Abstract
The present study reconsiders the biography of Metropolitan Anastasius of Moldavia (1574–1577), former Bishop of Roman (1558–1571) and hegumen of Putna Monastery (1552–1558). It aims at disproving several hypothesis long‑held in Romanian historiography: 1) his appointment as Metropolitan of Moldavia in 1572, during the reign of Prince Ion; 2) his resignation as Metropolitan in 1578, following his alleged involvement in the plot of Ioan Potcoavă (November‑December 1577); 3) his collaboration in 1589 with Ștefan, a son of Alexandru Lăpușneanu, against Prince Petru Șchiopul. The author shows how the documentary sources indicate that Anastasius’ tenure as Bishop of Roman ended in the last months of Prince Bogdan Lăpușneanu’s reign (before February 15, 1572), being replaced by Bishop George of Roman, and having no see until the first months of Prince Petru Șchiopul’s reign (before August 2, 1574). Also, his replacement with Theophan as metropolitan, in 1578, was most probably the result of an agreement with Petru Șchiopul, having no connection with Ioan Potcoavă’s action. Finally, the tentative of the son of Alexandru Lăpușneanu, Ștefan, to gain the throne of Moldavia in 1589 did not at all involve the former Metropolitan Anastasius, since the document which allegedly proved the connection was a fraud. Metropolitan Anastasius, during his withdrawal at Putna Monastery (1578–1588), remained in good relations with Petru Șchiopul, having a privileged status in the monastery where he had been tonsured as a monk and where he helped attracting new donations.
Keywords
hegumen, Ioan Potcoavă, Metropolitan Anastasius, Petru Șchiopul, Putna
