Archdiocese of Arad


The Archdiocese or Archbishopric of Arad, formerly the Bishopric of Arad is an episcopal see of the Romanian Orthodox Church, under the administration of the Metropolis of Banat, with jurisdiction over Arad County in Romania. The current head is bishop Timotei Seviciu.
WWW arhiepiscopiaaradului.ro

History

The history of Eastern Orthodox Christianity on the territory of the present-day bishopric dates back to late Antiquity and early Middle Ages. During the later medieval periods, authorities of the Kingdom of Hungary had an ambivalent attitude towards the presence of Eastern Orthodox Christians in southern and eastern regions of the realm. During the period of the Ottoman rule, from the middle of the 16th century to the end of the 17th century, the region of Arad was under ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Serbian Patriarchate of Peć.
The Eparchy of Arad in its modern form was created after the Great Turkish War, when the city of Arad and its region became part of the Habsburg monarchy, and thus covered by privileges granted by Habsburg rulers to their Eastern Orthodox subjects, both Serbs and Romanians. In 1708, bishop Isaija of Arad was elected Metropolitan of Krušedol, and during 18th century and up to the middle of 19th century, Bishopric of Arad was under jurisdiction of the Metropolitanate of Karlovci.
Eparchy of Arad also had an important regional vicariate in the city of Oradea. Majority of Eastern Orthodox Christians of this Eparchy were ethnic Romanians and minority were ethnic Serbs and Greeks. Following the will of the majority of people, the Eparchy of Arad was transferred in 1865 from jurisdiction of the Patriarchate of Karlovci to the jurisdiction of the newly created Metropolis of Sibiu. The Eastern Orthodox Romanians of the Patriarchate of Karlovci separated and were transferred to the newly created Metropolis of Sibiu through mutual agreement that included the transfer of the Eparchy of Arad and eastern parts of eparchies of Temišvar and Vršac. After World War I and the creation of united Romania, it became part of the united Romanian Orthodox Church. In 2009, the bishopric was elevated to an archbishopric under the Metropolis of Banat.

Bishops

Between 1695 and 1865 the bishops were under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitanate of Karlovci.
Since 1865, these bishops have been under the jurisdiction of the Metropolis of Sibiu until 1947 when the Metropolis of Banat was established. In 2009, the holder of the office was elevated to the rank of archbishop.