The concept of “simulated change” I found explained by Professor Emeritus Michael Shafir in the epilogue to his volume “Communist Romania (1948-1985). Political, Economic and Social Analysis”, reminded us of the letter that Patriarch Justinian Marina sent to Gheorghe Georgiou-Deja on the same day that Vasile Luca and Teohari Georgescu were “excommunicated” (later also by Ana Pauker) from the leadership of the Church. Romanian Workers’ Party.

Chronological coincidences are a part of life, and whether we like it or not, it is the duty of historians to go into the archives and find some documents that will help them describe some new and relevant facts. Political scientists, sociologists, anthropologists, economists, and other researchers can then create analytical models based on historical events more or less known to them and the general public. If we want to understand the local political culture in Romania, the discrepancy between the “actual status” and the “law”, the phrases “One talks, the other smokes”, “We pretend to work, they pretend to pay us”. ” or “Don’t do what the Pope does, do what the Pope says” if we are interested in finding solutions to curb the impulse of populists, “messianic saviors” and “tepechists” – and we add that Professor Michael Shafir has already wrote in his book, about all those who want to see us in line to save the Planet from all the dangers invented by the minds that went early to carol – if we even now shudder at the “struggle for peace” proposed in Russian (which will continue until no stone is left unturned), we must know our limits very well and try to learn from the facts that happened at the moment – even if we don’t like it.

The original paper we publish below reproduces a fact that we cannot deny, if we are honest with ourselves and our colleagues. Everyone had their own problems on May 27, 1952, and after reading a letter from Patriarch Justinian Marina, Gheorghe Georgiou-Dej wrote the following resolution in red pencil on a typewritten version of the letter written by the priest who sheltered him in August 1944, after the communist leader escaped from the Tirgu camp – Jiu: “To the material on the “problem”. CHURCH (emphasis added)”. Not a word about the political purge that began on May 27, 1952, about the religious purge that began before that day in Romania, and about the subordination of the Orthodox Church to the political leader who was at the head of the state at the time. . Not a word about the possible punishment of Patriarch Justinian Marina for that letter, thereby respecting the “custom of the land.” Not a word about the possible intervention of some (illegal) foreign political actors to solve the problems pointed out by Patriarch Justinian Marina.

Unfortunately, it has not yet been possible to find in the former archive of the PCR neither the memories of Anton Alexandrescu and Petre Barbulescu, which were referred to by Patriarch Justinian Marina in his letter (in points 1 and 2), nor documents about the fate of those 550 Greek Catholic priests (most of the former members of the National Peasant Party), 300 nuns and approximately 200 monks are reported in the same letter.

Personal letter sent by Patriarch Justinian Marina to Gheorghe Georgiou-Deja (May 27, 1952).

Dear Mr. Gheorghe Georgiou-Dej!

Pardon the boldness of my entreaties—for our mutual friends. You wouldn’t dare if you didn’t know their devotion to the party and to God.

1. – I am attaching a report note from Anton Alexandrescu, who was removed from the post of dean and professor last year, without explaining the reasons for this severe punishment.

2. – In a few days it will be a year since Petre Barbulescu – an illegal student of Constanci Krecun (organizational secretary of the Bucharest City Party Committee, at that time – note P. Off) – a young lieutenant in 1942-43 – who went with his group to the side of the Soviet troops in Iasi – presented manifestos, spoke through megaphones, was an instructor of officers of the “Tudor Volodymyrescu” division, etc., etc. . – tried by a military court, sentenced to death, property confiscated, etc. – after several important tasks – became a victim of some intrigues, was expelled – on the basis of false documents – from the party and dismissed from his position in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I asked him for a copy of the memorandum submitted to the Control Commission of the Central Committee – which I enclose together with the request to issue an order for the verification of the documents submitted to Petre Barbulescu – so as not to despair of a worthy and loyal member of the party, not today, era – but from the grave times in battles.

3. – I am attaching a photo of 550 former Greek Catholic priests – the vast majority of them are members of the Manyu party. According to our bishops, these priests are supported by the Catholics through members of the Hungarian People’s Union, who appointed them to various administrative positions (about 250) – their wives – etc., protect them and do not question them. for anything I don’t know of any administrative centers where they have membership tasks[i] Hungarian People’s Union. This resistance can be seen from the table. In addition to the 550 priests, there are about 300 nuns scattered around the villages in civilian clothes who carry out the Pope’s instructions. There are also about 200 monks, also in civilian clothes. Currently, the recruitment of monks and nuns with the right to wear civilian clothes is underway (we attach the report of the priest from Bucharest). Thus – more than 1,000 clergymen, former Greek Catholics – are covered in Transylvania even by state administration bodies – (we attach the report of the bishopric of Oradea and Archdeacon Tiuta).

Although I informed Minister Pogechan about this, I noticed that he is not interested in this issue. That is why I present it to you.

4. – Ion Modoran – the former prefect of Gorges – who was the director of the Office of the Patriarchate – since March 1, he is no longer allowed to work next to me. Minister Pogechanu removed him, depriving me of an important employee. I want and ask to order an investigation into the reasons for the dismissal and return him to my service, if he has no deviations that would not allow him to return. He should be deported from the states on June 1 of this year. I have no complaints about Modoran.

5. – A personal request. Please allow my son Ovidiu Marina, a university assistant and surgeon at the Inst. of medicine from Iasi – to go as a doctor with a group of doctors accompanying the athletes who will go to the Olympics in Finland – to Helsinki. My son is also an inspector of sports organizations of the Iasi region – and a member of the party. For two months – or one month – during the Olympics – he can take part in heart operations performed by a world-renowned heart surgeon in Helsinki. The connections I have with the Orthodox Metropolitan of Finland will contribute to this assistance to the great surgeon. From this mission he would pick up new knowledge in the field of surgery.

Please give him this release.

I conclude my list of requests with an assurance of my unwavering devotion to you.

27 V [1]952 and further. Justinian

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