The Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization is sad to announce the passing of Father Nicolae Achimescu, a close collaborator of the Institute.
Professor Achimescu’s death represents a considerable loss for all who had the opportunity of his acquaintance. He was a staunch supporter of the Institute since the beginning of its activity, and supported it with his impressive knowledge of the history of religions, a field so dear to him throughout the entirety of his professional activity, as well as through his advice and experience. He was a tireless participant in all events that the Institute had heretoore organized.
Father Nicolae Achimescu was born on August 10th 1955 in the village of Șiroca, Godeanu Commune, Mehedinți County. His studies in Orthodox theology, completed in 1980 at the University of Bucharest, were furthered through a PhD in Theology, defended at the University of Tubingen, Germany, in 1993.
Professor Achimescu began his didactic activity in 1993 at the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iași, where he gave lectures in the History and Philosophy of Religion at the Faculty of Letters and Theology. Beginning in 2012, Father Achimescu transferred his didactic activity to Bucharest, at the “Patriarch Justinian” Faculty of Orthodox Theology at the University of Bucharest, gaining both a tenured position in the discipline of “History and Philosophy of Religions” and becoming the Director of the Doctoral School within the same Faculty. Moreover, his didactic activity was redoubled by his position as Member of the National Committee for Certifying University Titles, Diplomas and Certificates (NCCUTDC) at the Ministry of Education and an evaluation expert at the National Council of Scientific Research in Higher Education (NCSRHE). He also held a series of administrative and honorary positions such as Director of the Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Study and Dialogue at the University of Bucharest since 2014, membership to the German-Romanian Academy – International Forum for Science, Ethics, Theology, Literature and Art, a founding member of the Centre for Dialogue and Research in Theology, Science and Philosophy at the University of Bucharest, part of the editorial boards of the “Ortodoxia” periodical (the magazine of the Romanian Patriarchy of Bucharest) and of the Romanian Bioethics Journal.
A passionate and applied researcher in the fields of history and the phenomenology of religion, professor Achimescu published numerous works such as “Our Lord Jesus Christ’s Testament” (bilingual edition, translated from Latin, notes and introductory study, 1996), “The History and Philosophy of Religion of the Peoples of Antiquity” (1998), “Buddhism and Christianity. Considerations for the Fulfilment of Man” (1999), “Religions in Dialogue” (2005), “Religion, Modernity and Postmodernity” (2013), “The History and Philosophy of Religion. Religions of the Ancient World” (2015).
A loss for all those who enjoyed his friendship, his kindness and his appreciation
“The death of Father Nicolae Achimescu profoundly saddened me, as I have lost not only a collaborator, but also a close friend.
Father Nicolae Achimescu was a professional dedicated to his work, an applied researcher in the field of the History of Religions, a formational pedagogue for young spirits in search of knowledge, a tireless supporter of interfaith dialogue and an active participant in initiatives in the field.
I fondly remember the inauguration of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization, through the international conference on “The ‘Levant’ Initiative for Global Peace. Through Cultural Diplomacy Towards a Sustainable Peace”, held in Bucharest between the 19th and 21st of November 2017. When I first launched the call to organise such a conference – and the idea of an Institute for the Advanced Study of the historical Levant, Professor Achimescu was an enthusiastic supporter of the idea, promoting it among his students and faculty peers at the “Patriarch Justinian” Faculty of Orthodox Technology at the University of Bucharest.
Later on, due to his efforts and support, this faculty – alongside the Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Study and Dialogue he led at the University – became our constant partners in the events the Institute organized. Moreover, Father Achimescu supported all of the Institute’s endeavours with his impressive wealth of knowledge, sound advice, and his research and didactic experience.
Father Achimescu’s untimely departure is a considerable loss for all those who have known and worked alongside him. It is also a great loss for the academic milieu and the Romanian research environment, especially that studying the History of Religions, a field to which he dedicated his full attention and passion. Not least, it is a loss for all those who enjoyed his friendship, his kindness and his appreciation.
May God rest his soul!
Emil Constantinescu
President of the Scientific Council of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Levant Culture and Civilization
