communist regime

Romanian Orthodox clergy commemorate victims of 1949 Soviet deportations in Republic of Moldova

Victims of the 1949 Soviet deportations were commemorated on Monday across the Republic of Moldova, marking 77 years since one of the largest waves of Stalinist repression in the region. Memorial services were organised in numerous parishes of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, where clergy, public officials and faithful honoured those who suffered under the communist…

Jul 8, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate marks March 9 as day of remembrance for anti-communist political prisoners

On March 9, Romania commemorates both the Feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste and the Day of Remembrance for Anti-Communist Political Prisoners from the period 1944–1989. Each year on this date, Romanians have a moral duty to remember those who resisted the totalitarian communist regime, confessing the Orthodox faith against state-imposed atheism. Many were…

Mar 6, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel blesses reliquary of Saint Dumitru Stăniloae ahead of local canonization at Cernica Monastery

Patriarch Daniel of Romania blessed on Thursday the reliquary that will house the relics of the Confessor Priest Saint Dumitru Stăniloae. On Saturday, Cernica Monastery will host the ceremonies marking the local proclamation of the saint’s canonization. “This beautiful reliquary, adorned in silver and gilded scenes, shows the devotion and esteem of our Church’s faithful…

Oct 3, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Republic of Moldova establishes “Council of Memory” to commemorate victims of communist repression

The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Education and Research of Moldova have recently established the “Council of Memory,” a consultative body dedicated to honouring the victims of political repression under the totalitarian communist regime (1917-1990). The founding order was signed on February 7 by Ministers Sergiu Prodan and Dan Perciun, aiming to contribute…

Feb 18, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia Metropolitan’s message on Day of Remembrance of victims of 1946-1947 famine: Never forget their suffering

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru issued a message honouring the victims of the organised famine that ravaged Bessarabia from 1946 to 1947. “We bow our heads and knees to the memory of the reposed and promise never to forget their suffering and the lesson they left us,” the Metropolitan of Bessarabia said. This commemoration takes place…

Apr 22, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Canonization 2025: Bishop Varlaam reveals first three names

On Anti-Communist Political Prisoners Day, His Grace Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, general secretary of the Holy Synod, revealed some of the names proposed for canonization in 2025. They are priests and monks persecuted or martyred by the communist regime. In its February 25 meeting, the Holy Synod decided to prepare the canonization of twelve priests…

Mar 10, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

“The joy of being alone, a stranger, forgotten, humiliated, hit, but never defeated.” Commemoration of martyrs at Târgu Ocna

“If you read the poems and texts of those who suffered in communist prisons, you will see that every word they uttered reflects another way to rejoice. The joy of being alone, a stranger, forgotten, kneeling, hit, but never defeated,” said Archimandrite Pimen Costea, administrative vicar of the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău Thursday, February…

Feb 22, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian President promulgates law declaring anti-communist ‘martyr city’ in Maramureş

President Klaus Iohannis promulgated the law by which the city of Dragomireşti in Maramureş County was declared a “martyr city” of the anti-communist struggle, the presidency announced on Nov. 13. The Senate adopted the bill, as the first forum notified, on April 23, the Chamber of Deputies voted decisively on October 20. “As a sign…

Nov 24, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Huși Bishop remembers Fr. Mina Dobzeu as ‘a brave confessor of Christ in hostile times’

Bishop Ignatie of Huși remembered Archimandrite Mina Dobzeu as ‘a brave confessor of Christ in hostile times,’ during a memorial service last Saturday marking two years since the repose of the priest who baptised Fr Nicolae Steinhardt during communism. “After reading Father Mina’s Securitate file – which we intend to publish in full so that…

Jun 11, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel urges not to forget those who suffered under communist regime

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel sent a message to the Symposium organized by the Institute for Political Sciences and International Relations of the Romanian Academy to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Romanian Revolution of 1989 urging the participants not to forget those who suffered under communist regime. The message was read out…

Nov 7, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Remains of allegedly poisoned to death Husi Bishop Grigore Leu exhumed

The body of the former Bishop Grigorie Leu of Huși was exhumed on Wednesday, Sept. 26, to clarify certain medico-legal aspects by experts in forensic medicine from the Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes in Romania (IICMER) and Public prosecutor’s office. The former Bishop of Husi Grigorie Leu was allegedly poisoned to death during…

Sep 28, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu