INFORMATION BULLETIN

December 2007

Among the purposes for which the Valerian D. Trifa Romanian-American Heritage Center was established, was providing an appropriate place of reposit for documents of various kinds concerning the Romanian-North American Community and to promote research and distribution of information about the same. The collection of materials has continued unabated since the foundation of the Center which now houses the largest single collection about the Romanian-North American community. The Center is a Michigan Not-for-Profit Organization located in Grass Lake, Michigan, and stands on property rented from the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America.

Mr. Stelian Stanicei was the first temporary resident. Dr. David Bernatowicz was resident for a short period of time. It had been the intention of the late Archbishop Valerian D. Trifa, of Thrice-Blessed Memory, that after his retirement he would reside at the Center to initiate and carry out studies and projects concerning the community. After the departure of Archbishop Valerian, the Board of Trustees engaged Mr. Alexander Nemoianu as permanent Secretary-Archivist.

Much of the success of the expansion of materials is due to the process of collecting and cataloguing accomplished through the efforts and dedication of Alexandru Nemoianu. He has studied and continues to study the Romanian-American-Canadian community, making it known through publication of the Heritage Center’s Information Bulletin. For two decades, Mr. Nemoianu has been giving invaluable assistance to the Episcopate. He assists the Episcopate in research and publishes articles in the SOLIA Journal and Calendar. As do others, Mr. Nemoianu has personal observations and opinions about the condition of the Romanian-North American community.

Mr. Nemoianu is an author in his own right. In addition to the activi ties relating to his responsibilities to the Center and to his service to the Episcopate, he has written and published a number of personal works, some about his experiences while living in Romania and others about his observations as a Romanian-American. Mr. Nemoianu is certainly free to express his opinions and observations in a book he has independently authored.

At no time in the past did the Officers of the Board or the Trustees find problems with the personal publications of Alexandru Nemoianu as an independent author/resident at the Valerian D. Trifa Heritage Center. Recently, a book written by Mr. Nemoianu, printed and distributed in Romania, was read by some individuals in The United States. At their reading of certain passages of this work, “Trepte,” exception was taken to certain personal observations by the author. His Eminence, Archbishop Nathaniel, Chairman of the Center’s Board, received three letters of concern, requesting the Board to approach Mr. Nemoianu to clarify the matter.

In his work, Mr. Nemoianu did express personal observations regarding the Auxiliary Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, His Grace, Irineu Duvlea. His Eminence brought His Grace, Irineu, and Mr. Nemoianu together to discuss the issue and, after assurance that the opinions of Mr. Nemoianu were not intended to be libelous and that the author was expressing himself through a literary form less known in North America, Bishop Irineu graciously accepted Mr. Nemoianu’s apology and considered the matter resolved.

The Officers of the Board asked Mr. Nemoianu for a clarification of certain statements. He readily agreed and has written a general apology to those individuals who may have been mentioned in this book. The statement of Mr. Nemoianu is also printed in this issue of the “Bulletin”.

The Board of Trustees decided that it is beneficial to the reputation of the Valerian D. Trifa Heritage Center to share with the greater Romanian-North American community the resolution of this matter through this official communication in the Center’s “Information Bulletin”. The Board considers the matter to be resolved.

Most Rev. Archbishop Nathaniel Popp,

Chairman Archdeacon David Oancea,

President Hieromonk Calinic Berger,

Vice President V. Rev. Dr. Remus Grama,

Vice President Larissa Nemoianu, Secretary