Emil Talianu and the rediscovery of Patriarch Miron Cristea, the first exegete of Mihai Eminescu’s work

Vladimir Mitev

Summary

The recent volume edited by Professor Emil Talianu, entitled “Patriarch Miron Cristea, the first biographer and exegete of Mihai Eminescu’s work,” marks a fundamental cultural restitution for the Romanian space.

1. Historical context of the work

• Origin: Between 1891 and 1895, while studying at the Royal University of Budapest, the future patriarch Miron Cristea wrote the first doctoral thesis dedicated to Mihai Eminescu in Hungarian.
• Evolution: Published in 1896, the work remained a bibliographic rarity until 1984, when it was translated into Romanian by Metropolitan Antonie Plămădeală.

2. Structure and value of the doctoral thesis

The work adheres to academic rigor, being divided into two major sections:

• Chapter I: Dedicated to the poet’s biography, from his childhood in Ipotești to his creative maturity.
• Chapter II: A critical and systematic analysis of Eminescu’s work.
• Terminological contribution: Miron Cristea is the one who symbolically consecrates the phrase “Luceafăr al poeziei românești” (Morning Star of Romanian Poetry) in a high-level academic context.

3. Emil Talianu’s editorial initiative

• Motivation: Professor Emil Talianu discovered the work in Bucharest’s antique bookshops and, wishing to share this cultural treasure, republished it at his own expense with a publishing house in Iași.
• Contents of the new edition: In addition to the full text of the thesis, the volume includes a “Foreword” signed by PS Ambrozie, in memoriam materials, a presentation of the author, and historical articles signed by Iosif Vulcan.

Conclusion: The work edited by Emil Talianu is not only a study tool, but also a tribute to the deep connection between the Church, the academic environment, and the “Voivode of the Romanian Language.”

Contextual introduction

Between 1891 and 1895, Miron Cristea—the future first Patriarch of Romania—attended the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy at the Royal University of Budapest, specializing in philosophy and modern philology. There he carried out pioneering research for his doctoral thesis: “Eminescu, Life and Work”, originally written in Hungarian. In 1896, the work was published in Budapest, becoming the first doctoral thesis dedicated to the national poet. Later, in 1984, the Metropolitan of Transylvania, Antonie Plămădeală, translated it into Romanian, making it available to the local cultural community.

Emil Talianu on the Bridge of Friendship

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Emil Talianu is a renowned intellectual and professor of Romanian language and literature in Giurgiu, known for his work as a researcher and publicist. He is a constant presence in the cultural life of the city, being an active member of various cultural associations, a collaborator of the “I.A. Bassarabescu” County Library, and a long-time correspondent for Radio Romania for Giurgiu County (the Antena Satelor program).

His passion for literary history led him to recover forgotten fundamental texts, such as Miron Cristea’s thesis, which he studied on his own. Throughout his career, Emil Talianu has distinguished himself by promoting national values and through his in-depth study of Eminescu’s work, believing that the education of the younger generation must be based on the classical landmarks of Romanian culture.

Emil Talianu is a supporter of the idea of stronger relations between Romanians and Bulgarians, an idea symbolized by the Friendship Bridge between Giurgiu and Ruse. He is also one of the first believers in the Romanian-Bulgarian media initiative of the same name, the Bridge of Friendship, for which he gave this interview.

Historical context: Miron Cristea, Iosif Vulcan, and Mihai Eminescu

The connection between these three titans of Romanian culture is symbolic and one of historical continuity:

1. Iosif Vulcan and Eminescu’s “baptism”: It is well known that Iosif Vulcan, editor of the magazine Familia in Oradea, was the one who changed the name of the young debutant from Mihail Eminovici to Mihai Eminescu in 1866. Vulcan was the one who sensed the poet’s genius from the very first verses sent for publication.
2. Miron Cristea and his connection to the Vulcan family: During his studies in Budapest, the young Elie (the future Miron) Cristea was close to the Romanian cultural circles in Transylvania and Hungary. He understood the importance of Iosif Vulcan’s gesture and wanted to academically substantiate what Vulcan had instinctively felt: the universal value of Eminescu.
3. Doctoral thesis (1895): Miron Cristea chose to write about Eminescu at a time when the poet had just passed away (1889). The choice of subject was an act of cultural courage and patriotism, as it imposed a Romanian author on a Hungarian university committee in Budapest.
4. The magazine article: In Mr. Talianu’s book, the inclusion of Iosif Vulcan’s article on the poet’s 35th birthday serves as a documentary bridge. It shows how Eminescu was viewed by his Transylvanian contemporaries during his lifetime, complementing Miron Cristea’s analytical vision in his doctoral thesis.

Interview

Mr. Talianu, how is Miron Cristea’s doctoral thesis structured?

Emil Talianu: Miron Cristea strictly adhered to the academic writing standards of the time. He structured his thesis into two main chapters: the first is devoted to the poet’s life, from his childhood years spent in Ipotești to his studies and intense literary activity. The second part of the work is devoted to a profound and systematic critical analysis of Eminescu’s work.

How did you come into possession of this work, given the rarity of old editions?

I wandered through the antique shops of Bucharest for quite a few years until I had the joy of finding a copy. Reading it, in my capacity as a teacher of Romanian language and literature, I felt that this valuable and first scientific work on the life and work of the “Voivode of the Romanian Language” should reach as many culture lovers as possible. So, I decided to publish a new edition, at my own expense, with a publishing house in Iași, under the auspices of the “I.A. Bassarabescu” County Library in Giurgiu.

We are interested in the content of your recently published volume, entitled “Patriarch Miron Cristea, the first biographer and exegete of Mihai Eminescu’s work.” What does it contain?

The book opens with a “Foreword” signed by PS Ambrozie, Bishop of Giurgiu. From this text, I would like to quote the ending:

“We wholeheartedly bless this beautiful publication and Professor Emil Talianu, the editor of this book, and we hope that readers will be able to rediscover our great national poet, Mihai Eminescu, who said that the Romanian Orthodox Church is ‘the spiritual mother of the Romanian people’.”

The volume continues with the full text of Miron Cristea’s doctoral thesis, and in the appendix section we have included essential complementary materials:

• In memoriam: Mihai Eminescu and Patriarch Miron Cristea;
• A brief presentation of the author, written by a good friend, the Sibiu journalist Ion Vulcan Agnițeanu;
• The article was signed by Iosif Vulcan in the magazine Familia, published on Eminescu’s 35th birthday.

What is essential to remember from Miron Cristea’s doctoral thesis?

An extremely important symbolic and historical aspect is the fact that Miron Cristea formulates for the first time a phrase that will become famous in our culture: “The poet’s talent developed slowly but surely, until he became the Morning Star of Romanian poetry.” This is the moment when Eminescu receives this symbolic “name” in a highly regarded scientific work.

Photo: The cover of Emil Talianu’s book (source: Emil Talianu)

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