The Bust of Gheorghe Popa of Teiu - George Enescu Square in front f of the Palace of

Culture of Arad, 1938

The bust has been declared historical monument code AR-III-m-B-00667
Description
The Bust of Gheorghe Popa of Teiu (1824-1867) was placed on the Alley of the Arad's
personalities, being unveiled in 1938. It's sculptural representation was signed by the artist Ioan
Moga. Gh. Popa of Teiu was a political leader of the romanian community in Arad County.
Over the course of his political activities, he served various positions in State. During the 1850's
he was appointed Praetor, and in 1864 he was awarded the title of Supreme Prefect of Arad
County. Gh. Popa of Teiu has struggled in the politics of those times for the rights of
romanians, and even more so for the liberalisation of the romanian language in the process of
public administration.
History
On 6th February, 1824, Gh. Popa of Teiu is borned in the village of Gala, near Ioan Slavici's
hometown iria. Between the years 1836-1842 he attended the courses of six classes of the high
school in Arad, graduating as head of promotion. For four years he continued his studies at the
"Academy of Rights" in Oradea, place where he is doing his internship at the cabinet of the
famous Emanuel Gojdu. At the age of 22 years, more precisely in 1846, he becomes a lawyer in
Arad, in a short time he'll be appreciated by his contemporaries, both among intellectuals and
public opinion. Over a year, 1847, this young attorney, he marries the daughter of a great
landowner in Arad, named Alexiu Popovici. The wedding god-father was the renowned lawyer
and politician of Arad, Ioan Popovici Desseanu.
Over a short time the Bishop of Arad, Gherasim Ra, employs Gh. Popa of Teiu as a notary and
secretary of the Bishopric of Arad. And in august, 1849, he occurs the opportunity to occupy the
position of Praetor of imand. In 1851 he became Prime-Praetor (judge) in Ineu, where he
founded the Town's Hospital. On 8 November 1864 he's installed as prefect of the City and
County of Arad. As prefect he introduces a series of innovative reforms in the process of public
administration and Justice. As long as he led the destinies of the city and county of Arad,
Gheorghe Popa of Teiu named over 40 romanian notaries, among the young graduates of Arad's
Preparandia. It was one of his strategies to introduce the romanian language in the public
administration and schools of Arad County. At only 43-year-old, Gheorghe Popa of Teiu, after
long suffering, dies in March, 1867. A year after his death, his remains are deposited in the
cemetery of the village Gala, along with others of his family.

Curiosities

On September 17, 1861 at Arad, there is a historical gathering between the leading
representatives of the romanians comunity of Arad's diocese. Among the participants it was Gh.
Popa of Teiu. Within this meeting it was decided the establishment of a "Lecture-Society". This
project was a real cultural emporwerment for Arad's society.
Consequently, on 12 May 1863, in one of the halls at the Hotel Aradealul (formerly "White
Cross"), it's being founded the "Arad's association for culture and national conversation of the
romanian people", at which point we can meet Gh. Popa of Teiu along other great names of
local intelligentsia: Anton Mocioni, Ioan Popovici Desseanu, Miron Romanul, Atanasie andor,
Vinceniu Babe.
Links
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Arad_-_Gheorghe_Popa_de_Teiu_-_2884.jpg