Nicolae Cristea (priest)

A protégé of Andrei Șaguna, he studied in Germany before returning to edit the church's newspaper for nearly two decades, a period during which he also taught at the theological seminary in Sibiu.

[1][4] Sent by Șaguna to the University of Leipzig in order to deepen his studies of philosophy and political economy, his 1861–1863 stay of two years was too brief for a doctorate, and Cristea remained with two undergraduate degrees in theology and law.

[4][1] In 1865, he was named director of Telegraful Român newspaper, remaining until 1883,[1] when he was dismissed by Metropolitan Miron Romanul after writing a scathing critique of Prime Minister Kálmán Tisza.

[2] During a period that saw the loss of Transylvania's autonomy as a result of the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of 1867 and a concerted Magyarization effort, Cristea consistently defended the rights of the province's Romanians.

Dry in tone and rarely treating exceptional events, it reflects the aloof personality of Cristea, marked by political battles.

Other topics include the Romanian-language press of Transylvania, his disappointment at Dimitrie Sturdza's suddenly conciliatory policy toward Austria-Hungary upon becoming Prime Minister of Romania, criticism of the new metropolitan Ioan Mețianu, his own gradual withdrawal from politics and his May 1898 visit to the Romanian Old Kingdom.

[1] He died in Sibiu;[4] his funeral was officiated by Mețianu and attended by an imposing crowd that included fellow Memorandum signer Rubin Patiția.