The Old Rite Orthodox Church

The Old Rite Orthodox Church


Address

Strada Străbună, Tulcea, Romania

About

In 1846, with the establishment of the Lipovanian Metropolitanate from Fântâna Albă (Belaia Krinita), most of the persecuted Lipovanian Russians accepted the hierarchy and priests, with the exception of some groups that refused ordination, preferring to recruit their priests directly from Russia. In the north of Dobrogea, the strength of Lipovene spirituality under Ottoman rule is proven by the survival of the bishoprics of Slava and Tulcea, pastors of several churches built by "popovţi" (with priests) and "bezpopovţi" (without priests), as well as the two monasteries of old rite - Uspenia and Vovidenia. After 1917, the practice of bringing priests from Russia became almost impossible, due to the straining of Romanian-Russian relations in the context of the First World War, so that many Lipovene communities were left without shepherds of the faith.

In the city of Tulcea, in the old Lipovan settlement on the Monument hill, there is the church dedicated to the "Ascension of the Lord" of the Orthodox believers of the old rite, also known as "staroveri" (of the old faith). On May 3, 1920, the site of this church was consecrated and the foundation stone was laid by diocesan bishop Nicodim, together with priest Vikul and deacon Ignatie.

The construction of the church was carried out with the contribution of the Russian-Lipovian parishioners from the slum, who wanted to serve with a priest, and it lasted until the spring of 1921. But the construction works, until their completion, were stopped several times by the authorities local, due to the complaints received from the neighbors opposing the "St. Paraschiva" Church on Gloriai Street (built since 1857) or, as it was also called, "the church without a priest", now facing Novozâbkov, Russia.

On May 23, 1921, the new "Ascension of the Lord" church was consecrated. The consecration service was attended by the eparchial bishop Nicodim together with two other bishops from Russia and a council of 9 priests and 6 deacons, as well as many believers from Tulcena and other localities. Since then, the church has been under the jurisdiction of the Old Rite Russian Orthodox Church in Romania, the direction of Fântâna Albă (currently in Ukraine), organized in a Metropolis based in Brăila - the Metropolis of the Old Rite Orthodox Church, officially recognized by the Romanian state from 1946.

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