Samuil Vulcan Explained

Samuil Vulcan
Bishop Of:Greek Catholic Diocese of Oradea Mare
Ordination:1784 (Priest)
Consecration:7 July 1807 (Bishop)
Consecrated By:Ioan Bob
Appointed:25 March 1807
Ended:25 December 1839
Predecessor:Ignatie Darabant
Successor:Vasile Erdelyi
Birth Date:1 August 1758
Birth Place:Veza
Death Place:Oradea

Samuil Vulcan (1 August 1758  - 25 December 1839) was the Bishop of the Diocese of Oradea Mare of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church from 1806 to 1839.

Life

Vulcan was born on 1 August 1758[1] in Veza, a former village which has since been incorporated into Blaj town. He was ordained priest in 1784 and attended the Greek-Catholic college of Saint Barabara in Vienna. Later he moved to Lviv where he became vice-rector of the seminary.[2]

On 25 October 1806 he was designated Greek Catholic bishop of Oradea the Austrian government and so confirmed by the Vatican on 25 March 1807. Accordingly, on 7 July 1807 he consecrated Bishop by the bishop of Făgăraş, Ioan Bob in the Cathedral of Blaj.

During his reign the diocese of Oradea enjoyed an increase in the number of parishes and faithfuls, passing from 26,232 parishioners to 153,163 souls.[3] He tried to ensure a regular wage to his priests, and he focused on the instruction, founding many schools.

Vulcan was a supporter of Romanian culture and literature. He pleaded with the Habsburg monarchy in order to have a Romanian bishop appointed in place of a Serbian bishop for the Orthodox diocese of Arad.[4]

Vulcan died in Oradea on 25 December 1839.

Miscellaneous

In 1828 he founded a college in the Transylvanian town of Beiuş, which is named after him.[5]

Notes and References

  1. or in October 1760 according to Ritzler
  2. Encyclopedia: Ritzler, Remigius . Magno-Varadiensis . Hierarchia catholica Medii aevi sive summorum pontificum, S.R.E. cardinalium, ecclesiarum antistitum series. 7. 249. Padua. 1968.
  3. Web site: Samuil Vulcan . Episcopia Greco-Catolică Oradea . 7 April 2011.
  4. Web site: Episcopul greco-catolic Samuil Vulcan - 250 de ani de la naștere . greco-catolica.org . 7 April 2011.
  5. http://cnsvbeius.licee.edu.ro/ Colegiul Național „Samuil Vulcan” din Beiuș