Appendices
Appendix 1
10 November 1841 – Archimandrite Calinic, abbot of Cernica Monastery, appointed Costache Ștefanopol to represent the monastery at the Divan in the trial against the servant Catinca Suslăneasca.
In the legal proceedings brought against this monastery by the servant woman Catinca Suslăneasca, who demanded from the monastery, through the Honourable Court of Ilfov, 2nd Section of the ‘1’, 270 imperial gold coins, which the monastery had not yet received from the steward Ioan Cătuneanul in order to hand them over to her (in accordance with the deed drawn up between her and the late steward Gheorghe Știrbeiu 2), the monastery appoints its steward, 3, on behalf of Mr Costache Ștefanopol, to appear with the aforementioned document before the Honourable Divan, the ‘1’ 1iu section, to uphold his right, in accordance with the decision of the political judges of Ilfov, Section 1, 2nd.
And so that he might be recognised by the Honourable Divan, this letter was given to him on behalf of the monastery, bearing our signature and the monastery’s seal.
10 November 1841
Calinic, Archimandrite of Cernica 4
BAR, Manuscripts–Rare Books, Historical Documents, MMII/102.
Romanian original, on paper; in the upper left-hand corner of the document is the monastery’s wax seal, bearing the icon of St Nicholas in the centre and two churches on either side of it; in the exergue the inscription: 1819, the seal of the community of the Cernichi hermitage.
Appendix 2
14 May 1842 – Calinic, the archimandrite and abbot of Cernica Monastery, writes to the Grand Logothete Grigorie Grădișteanu regarding the problems caused to the monastery by the relatives of the late chieftain Gheorghe Știrbei, who, by will, had bequeathed his property to the monastery.
With humble reverence and a fatherly blessing to Your5,
The late mayor Gheorghe Știrbei, before passing away, bequeathed in his will all his movable and immovable property, both to this monastery at Cernichi and to the Pasărea hermitage. However, of the movable property, the monasteries were unable to lay claim to anything, for it had all been seized 6 by his servant Catinca Suslăneanca, as she was in the late mayor’s household, as is known to all. As for the immovable property, there was also a small strip of land 7 measuring some four hundred stânjeni, namely Pupăza, in southern Ilfov; these stânjeni having been deducted from the total number of stânjeni whichwere sold by the steward Costandin Alecsandri himself to the late Manuc Bey, through an auction 8, to settle his debt to the said purchaser; these were recovered through legal proceedings, which took place over a period 9 of many years, at the late steward’s own expense, having cared for the deceased during that period of years, owing to the infirmity in which the steward finds himself and his necessary needs, such as: clothing, food, doctors, medical treatment and the like, as a legacy 10 to be known to his aforementioned uncle, as attested to and confirmed by the subsequent court proceedings, through the judgements that were handed down.
Now, the said steward, raising various frivolous pretexts, is demanding that small strip of land back, but the court, being aware of the steward’s weakness (which was also mentioned in the subsequent court proceedings), could not grant him any relief, despite his request for support, whereupon the said steward turned to his patron, Alecache Vilara, although for the time being they had appeared in court through his appointed steward, Mr Foca, acting as the steward’s trustee. But after the monastery had fully informed him 11, both of the course of the case and that it was granting him possession of both the estates of the houses here and over 12,000 of the 24,000 lei whichhad been determined by the courts to be paid by the Holy Metropolis, the administrator of the said estate, both to the late steward and to the cupbearer Nichita, with whom he holds joint ownership. And as for what the monastery gives to the steward—namely 1,000 lei each year for expenses—the income that this small estate might yield annually, for as long as the steward lives, provided that the covenant made by the late <ul> mayor through the aforementioned bequest is not broken, both for his own soul and for the souls of his late parents and ancestors. Furthermore, that the monastery should undertake to bury him there and pray for his soul; and upon hearing these things, Mr Alecache not only ordered the steward to convey them to the abbot, but also told him to advise him, on his own behalf, to be satisfied with this sacrifice offered by the monastery (and to withdraw his lawsuit), and especially since the monastery and even the pogribania 12 of the late steward, as well as the very salvation of his soul, have been and are being carried out ceaselessly, with money taken from loans, for they did not take so much as a single coin from the late steward’s estate 13, as is known to all.
Therefore, the monastery implores Your Lordship, as someone who knew the abbot most closely, to kindly advise him to be content with what the monastery gives him and to grant him, in future, peace, so that he may no longer waste his time 14 in fruitless legal proceedings. And rest assured that this commemoration will also be for the souls of your entire honourable family, and you will be recorded as a benefactor in the register of benefactors of this monastery, and all the monks of the monastery will pray ceaselessly to the merciful God for the long-lasting health of your honourable family, may their years be many and happy.
Yours faithfully, most devoted and humbly praying to God,
Calinic, Archimandrite of Cernica 4
14 May 1842.
Library of the Holy Synod, Document dated 14 May 1842.
Original in Romanian, on paper; text in brown ink, and the autograph signature of St Calinic in black ink with gold dust, which gives it a certain lustre.
Appendix 3
20 February 1844 – Archimandrite Calinic, abbot of Cernica Monastery, appoints Elisei, the treasurer, to represent the monastery in the dispute with the steward Costache Alexandri concerning the Pupăza estate in Ilfov County.
In order to settle the matters arising from the claims made by the steward Costache Alexandri against this monastery, as set out in the court documents 15 relating to the legal proceedings concerning the Pupăza estate, in southern Ilfov, Father Elisei, the steward, is hereby appointed by this monastery, with full authority, to effect said settlement, upholding the monastery’s rights. To him, as a mark of trust, this letter of appointment has been granted, bearing our signature and the monastery’s seal.
20 February 1844
Archimandrite Calinic of Cernica 4
BAR, Manuscripts–Rare Books, Historical Documents, MMII/105.
Romanian original, on paper; in the upper left-hand corner of the document is the monastery’s wax seal, bearing the year 1842, with the inscription in the exergue: ‘the seal of the Cernichi Monastery community’; in the centre is St Nicholas, to the left the monastery, and to the right a natural setting.
Appendix 4
28 January 1845 – Archimandrite Calinic, abbot of Cernica Monastery, authorises the bursar Elisei to represent the monastery before the trustees of the late Father Antim.
By means of this letter of authorisation, which we hereby hand over to Father Elisei, the bursar, we authorise him on our behalf to reach an agreement with the trustees of the late Archimandrite Antim, to finalise the settlement regarding the estate of the late Archimandrite, namely: to receive and disburse funds as required, and should it be necessary to sign any document or petition addressed to the Honourable Civil Court, 1 1iu Division, he is hereby authorised by us to do so. And as proof thereof, this certificate has been issued to him on our behalf, bearing our signature and the monastery’s seal.
26 January 1845
Calinic, Archimandrite of Cernica4
BAR, Manuscripts–Rare Books, Historical Documents, MMII/108.
Romanian original, on paper; in the lower left-hand corner of the document is the monastery’s seal, dated 1842, with the inscription in the exergue: ‘the seal of the Cernichi Monastery community’; in the centre is the icon of St Nicholas, to the left the monastery, and to the right the natural setting.
Appendix 5
2 March 1854 – Letter from St Calinic of Râmnic to Nicandru, abbot of Cernica, concerning the dispatch of sacred vessels and relics for the Church of St George at Cernica Monastery.
With fatherly love,
Most Reverend Archimandrite Kir Nicandru,
In addition to our enquiries regarding the well-being of Your Reverence and the entire community—which may the Heavenly Father grant to be as we wish— we inform Your Reverence that, on the occasion of the arrival there 16 of the pious protosinghel Kir Pafnutie, we have instructed him to place the ark, which has now been remade, as well as the coffin containing the Holy Relics, upon the Holy Table in the Church of St George, where they shall remain for ever. As for the other sacred vessels, I ask Your Reverence to entrust them to the Reverend Protosinghel Pafnutie, so that he may bring them here, together with the candlestick that was sent as a model 17.
Your Most Reverend Spiritual Father,
† Calinic of Râmnic 4
2 March 1854, Craiova
BAR, Manuscripts – Rare Books, Historical Document MMV/24.
Original in Romanian, on paper.
Appendix 6
20 October 1855 – Letter from His Holiness Calinic, Bishop of Râmnic, to Archimandrite Diomid, Abbot of Cernica Monastery, informing him that he was to send some money for the monastery via Archimandrite Augustin.
With a fatherly blessing,
Most Reverend Archimandrite Kir Diomid,
On the occasion of the arrival there of the Most Reverend Archimandrite Kir Avgustin, we did not fail to enquire after the well-being of Your Reverence and of the other fathers and brothers at that monastery, so that, finding you as we hope, we may rejoice from the bottom of our hearts, announcing that we too, together with those here, by the mercy of Almighty God and through the prayers of the fathers of that holy monastery, are in good health.
Moreover, since we are not there to take part, together with the others, in the observances and services performed for the honour and glory of the Most High, and so that we may not consider ourselves strangers to that holy house, as the spiritual sons of that monastery that we are, we have each contributed, from our own labours, as much as we were able, the sum of money set out in the attached list has been collected; this money has been entrusted to the Most Reverend Archimandrite Augustine to take there, you will kindly receive it from His Reverence with love, and you will not forget to include us amongst the others there, during the celebration of the holy divine services. Being,
Your Reverence’s spiritual father,
† Calinic of Râmnic 4
20 October 1855
Râmnicu-Vâlcea
BAR, Manuscripts – Rare Books, Historical Documents, MMVI/12
Original in Romanian, on paper.
- 1a1b1c1d
The section.
- 2
Gheorghe Ion Știrbei, the town councillor, had died in 1838 and had been buried in the cemetery of Cernica Monastery. Archimandrite Policarp Chițulescu, ‘The Cernica Monastery Cemetery – Romania’s largest ecclesiastical necropolis (II)’, in the newspaper Lumina, 26 July 2021.
- 3
Vechil – agent, proxy, administrator. Vechilet – the status (authority, power of attorney) of a vechil. Augustin Scriban, Dictionary of the Romanian Language..., p. 1397.
- 4a4b4c4d4e4f
Autograph.
- 5
Dumnii.
- 6
Zapt – possession; to make zapt – to confiscate, to seize. Augustin Scriban, Dictionary of the Romanian Language..., p. 1427.
- 7
Little Crumb.
- 8
Mezat – auction, public sale of a debtor’s assets. Augustin Scriban, Dictionary of the Romanian Language..., p. 804.
- 9
Diastema – a period of time. Augustin Scriban, Dictionary of the Romanian Language..., p. 423.
- 10
Clironom – heir. Augustin Scriban, Dictionary of the Romanian Language..., p. 303.
- 11
Pliroforisi – to inform. Augustin Scriban, Dictionary of the Romanian Language..., p. 999.
- 12
Pogrebanie – burial, funeral. Augustin Scriban, Dictionary of the Romanian Language..., p. 1007.
- 13
Naht – cash; cu bani naht – in cash. Augustin Scriban, Dictionary of the Romanian Language..., p. 849.
- 14
Străgăneală, trăgăneală; trăgăni – to linger, to delay. Augustin Scriban, Dictionary of the Romanian Language..., p. 1341.
- 15
Anafora – report, an official’s account to Mr Augustin Scriban, Dictionary of the Romanian Language..., p. 99.
- 16
There, in the text.
- 17
The last sentence, added later.