History of the York Rite in Romania
January 1999 marks the beginnings of the Romanian York Rite, because at that time, in Greece, a group of Master Masons were initiated to the degree of the Royal Arch Masons, and also the first Chapters were set up:
- Chapter no. 1 “Veritas” with E.C. Manole IOSIPER – High Priest,
- Chapter no. 2 “Fraternitas” with E.C. Radu IONESCU – High Priest,
- Chapter no. 3 “Lux” with E.C. Stefan MASU – High PriestStill in 1999, the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Romania was set up, and the supreme office, that of Grand Priest, was entrusted to the late Most Excellent Companion Radu IONESCU.
In March 2002, a group of 10 Master Masons were initiated to the degrees of Masons of the Royal Arch, to the degrees of Cryptic Masons and were invested as Knights Templar in US, Fort Meyers, Florida. At the Convent of July 2002 the Most Excellent Companion Ştefan MASU was elected to the office of Grand High Priest .
Currently, the Order of the Royal Arch Masons of Romania operates in 30 Chapters, which include over 700 of Masons of the Royal Arch.In 2002, another group of Masons of the Royal Arch of Romania were initiated to the degrees of Cryptic Masons and invested as Knights Templar in Germany, becoming Members of the Cryptic Council of Manheim and of the Knights Templar Commandery of Heidelberg .
The late Most Excellent Companion Gheorghe COMANESCU, Grand Master of the National Grand Lodge of Romania between 1997 and 2003, is a founding member of the Romanian York Rite completing all phases of initiation until the highest degree, inclusively that of Knight Templar.
In July 2003 the Patent was obtained and the Supreme Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Romania was set up, while the Most Excellent Companion Stafan MASU was elected Illustrious Grand Master of the Supreme Grand Council. Currently, the Supreme Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Romania has in its subordination 23 Councils in which about 500 Cryptic Masons carry out their activity.
In August 2003, at the Triennial Conclave of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar of the US, was granted the Charter and the Commandery no.1 “King Ferdinand” of Romanian Knights Templar was set up, whereas Sir Knight Stefan MASU was appointed Eminent Commander.In May 2003 and March 2004 in Toulouse - France a group of Romanian Companions were invested as Knights of the Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Appendant Orders .
On June 19, 2004, in Bucharest, a prestigious delegation of the Grand Imperial Conclave of France, headed by by the Most Puissant Sovereign Dominique DOYEN, proceeded to the ritual consecration of the first conclave of Romania as part of the Imperial Grand Conclave Order of the Red Cross of Constantine and the Appendant Orders .
On June 18-20, 2004, in Bucharest was held the Anniversary Convent consecrated to the celebration of 5 years as from the setting up of the first formations of the York Rite in Romania. The Convent enjoyed the presence of more than 20 highly important figures of the Masonic communities of Europe, America and Canada, as well as other high officers of the international organizations of which Romanian York Rite is full member .
The Most Worshipful Brother Eugen Ovidiu Chirovici, Grand Master of the National Grand Lodge of Romania, between 2003-2010, participated in the ceremony, as a testimony of the fact that the Romanian York Rite is a natural emanation of the unique and sovereign body of the National Grand Lodge of RomaniaSocietas Rosicruciana in Romania (S.R.I.R.) is a masonic, christian and scientific society founded in Bucharest in 2005, by Thurman Cleveland PACE Jr. (IXo), at that time Supremus Magus of Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis International. When S.R.I.R. was founded, the Most Excellent Companion Stefan MÂŞU (IXo) was installed as Supremus Magus of Societas Rosicruciana in Romania.
Supremus Magus of Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis International is William H. KOON II (IXo) who headed the delegation of the Grand Council of S.R.I.C.F. during his visit in Romania in 2007.
At the Annual Meeting of October 2006, the Most Excellent Companion Constantin Roman TAMADUIANU was elected to the office of Grand High Priest of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Romania.
At the same Annual Meeting, the Most Excellent Companion Marius SECELEANU was elected to the office of Illustrious Grand Master of the Supreme Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Romania.
At the Annual Meeting of October 2007, the Most Excellent Companion Stefan MANTEA was elected to the office of Grand High Priest of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Romania.
At the same Annual Meeting, the Most Excellent Companion Gabriel GHERASIM was elected to the office of Illustrious Grand Master of the Supreme Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Romania.
On August 15-19, 2009, in Roanoke, Virginia, USA, took place the 64th Triennial of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar.
A delegation of 36 Romanian Sir Knights Templar headed by the Sir Knight Stefan MASU attended this event .On August 18, 2009, ten other commanderies of Romanian Knights Templar received the Charter, namely: Commandery no.2 “Mircea Cel Bătrân” , Commandery no.3 “Mihai Viteazu” , Commandery no.4 “ Ovidius”, Commandery no. 5 “Dimitrie Cantemir”, Commandery no. 6 “ Vlad Tepeş”, Commandery no. 7 “ Iancu de Hunedoara”, Commandery no. 8 “Arhanghelul Mihail” , Commandery no. 9 “Bogdan Voda”, Commandery no.10 “ Costache Negri”, Commandery no. 11 “Nicolae Bălcescu”.
On August 18, 2009, took place the Ceremony for the Award of the Credential of Installation of the Grand Commandery ”King Ferdinand I” of Romanian Knights Templar, composed of the 11 Knights Templar Commanderies .
On September 24, 2010, Sir Knight Gabriel GHERASIM was installed as Right Eminent Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery “King Ferdinand I" of Knights Templar of Romania. The following officers were installed:
On October 7-9, 2010, in Columbus, Ohio, U.S., took place the ceremony for the installation of the Grand Commander of the Grand Commandery “King Ferdinand I” of Knights Templar of Romania, Sir Knight Gabriel GHERASIM.
Likewise, at the same Knights Templar event, took place the ceremony for the installation of the Grand Inspector General for Eastern Europe of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, Sir Knight Mihai BUGARU.
Currently, the Grand Commandery “King Ferdinand I” of Knights Templar of Romania comprises 11 subordinated Commanderies, with over 200 Knights Templar, who carry out their activity throughout the country.
At the Annual Meeting of October 2010, the Most Excellent Companion Gheorghe VILCEANU was elected to the office of Grand High Priest of the Supreme Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Romania.
At the same Annual Meeting, the Most Excellent Companion Dan GRUMAZ was elected to the office of Illustrious Grand Master of the Supreme Grand Council of Cryptic Masons of Romania.
On February 9-14, 2011, a group of Companions and Knights Templar of the Romanian York Rite participated at the Masonic Week organised in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S..
During proceedings of the Grand Council of Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis in the first Order, the degrees Ist- Zelator and IInd-Theoricus, were initiated the following companions : Mircea Vasile CAZAN, Mircea ISTRATE, Gheorghe TESELEANU, Dan GRUMAZ, Sebastian BALASESCU and Rares RUSU.On the same occasion, the companions Gabriel GHERASIM and Mihai BUGARU were awarded with degrees VIIIth - Magister and IXth - Magus of the third Order and with the capacity of full members of the Supreme International Grand Council of Societas Rosicruciana in Civitatibus Foederatis.
In the proceedings of the Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees (AMD) were initiated: Mircea Vasile CAZAN, Mircea ISTRATE, Gheorghe TESELEANU, Dan GRUMAZ, Sebastian BALASESCU, Rares RUSU and Marius JINGA.
At the international meeting of the Order of Royal Society of Knights Occidental the following Sir Knights were invited to become members: Gabriel GHERASIM, Mihai BUGARU, Mircea-Vasile CAZAN, Mircea ISTRATE, Gheorghe TESELEANU, Dan GRUMAZ, Sebastian BALASESCU, Rares RUSU and Marius JINGA.
Sir Knight Mihai BUGARU was installed to the office of Sovereign of the Order of Royal Society of Knights Occidental of Romania.
At the meeting of the Grand General College of the Order of the
Holy Royal Arch Knight Templar Priests was formed and established the
Romanian College of the said Order.
The Grand Commander Gabriel GHERASIM was installed to the office of Grand Preceptor of the College of the Order of the Holy Royal Arch Knights Templar Priests of Romania. This College is composed of the Eminent Commanders who participated in the ritual of installation on the occasion of the Triennial of August 2009 in Roanoke, US.
During the proceedings of the General Convent of the Grand Priory of the Order of Knight York Cross of Honor was established and consecrated the Romania Priory of this Order.
The Grand Commander Gabriel GHERASIM was installed to the office of Prior of the Order of the Knight York Cross of Honor of Romania. This Priory is composed of the Eminent Commanders who participated in the ritual of installation on the occasion of the Triennial of August 2009 in Roanoke, US.
The Order of the Rose operates in Romania since 2005. This Order of composed of about 30 ladies, wives, sisters, mothers and daughters of the companions of the Romanian York Rite.
Mrs. Corina GHERASIM is the President of the Order of the Rose in Romania.
Honorary President of the Order of the Rose in Romania is Mrs. Elizabeth Koon II.
On May 14, 2011, hrs 12.00, at the Corvin (Hunyard) Castle of Hunedoara took place the Ceremony of inspection of the Grand Commandery “King Ferdinand I” of Knights Templar of Romania with its 11 subordinated Commanderies.
The ceremony took place under the auspices of the Most Eminent Grand Master of the Grand Encampment of Knights Templar, Sir Knight William H. Koon II.
High Officers of the York Rite of the U.S., Italy, Portugal, Principality of Monaco and Romania participated in this ceremony.
Also important figures of the political, administrative, cultural and economic life of Romania participated in the event.
On May 14, 2011, hrs 19.00, in Sibiu took place the Ceremony of installation of the first Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of Europe. The ceremony was officiated by the Past Most Puissant Grand Master of the Supreme Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of the U.S., Most Excellent Companion C. Michael Watson.
The Most Excellent Companion Gabriel GHERASIM was elected as First Sovereign Master of the “Europe” Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of Romania.
The York Rite bodies offer a unique initiatic experience to their candidates; an experience revealed once they go through each step of knowledge, corresponding to a specific degree, Masonic step, and prior training is required for a proper understanding. Therefore, within the York Rite the main interest is not the numerical increase in membership, but the qualitative perfection, reason for which this rite is often perceived as very selective and under certain aspects, restrictive.
Giving to the member masons of the National Grand Lodge of Romania the premises and opportunity to complete superior stages of spiritual ascension, the Romanian York Rite distinguishes itself before the Romanian, European and International Masonic community, as a body of selection, perfection and promotion of masons in the spirit of high civic MORALS, of lasting love towards PEOPLE and COUNTRY and of strong belief in GOD, the Grand Architect of the Universe.