PR. DR. IOAN PUIUL – REPER AL PREOȚIMII BUCOVINENE
Pr. Dr. Ioan Puiul – Image of the Bukovinian Priest

Summary/Abstract: The Orthodox priesthood from Bukovina played a particularly important role in the tumultuous history of the Beech Country, actively involving itself in many aspects of society. This is how it happens that among the personalities related to the major events in Bukovina there are also numerous priests worthy of mention who, through their cultural presence, as well as through the administrative zeal they proved, made feelings such as the love of the nation and country last over the centuries and also, the dignity and courage of the values confession. One of the priests who stands out in this sense is Father Staurophorus Archpresbyter Ioan Puiul, a Bukovinian from Pătrăuții Sucevei, a priest whose personality I want to evoke in this article. He was born in Pătrăuții Sucevei (year 1882), a place where he attended the first five primary classes. He will do his secondary studies at the Superior Gymnasium from Suceava, then attending the courses of the Faculty of Theology in Chernivtsi. Doctor in Dogmatic Theology of the same Faculty, he will attend specialization courses at the Roman Catholic Faculty of Theology in Vienna, as well as at the Protestant Faculty in Bonn. Following his complex training, throughout his life, the father will perform various functions aimed at enlightening and guiding others: religion teacher at the prestigious high schools in Câmpulung Moldovenesc and Rădăuți; priest in parishes such as Prisăcăreni, Ostra and “St. Nicolae” from Rădăuți; missionary inspector and dean of Rădăuți (1926–1934); reference advisor in the metropolitan administration of Bukovina. It is also worth mentioning that the father is the one who, together with other personalities of the time, initiated and completed the construction of the Cathedral of Rădăuți. Good liturgist, exceptional orator, missionary by vocation, author of several theological writings, Father IoanPuiul also had secular concerns, being an animator of the cultural life of Rădăuți, being part of various cultural societies of the time. The pages that will follow are intended to be an offering of gratitude to this servant of God and, through him, to the entire Bukovinian clergy that honoured our Romanian nation and who, unfortunately, nowadays leaves himself imprinted by the dust of oblivion and carelessness.

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