CENTENARUL EPISCOPIEI HOTINULUI. VISARION PUIU – EPISCOP AL HOTINULUI (1923–1935). CÂTEVA CONSIDERAȚII PRIVIND ALEGEREA, INVESTIREA ȘI ÎNSCĂUNAREA SA

Abstract

Immediately following the Great Union of December 1st 1918, the clergy of the Orthodox Church of Bessarabia expressed, by way of a few Church conferences held in Chișinău, their wish to enter the jurisdiction of the Holy Synod of Bucharest. During those conferences, a resolution was made to reestablish old dioceses, among which the Bishopric of Hotin and the Bishopric of Ismail – Cetatea Albă. It was so that on March 10th 1923, by Law 920/1923, those two Dioceses were reinstated on Bessarabian territory as follows: the Diocese of Hotin, with its Bishop seated at Bălți, and the Diocese of Cetatea Albă, with its Bishop seated at Ismail. On March 16th/29th 1923, the Extraordinary Diocesan Council, assembled at Chișinău in order to decide upon the appointees for the two Bishoprics, endorsed by unanimous consent Bishop Visarion Puiu of Argeș as Bishop of Hotin. His oficial appointment was decided by unanimous vote on March 17th 1923 by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and was further endorsed and acknowledged by the King, through the High Royal Decree 1410 of March 30th 1923. The official ceremony of the Bishop`s appointment was held on March 18th/31st 1923 at the Royal Palace in Bucharest, whereupon His Majesty King Ferdinand handed him the Archpastor staff . Church tradition had it that after the election and appointment of a new diocesan Hierarch, he was to be presented to the clergy and the lay people of his Diocese and enthroned by the Methropolitan of that area, who would thereby hand him the episcopal ensigns and the appoinment Deed. The enthronement of Bishop Visarion at Bălți was scheduled for April23rd/ May 6th 1923, but due to unfavourable circumstances was instead held on May 13th 1923. At the enthronement ceremony, two Metropolitan acknowledgement Deeds were read, not just one as usual; the first was issued by Archbishop Gurie Grosu of Chișinău, who officiated the ceremony, and a second one issued by Metropolitan Pimen Georgescu of Moldavia. The dispute regarding the canonical jurisdiction under which the Diocese of Hotin would function would only be over two years later, when the newly established Diocese entered the jurisdiction of a third Metropolitan, that of Bucovina. During the twelve years of his pastorship at Bălți, Bishop Visarion Puiu achieved many great doings worthy of remembrance. In the light of the eminent acts he left in history, let us honor him accordingly, placing him where he rightfully belongs - in the pantheon of the great Hierarchs and patriots born into the blessed land of Moldavia