Romania’s first Metropolitan-Primate Nifon Rusaila was remembered as ‘a man who did a lot of good,’ during a memorial service held Tuesday at Radu Voda Monastery in Bucharest marking the 145th anniversary of the Metropolitan’s repose.
‘Metropolitan Nifon Rusaila was a man who did a lot of good. He fulfilled this commandment of helping others,’ said the Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova describing the philanthropic actions of the first Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church in the United Principalities of Moldavia and Wallachia.
“From the Metropolis’ incomes, but also from his salary, he helped many young people. He founded the Seminary ‹Nifon the Metropolitan›, the second seminary in Bucharest, providing with the necessary study materials for the young people at this school.”
“Many young people who became ministers of the Church, some of them even hierarchs, but also important people in Bucharest and in Romania would remember the benefactions received from Metropolitan Nifon. And the scholarships he offered,” noted the assistant bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest in his memorial speech.
Nifon Rusaila is known as the Metropolitan who took part in the Union of the Romanian Principalities, the first Chairman of the Romanian Senate or the first primate Metropolitan of Romania.
Metropolitan Nifon Rusăilă reposed in the Lord on May 5, 1875. The date of his repose was prophesied by Saint Callinicus of Cernica seven years before. The metropolitan is buried in the cemetery of Cernica Monastery.
