The Position of Father Dumitru Staniloae on the Theophanies and Marian Apparitions of His Times

Abstract

During the interwar period, as well as the communist dictatorship, a number of miraculous apparitions occurred in Romania – both theophanies and Marian apparitions. They generated „spiritual awakening” movements among the members of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Such instances were the visions of shepherd Petre Lupu of Maglavit (1935), the visions of Mother Veronica of Vladimirești Monastery (1937), and those of sister Virginia, respectively, which resulted in the establishment of the „New Jerusalem” Monastery at Pucioasa (1955). Like similar phenomena within the Roman-Catholic world, theophanies and Marian apparitions in Romania divided the lay and ecclesiastic elites by generating divergent opinions. This study presents the position of Father Dumitru Staniloae on these unusual phenomena and their adherents. It is a very difficult issue, generally avoided by theological research as it presupposes a nuanced interpretation, like the one offered by the great theologian on the grounds of his vast erudition and deep theological insights, as well as his personal religious experience. Keywords: Dumitru Staniloae, Theophanies, Marian Apparitions, Romanian Orthodoxy