“John’s flock”

This chapter introduces the tradition associated with Father Ioan Zlotea, a holy man and monk who visited Inochentie at the Garden of Paradise. Ioan Zlotea’s community, known as “John’s flock,” was founded in the early 1920s at the same time as the Culeac brothers were founding their communities. Zlotea’s vision, however, was markedly different from that of the Culeacs. Clearly impressed by what he had seen at the Garden of Paradise, Ioan attempted to found a community of his own. Like the Culeacs, however, Ioan also fell foul of the authorities. Ioan Zlotea’s community was founded shortly before the Romanian Orthodox Church introduced the Revised Julian Calendar in October 1924, which sparked a series of religious revolts across the eastern territories of the state. Ioan was subsequently accused of secretly maintaining the Old Calendar amongst his followers whilst publicly celebrating according to the New Calendar. Of the spiritual leaders associated with Inochentie of Balta, Ioan’s legacy has proved amongst the most enduring with the establishment of a number of communities outside Bessarabia in villages, towns and cities in other parts of Romania.