society’s, the injustice noblemen had obeyed the peasants also, unfortunately we rebuke categorically dishonoring parents by children, the clergy by shepherds , frequenting taverns, non Sundays and holidays, bad words. Didache highlights his outstanding contribution to Romanian. The literary critic George Călinescu, in his History of Romanian Literature (Bucharest, 1968, p. 19) notes that “Antim is an excellent orator and consummate stylist, has slammed the gift of imagination, is sweet and lyrical exaltation.” The treaty History of Romanian Literature (Bucharest, 1962, p. 419), drafted by a Commission of the Romanian Academy, says that “never before has been given to those present, Sir, nobles, bishops and priests, to hear a word hotter, taller, poetic, eloquent, like the one Georgian Antim pronounced in Romanian. His stylistic processes, comparisons and metaphors, images and epithets plastic place him among the great writers of our medieval literature “. Sadoveanu considered the language of Antim “perhaps the most beautiful of all the scribes era”.

Intellectual movement around the church printers

Over a quarter of a century (1691-1716) printed or supervised the printing of 63 books, 39 of which were worked by himself. After the language in which they appeared, 30 were Greek, 22 in Romanian, one in Slavonic, Slavic-Romanian June 2 Greek-Arab, one Greek and one Romanian Greek-Slavic-Romanian. By place of occurrence, these works can be classified as follows: 21 in Bucharest, Snagov 15, 9 and 18 in Targoviste Râmnic. The prints are very diverse: service books, Bible books, books of orthodox theological doctrine, church sermons, books of instruction for priests, works of philosophy etc. Among the many printed works we can mention: Orthodox Confession of Peter Mogila (1699), Christian Teachings (1700) Flower gifts (1701), the New Testament (1703), Tome Joy (1705), Philosophical Parables (1713), Christian Advises – the political ruler Stefan Cantacuzino (1714-1716). For believers Patriarchate of Antioch printed a Greek-Arabic Missal (1701) and a Greek-Arab Ceaslov (1702). Through its work typographical he supported faithful Greek and Georgian Orthodox Romanian rising as a special prestige among Orthodox peoples (pr. Prof. Dr. Mircea Păcurariu, Romanian Orthodox Church History, vol. II, Bucharest, 1992, p. 149). When coordinate printing at Snagov Monastery, he learned the art of printing and a number of apprentices, of which the most important was Michael Stephen (Iştvanovici), who later printed books in Alba Iulia and even in native country Antim, ie dawn. Around printers in Bucharest, Snagov, Râmnic and Targoviste were grouped and number of proofreaders, engravers and translators formed a true “world of” keen to work philological nourished mostly by confrontation versions to achieve a fair Romanian versions and so in terms of accuracy, life concepts, thus creating a real intelectual movement. A Romanian believers were together and in Transylvania, in the context of state policy of attracting Austrian Orthodox Romanians to Catholicism. He sent his disciple Alba Iulia Michael Stephen, who printed two books there. After 1701, he supported the Orthodox believers in Brasov Şcheii letters of encouragement and some ordaining priests for their church.

Romanization church services

Referring to print can be highlighted another of his great merit, that complete the process of Romanization of church services. Mid-century were previously printed in Romanian ordinances to the typical over the last two decades of the century were introduced biblical readings in Romanian, but liturgical text of religious books were translated and printed in Romanian only during the tenure of Antim Ivireanul . During the episcopate Râmnic, gave to light Missal (first edition in Romanian Country) and Evhologhionul (Molitvelnicul), in Romanian, in 1706. Arriving metropolitan translated into Romanian and printed in Targoviste, Psalter (1710) Octoihul (1712), Missal (1713) and Molitvelnicul (1713), in the second edition, then Catavasierul (1714) and Horologion (1715). Through his books in Romanian service, “foreign tradition received a death blow” after word of Nicolae Iorga (pr. Prof. Dr. Mircea Păcurariu, op. Cit., P. 149).

Founder of the monastery dedicated to Saints and his will

Learning Florentine Del Chiaro, who lived at the court of Prince Constantin Brancoveanu and Stefan Cantacuzino, tells us that the Metropolitan Antim Ivireanul built in Bucharest “Much too beautiful monastery with a church dedicated to All Saints’. It is Antim Monastery Church or, as they called believers over time. In testament to administer property monastery ordained Metropolitan depict ordinary work with humility and aspirations of his life: “I’ve missed so far, after our ability, to learn the speaking flock useful and saving. Aşijdereaşi rising again, adding ornament holy places, much envy and godly zeal I had my labors as from the many books in the printing and gracious mercies Christians, I have set up the foundation awarded with the beautiful church here in Bucharest. I built enough about her cells and other places for recreation abbot and those who want to choose monastic life in this holy abode “(Romanian Church History, vol. II, Bucharest, 1958, p. 167). By his will, the Metropolitan ordained a beautiful work of social assistance from the monastery’s income.

Last years of life. Martyrdom

Metropolitan Anthimos and ended his life in tragic circumstances in the autumn of 1716, after reaching the first royal seat Phanariot ruler, Nicolae Mavrocordat. Allegedly got in touch with Austrians and would have conspired against the Turks and Mr Phanariot, he was arrested and imprisoned in the palace dungeon. At the request of Mr. Ecumenical Patriarch and his Synod defrocked him on charges was guilty from the Ottoman Empire and to the gentleman. He was sentenced to exile in Mount Sinai. To prevent any rebellion of the faithful, Antim was high and started at midnight “chariot” under the guard of the Turks. He came to serve their sentences because of Turkish soldiers led him into exile instead killed him, throwing his body in a river near Adrianople. Thus he ended his life, a martyr. Defrocking sentence was raised Patriarchal Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras headed, only on March 8, 1966 (pr. Prof. Dr. Mircea Păcurariu, op.cit. P. 158).

The canonization of Metropolitan Anthimos Ivireanul

On 21 June 1992 the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church Metropolitan him past Antim among the saints, is commemorated each year on 27 September. It is considered the chief bishop of the Romanian Country throughout its history. Throughout his pastoral activity, printing and preachers, as a bishop and bishop, St. Antim embodied the true shepherd put his soul for his flock. His life was a sacrifice full employment and willing to raise the Church and the faithful enlightenment. Although foreign nation, he taught Romanian language the uttermost, leaving us interpretations and its prefaces, the Didache and its spiritual advice most beautiful Romanian dialect.

“What I shall say of the great callousness of the people of this world?”

Excerpt from the Didache (Teaching the Word October 26, the day of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrios parish, the earthquake)

Iaste this world as much as you troubled, in whom people have never rest nor tranquility. Ships between waves are kingdoms Mountains, principalities and cities, people crowd, police subjects, rich and poor, big ones and small ones, are those traveling and in need. The high winds that swell the vast needs are what upsets us forever. The waves fighting ships are misfortunes that happened in all days. Black clouds skies, lightning that blinds the eyes, thunder that frighten wholeheartedly brave ones are more kinds of events, the unexpected damage enemies terror, sorrows, troubles that come to us from outsiders, looting, captivity, the heavier taxes and obnoxious, they leave God and surrounded us, so that we know our faith and honorable patience. Now for people to save them and to deny their top need the hard, does that is intercession salvation? That intercession us with their example teaches people of Israel when to upset the hosts of Hananeu king of Arad in the desert; Esdra teach us when to back with the people of Israel in Jerusalem, saved from the bondage of Babylon; Ninive people teaches us, when they escaped off from the perish, toward which God said they were prophet Jonah. All of them, for they prayed for a voice and one heart and beg help from God were saved. But what I circle of Scripture stories and parables to teach them how to run the chip happenings and the needs that come to us? God Himself teaches us through the point David’s Psalm 49 (saying): “And I get called me your sorrow and I shall remove you and I will honor.” And in Psalm 90: “Cry unto me and I shall listen to him. With him are in trouble, I shall remove him”. And again, the purpose of the prophet Isaiah, 41 heads says, “and give pleasure to the humble, because they ask too I shall listen, God of Israel and will not forsake them.” And, because we entrust much as that the promise is real, he added 11 heads of Marco: All you whatever you ask in prayer, believe that taking vet and will be yours. And on this we shall know that not princely else more useful and decorous than to pray together with all, to ask God for mercy and run him. God is father of all things in common. He loves us all as his true sons and can not endure the mercy of the loving people we are always the villains and needs, which only awaits our prayer; He is hearing to our voices; is ever with open ears to listen to us, once we call his holy name. But what I shall say of the great callousness of the people of this world? All passion, all are abominable, all groaning under the heavy yoke of need. But down is the one who say with David, “the LORD, when I got upset I cried?” Or someone says, ever, of God, in his anger: “Have mercy on me, Lord, and hear me?” We want God help us and make us pity. Who is the only one king or rulers who breaks pity his people, and relieve of his subjects the heavier taxes, beacon of the lighthouse pray to prove their need? Or, better to say, chariots is that father who gives his son bread, dipped to ask her? God can not endure nor means those who are destitute, poor, miserable and then elevates and its underlying fully proud and will not be shown how they need. And who reckoned to be? We are, all of us, who were ill as slimy nasty and stay in balance to outdated needs of misfortune and yet not humble ourselves before God, we leave the obstinacy of pride that much that we do not run with sighing and with tears to ask from God.