Alexandru Nicolescu (8 July 1882 – 5 June 1941) was a

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

n bishop of the Greek-Catholic Church. Born in

Tulgheș Tulgheș ( or colloquially ''Tölgyes'', Hungarian pronunciation: , meaning "place with oak trees in Gyergyó") is a commune in Harghita County, Romania. It lies in eastern Transylvania. The commune is composed of four villages: Hagota (''Hágót ...

Harghita County Harghita County (, and , ) is a county () in the center of Romania, in eastern Transylvania, with the county seat at Miercurea Ciuc. Demographics 2002 census In 2002, Harghita County had a population of 326,222 and a population density of ...

Transylvania Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...

, he studied at the

Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples (CEP; ) was a congregation (Roman Curia), congregation of the Roman Curia of the Catholic Church in Rome, responsible for Catholic missions, missionary work and related activities. It is also kn ...

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

from 1898 to 1904, earning a doctorate in Philosophy and Theology. Returning to

Blaj Blaj (; archaically spelled as ''Blaș''; ; ; Transylvanian Saxon: ''Blußendref'') is a city in Alba County, Transylvania, Romania. It has a population of 17,816 inhabitants as of 2021. The city administers eight villages: Deleni-Obârșie ('' ...

, he was sent as a missionary priest to North America. Once back in Transylvania, he taught of moral theology at the Blaj Theological Seminary. He was named Bishop of Lugoj in 1922, following the transfer of Valeriu Traian Frențiu to Oradea. In 1935, he was elected Metropolitan of Făgăraş and Alba Iulia. Nicolescu served until his death, which was hastened by the beginning of

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and Romania's loss of

Northern Transylvania Northern Transylvania (, ) was the region of the Kingdom of Romania that during World War II, as a consequence of the August 1940 territorial agreement known as the Second Vienna Award, became part of the Kingdom of Hungary (1920-1946), Kingdom ...

, events that strained his weak health.Episcopul Alexandru Nicolescu
at the Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic site; accessed May 9, 2012

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nicolescu, Alexandru 1882 births 1941 deaths People from Harghita County Primates of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church 19th-century Eastern Catholic clergy 19th-century Romanian clergy 20th-century Eastern Catholic archbishops 20th-century Romanian people Delegates of the Great National Assembly of Alba Iulia Eastern Catholic bishops in Romania