anti-communist resistance

Bishop Ignatie honours Fr Mina Dobzeu as ‘unwavering confessor of faith’ under communism

His Grace Bishop Ignatie officiated a memorial service on Saturday at the grave of Archimandrite Mina Dobzeu, located near the Diocesan Cathedral in Huși. “He was an unwavering confessor of faith in Christ, without any interruption, in the face of the atheist materialist steamroller of communism,” the bishop said. “This is one of Fr Mina…

Jun 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Anti-Communist political prisoners commemorated in Timisoara: ‘They chose to pray for their enemies’

Anti-communist political prisoners were commemorated on Monday in Timișoara in an event that coincided with the feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste. The memorial service was officiated by Fr Timotei Anișorac, eparchial vicar, at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Timișoara, marking the Day of Anti-Communist Political Prisoners from the 1944–1989 period. Former political prisoners, former…

Mar 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

First Liturgy honouring newly canonised Bessarabian Hieromartyr Alexander Baltaga held in Călărași

The Holy Hieromartyr Alexander (Baltaga) of Bessarabia was commemorated on Friday for the first time since the local proclamation of his canonisation, in the “Saint Nicholas” Church in Călărași, the Republic of Moldova — the parish where the saint served for 54 years. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia,…

Aug 11, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian hesychast and anti-Communist Confessor Fr. Benedict Ghiuș remembered 35 years after his passing

Archimandrite Benedict Ghiuș, one of the founders of the “Burning Bush” Hesychast Movement, humbly reposed in the Lord on June 12, 1990. Born Vasile Ghiuș in 1904 in Domnești, Vrancea County, he studied at the Faculty of Theology in Cernăuți and later earned his doctorate in Strasbourg, France. In 1934, he embraced monastic life at…

Jun 12, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania honours anti-communist political prisoners in Bucharest memorial service

On Sunday, anti-communist political prisoners were commemorated at the “Wings” Monument in Piața Presei Libere (Free Press Square), Bucharest. The memorial event began with the singing of the national anthem and a memorial service officiated by Father Lucian Georgescu, dean of Sector 1 in Bucharest, alongside an assembly of Orthodox clergy. “On this day, the…

Mar 10, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate commemorates anti-communist political prisoners on March 9

March 9 marks both the feast day of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste and the National Day of Commemoration for Anti-Communist Political Prisoners from the period 1944–1989. On this day, we especially remember the Romanian freedom fighters who opposed the totalitarian communist regime, endured imprisonment in labour camps and prisons and bore witness to…

Mar 5, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

President of Romania bestows order of merit on priest who brought down Lenin statue

The President of Romania bestowed on Wednesday the National Order of Merit upon a priest who reposed earlier this month and who was instrumental in the fight for Romanian democracy in the early 1990s. Fr. Sorin Grecu held a hunger strike before the statue of Lenin that once stood on Bucharest’s Free Press Square, which…

Jan 22, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

HG Bishop Damaschin blesses the first monument to anti-communist Resistance in Bucovina

His Grace Damaschin of Dorna, Auxiliary Bishop to the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți, blessed on Thursday the first monument commemorating the anti-communist Resistance in Bukovina. It is located in Vicovu de Jos, on the spot where Lt. Vladimir Macoveiciuc was shot by orders of the Soviets. He was the leader of the most important…

Jul 9, 2021Ștefana Totorcea