Dosoftei

(Dosifei). Born in 1624; died in 1693. Moldavian church and political leader; metropolitan of Moldavia.

Dosoftei made a large contribution to the development of Moldavian culture. He was the founder of Moldavian versification. In 1681 he revived book printing in Moldavia, obtaining equipment and paper for printing from Moscow. He translated both prose and verse into the Moldavian and Russian languages. Dosoftei headed a group of young boyars who sought a rapprochement with Russia and participated in negotiations held in 1674 and 1684 to have Moldavians accept Russian citizenship. In 1683-84, Dosoftei lived in the city of Stryi in the western Ukraine. Dosoftei’s works are also a contribution to the culture of the Rumanian people.