The History of Roman Catholic Theological Education in Transylvania
The History of Roman Catholic Theological Education in Transylvania

Summary/Abstract: This essay offers an overview of the development of Roman Catholic theological education in Transylvania up to the twentieth century. During the Middle Ages theological disciplines were taught in some places in the chapter schools of at Csanád, Nagyvárad, Gyulafehérvár. The Transylvanian theological education started at Kolozsvár (today Cluj-Napoca, Romania) in 1585, with the foundation of the Jesuit academy by Prince István Báthory. The institution had a thorny history in the 16–17th century, especially during the Reformed Principality, but contributed immensely to the development of higher education. In the 18th century Empress Maria Theresa had a major role in the enlargement of the University of Kolozsvár (Cluj) and in the promotion of Catholic theological edu¬cation. Due to the foundation of the seminary in Gyulafehérvár (Alba Iulia), and later on due to the educational policy of Joseph II, theological education in Kolozsvár (Cluj) came to an end. Up to the end of the 20th century the main centre for theological formation was Gyulafehérvár (Alba Iulia). The establishment of the Faculty of Roman Catholic Theology at the Babeş-Bolyai University inaugurated a new phase in the theological education.

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