Teoctist Arapasu

About

Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church who was the foremost figure in the religion from 1986 to 2007

Before Fame

He began his tenure under Romania's communist government, and was accused by some of collaborating with it.

Trivia

In response to charges of collaboration, he offered his resignation, and even briefly stepped down, but he was later reinstated by the church.

Family Life

He was born the second youngest of 11 children to a family in Botoşani County, Romania.

Associated With

He was the first Orthodox church leader to host the Roman Catholic Pope when Pope John Paul II visited, signaling a rapprochement between the two religions.