Daniel NIȚĂ-DANIELESCU (Facultatea de Teologie Ortodoxă, Universitatea „Alexandru Ioan Cuza” din Iași)
DACIA ȘI ROMA ÎN PREOCUPĂRILE UNOR CLERICI ORTODOCȘI ROMÂNI DIN PRIMA JUMĂTATE A SECOLULUI AL XIX-LEA
Keywords: Metropolitan Veniamin, Naum Râmniceanu, Rome, Dacia, „the century of nationalities”.
Abstract: Dacia and Rome in the preoccupations of some Romanian Orthodox clergymen from the first half of the 19th century. In some texts written by two Romanian Orthodox clerics, protosyncellus Naum Râmniceanu and Metropolitan Veniamin Costachi, one can identify dominant features of the Romanian national consciousness, cultivated in the specific circumstances that characterized the beginning of the “century of nationalities”. It is worth noting the authors’ zeal and persistence in expressing their convictions, their determination in addressing as many readers and auditors as possible, and the increasingly well-documented presentation of their own contributions (always prioritizing historical and linguistic argumentation). Both authors emphasized the noble Daco-Roman origins of the Romanians, which required present attitudes and expectations for the future to match the glory of past times. Moreover, this argumentation is to be found in most of the programs for the Romanian revival and unity, promoted by almost the entire Romanian political elite, with which the voice of churchmen was in consonance.