Global InformationGhenadie Petrescu information
His Eminence Ghenadie Petrescu | |
|---|---|
| Metropolitan-Primate of Romania | |
 Etching of Metropolitan Ghenadie, ca. 1893 | |
| Church | Romanian Orthodox |
| Archdiocese | Bucharest |
| Elected | 1893 |
| Term ended | 1896 |
| Predecessor | Iosif Gheorghidan |
| Successor | Iosif Gheorghidan |
| Other post(s) | Bishop of Argeș |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1854 or 1858 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 1836 Bucharest |
| Died | August 31, 1918 Căldărușani Monastery |
| Nationality | Wallachian, Romanian |
Ghenadie Petrescu (Romanian pronunciation: [ɡeˈnadi.e peˈtresku]; March 1836 – August 31, 1918) was a Wallachian, later Romanian priest of the national Orthodox church, who served as Metropolitan-Primate of Romania from 1893 to 1896. Ghenadie was a monk and hieromonk steadily progressing through church ranks, and becoming Bishop of Argeș in 1875. While tending to this congregation, he established his reputation as philanthropist, art patron, and writer on historical subjects. Ghenadie also preserved an interest in politics, espousing a nationalist Orthodox agenda and finding himself allies on both sides of Romania's two-party system, Conservative and National Liberal.
As Metropolitan, Ghenadie became tangled in a political controversy which tested the issues of separation between church and state, and ruined his close relationship with Prime Minister Dimitrie A. Sturdza. The conflict became one between Ghenadie and the Romanian Synod, whose civilian members opted to depose him. Ghenadie earned support from the opposition Conservatives, and was energetically defended in print by poet Alexandru Macedonski. His decision to contest the Synod resulted in his banishment to Căldărușani Monastery, as a simple monk. Large swathes of the public rallied behind him, causing protests and riots against the Sturdza government.
Although the Synod showed its readiness to reinstate Ghenadie, the latter did not follow suit, and spent the remainder of his life at Căldărușani. In 1909, he was made Starets for life. His final activities were in the field of art conservation.