Alexandru Sterca-Șuluțiu
Alexandru Sterca - Şuluţiu (also Alexandru Sterca Şuluţiu de Kerpenyes; born February 5, 1794 in Abrud ( German: United Schlatten, Hungarian: Abrudbánya ), County Unterweißburg, Grand Principality of Transylvania, now in Romania; † 7 September 1867 in Blaj ( German: Blasendorf ), Hungarian: Balázsfalva ) was Romanian Greek Catholic Archbishop of Fagaras and Alba Iulia.
Life
Of noble descent from the dynasty of Kerpenyes joined Alexandru Sterca Şuluţiu after high school to the seminary in Blaj and was ordained a priest in 1814. He married and was a chaplain in Bistra ( Alba ). His wife died early and he decided now for celibacy. He was Vizeerzdiakon and Archpriest and finally in 1836 the episcopal vicar of Şimleu. He campaigned for the establishment of Romanian village schools.
On 18 November 1850 he was elected bishop of Fagaras. Pope Pius IX. confirmed this election on 17 February 1851. He was consecrated on July 22, 1851 by Vasile Erdely, the Bishop of Oradea.
With the restoration of the church politically significant Archdiocese Alba Iulia on November 16, 1854, he was appointed Archbishop of Fagaras and Alba Iulia and Metropolitan of the Romanian Greek- Catholic Church. The inauguration as Metropolitan Archbishop took place on 28 October 1855 in the Cathedral of Blaj by the then Nuncio Michele Viale - Prelà.
Metropolitan Alexandru Sterca - Şuluţiu was a good organizer, administrator, manager, and at the same time a man of culture. He has won many awards and received several titles, orders and medals.
He died on 7 September 1867, found his final resting place near the Cathedral of Blaj.