Rank: Metropolitan
Place of Birth: Măciuca, Vâlcea
Born: May 21, 1893
Died: December 5, 1968
Enthronement – Retirement:
Affiliation: Romanian Orthodox Church
Education:
Biography:
He was born in 1893 in Zăvoienii Vâlcei. He became a monk at Frăsinei Monastery in 1908, and was tonsured at Stănișoara Monastery with the name Efrem in 1910. Later, he moved to Cozia Monastery, where he was ordained hierodeacon and hieromonk.
He studied at the “Central” Seminary in Bucharest (1912–1920) and then pursued spiritual studies at the “St. Nicholas” Seminary in Râmnicu Vâlcea (October 1921 – May 1923). He served as abbot of Cozia Monastery (August 1922 – January 1928), director of the choir school at Cozia (1925–1928), and was elevated to archimandrite in 1923.
He continued his studies at the Faculty of Theology in Bucharest (1923–1928), with a specialization in Montpellier (1928–1930). He was professor, and for a time director, at the “St. Nicholas” Seminary in Râmnicu Vâlcea (1930–1933), and exarch of the monasteries in the Râmnicu Diocese (1930–1936). Later, he served at the Patriarchal Cathedral and as exarch of the monasteries in the Archdiocese of Bucharest (1936–1938).
In February 1938, he was elected vicar bishop with the title “Tighineanul” and appointed acting archbishop of Chișinău (1938–1943). On January 12, 1944, he was elected Archbishop of Chișinău and Metropolitan of Bessarabia, but soon had to take refuge. Later, he served spiritually at the Theological Boarding School in Bucharest (1947–1948) and as abbot at Cernica Monastery (until 1952).
Patriarch Nicodim attempted to rehabilitate him before the new political authorities by appointing him spiritual father of the Theological Boarding School in Bucharest. However, the communist regime forced him into retirement, and Metropolitan Efrem spent the remainder of his life at Cernica Monastery.
Works:
- An Overview of Christian Monasticism, 2 vols., Râmnicu Vâlcea, 1933–1934, 223 + 236 p.
- In the Footsteps of Our Ancestors, Bucharest, 1938, 176 p.
- Articles, pastorals, and sermons published in the periodicals of the dioceses he led.