Religious diplomacy and socialism: The Romanian Orthodox Church and the Church of England, 1956-1959

East European Politics and Societies

Volumn 22, Issue 1, 2008, Pages 7-43

  Leustean, Lucian N ^a  

^a NONE

Author keywords

Church of England; Communism; Funeral of Petru Groza; International ecclesiastical relations; Metropolitan Justin Moisescu; Patriarch Justinian Marina; Religious persecution; Romanian Orthodox Church

Indexed keywords

EID: 38149123991     PISSN: 08883254     EISSN: 15338371     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1177/0888325407311786     Document Type: Article

References (118)

1. For a political analysis of this period, see Vladimir Tismaneanu, Stalinism for All Seasons: A Political History of Romanian Communism (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003).
2. Stephen Fischer-Galaţi, The New Rumania: From People's Democracy to Socialist Republic (Cambridge: MIT Press, 1967).
3. Stephen Fischer-Galaţi, Twentieth Century Romania (New York: Columbia University Press, 1991).
4. Ghita Ionescu, Communism in Rumania, 1944-1962 (London: Oxford University Press, 1964).
5. Dennis Deletant, Communist Terror in Romania. Gheorghiu-Dej and the Police State, 1948-1965 (London: Hurst, 1999).
6. Lavinia Betea, Alexandru Bârlǎdeanu despre Dej, Ceauşescu şi Iliescu. Convorbiri (Bucharest, Evenimentul Românesc, 1998). 133.
7. For an analysis of the trajectory of the Romanian Orthodox Church during the first years of the communist regime, see Lucian N. Leustean, " Ethno-Symbolic Nationalism, Orthodoxy and the Installation of Communism in Romania: 23 August 1944 to 30 December 1947, " Nationalities Papers, 33: 4 (2005). 439-58;
8. Lucian N. Leustean, " Constructing Communism in the Romanian People's Republic. Orthodoxy and State, 1948-1949, " Europe-Asia Studies, 59: 2 (2007). 303-29 ;
9. Lucian N. Leustean, " 'There is No Longer Spring in Romania, It is All Propaganda': Orthodoxy and Sovietization, 1950-1952, " Religion, State and Society, 35: 1 (2007). 43-68.
10. Olivier Gillet, Religion et Nationalisme. L'Ideologie de l'Eglise Orthodoxe Roumaine sous le Regime Communiste (Bruxelles: Universit de Bruxelles, 1997).
11. Keith Hitchins, " The Romanian Orthodox Church and the State, " In B. R. Bociurkiw and J. W. Strong, eds., Religion and Atheism in the USSR and Eastern Europe (London: Macmillan, 1975). 314-27 ;
12. Alan Scarfe, " The Romanian Orthodox Church, " In P. Ramet, ed., Eastern Christianity and Politics in the Twentieth Century (Durham: Duke University Press, 1988).
13. Stenogramele şedinţelor Biroului Politic al Comitetului Central al Partidului Muncitoresc Român, Vol. I. 1948 (Bucharest: Arhivele Naţionale ale României, 2002). 380-86.
14. The Orthodox Church in Romania, Item 3345/59, HU OSA 300-60-1, 522/2801, Religion: Communist Influenced Religious Movements, 1951-1968.
15. Lucian N. Leustean, " 'For the Glory of Romanians:' Orthodoxy and Nationalism in Greater Romania, 1918-1945, " Nationalities Papers, 35: 3 (2007). 717-42.
16. The documents in the Lambeth Palace Archives, Church of England Council on Foreign Relations (LPA, CECFR), have not yet been catalogued. For this reason, I give my own short description for each document used.
17. Gheorghiu-Dej was leading the Romanian delegation at the Moscow Congress, which was composed of Iosif Chişinevschi, Miron Constantinescu, and Petre Borilǎ.
18. Robert Levy, Ana Pauker: The Rise and Fall of a Jewish Communist (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2001).
19. Report by Sir Wavell Wakefield, MP, 18 July 1956, LPA, CECFR, OC File 158.
20. Danish Church Delegation Invited to Visit Romania, Item 2916/56, 8 March 1956, HU OSA 300-60-1, 522/2801, Religion: Communist Influences Religious Movements, 1951-1968.
21. Anti-Communist Leaflets Tell Constanţa Citizens Days of Shaken Communist Regime Are Numbered, Item 7354/56, HU OSA 300-60-1, 532/2900, Resistance and Criticism of the Regime: General, 1951-1969.
22. The results revealed that Romania numbered 17,489,450 people of which 85.7 percent were Romanians, 9.1 percent Hungarians, 2.2 percent Germans, 0.6 percent Roma, and 3.0 percent other minorities; 10.1 percent of the population was illiterate; 31.3 percent of the population lived in cities and the remainder of 68.7 percent was rural. Ioan Scurtu, Ion Alexandru, Ion Bulei, Ion Mamina, Enciclopedia de istorie a României (Bucharest: Meronia, 2002). 389-99.
23. The Problem of the Students and the 1956 Movement, Item 2431/62, HU OSA 300-60-1, 532/2903, Resistance and Criticism of the Regime: Political, 1956-1971.
24. S. Verona, Military Occupation and Diplomacy: Soviet Troops in Romania, 1944-1958 (Durham: Duke University Press, 1992).
25. Dennis Deletant, "Impactul revoltei maghiare în România' in Analele Sighet 8," Anii 1954-1960: Fluxurile şi refluxurile stalinismului (Bucharest, Fundaţia Academia Civicǎ, 2000). 598-602.
26. Mitropolia Banatului, 1956, 11-12 and 18-123.
27. Letter from the Bishop of Gibraltar to Canon Waddams, 21 January 1957, LPA, CECFR, OC File 158.
28. In reality, Bishop Horsley did not have any connection with Father Gâldǎu's appointment to the BBC. Letter from the Bishop of Gibraltar to Canon Waddams, 4 February 1957, LPA, CECFR, OC File 158.
29. Report: The Romanian Orthodox Church, Bishop of Gibraltar, January 1957, LPA, CECFR, OC File 158.
30. Note for file, 27 February 1957, LPA, CECFR, OC File 158.
31. British Legation, Bucharest, Item 1782/1/57, TNA PRO FO 371/128953.
32. Ortodoxia, 1956, 4.
33. Letter from Patriarch Justinian to Archbishop Fischer, 26 January 1957, LPA, CECFR, OC File 158.
34. Ibid.
35. Romînia Liberǎ, 28 February 1956.
36. Romînia Liberǎ, 17 March 1956.
37. I use the generic term Securitate instead of the various names that the Romanian Service of Information had during the communist period. Documents from the Archives of the Romanian Service of Information (ASRI) regarding the church-state relations between 1945 and 1958 have been published in Cristina Pǎiuşan and Radu Ciuceanu, Biserica Ortodoxǎ Românǎ sub regimul communist 1945-1958 vol. I (Bucharest: Institutul Naţional Pentru Studiul Totalitarismului. Colecţia Documente, 2001).
38. Asri, Fond D, Dossier 2488, vol. 1, f. 415-33 in Pǎiuşan and Ciuceanu, 166.
39. Romînia Liberǎ, 19 September 1956.
40. Note, 15 November 1956, HU OSA 300-60-1, 530/2808, Religion: Other Religions, 1956 - 1959.
41. After the death of Justinian in 1977, Metropolitan Justin would become patriarch.
42. " Alegerea, învestitura şi înscǎunarea IPS Mitropolit Justin al Moldovei şi Sucevei, " Biserica Ortodoxǎ Romînǎ (BOR), 1957, 1-2, 39-40.
43. Alegerea, învestitura şi înscǎunarea IPS Mitropolit Justin al Moldovei şi Sucevei, Biserica Ortodoxǎ Romînǎ (BOR), Ibid., 62-63.
44. British Legation, Bucharest, Item 1782/6/57, TNA PRO FO 371/1/128953.
45. Monasteries Tolerated as Source of Cheap Labour, Item 319/58, HU OSA 300-60-1, 518/2800, Religion: General, 1948-1958.
46. Report, 5 October 1956, LPA, CECFR, OC File 158.
47. Communist Exploitation of Religion. Hearing before the Subcommittee to Investigate the Administration of the Internal Security Act and Other Internal Security Laws of the Committee on the Judiciary United States Senate, Eighty-Ninth Congress, Second Session, Testimony of Rev. Richard Wurmbrand, London: European Christian Mission, 6 May 1966, 15.
48. Foreign Office, London, Item 1781/1, TNA PRO FO 371/1/128953.
49. British Legation, Bucharest, Item 1782/5/57, TNA PRO FO 371/1/128953.
50. Radio Bucharest Redefection, 22 April 1957, HU OSA 300-60-1, 532/2812, Religion: Religious Holidays, 1955-1979.
51. Scînteia, 24 May 1957 ;
52. Romînia Liberǎ, 26 May 1957 ; 28 May 1957.
53. Bristish Legation, Bucharest, Item 1781/4, TNA PRO FO 371/1/128953.
54. Romînia Liberǎ, 20 December 1957.
55. Scînteia, 2 June 1957.
56. Scînteia, 12 June 1957.
57. Justinian also visited a monastery built by Stefan Nemania, the first Serbian tsar; Kralevo city; Topola city; Karlovitz city and Krusedol monastery.
58. Scînteia, 11 June 1957.
59. Romînia Liberǎ, 11 September 1957.
60. British Legation, Bucharest, Item 1782/14/57, TNA PRO FO 371/1/128953.
61. An Impression of Petru Groza, Item 2776/54, HU OSA 300-60-1, 530/2808 Religion: Other Religions, 1948-1955.
62. The funeral was attended by the following religious leaders: Patriarch Justinian; Nicolae Colan, Metropolitan of Transylvania; Justin Moisescu, Metropolitan of Moldova and Suceava; Dr. Fr Mueller, Bishop of the Evangelical Church; Aladar Arday, Bishop of the Reformed Church; Dr. Elek Kiss, Unitarian Bishop; Traian Jovanelli, Vicar of the Roman Catholic Archbishopric in Bucharest; Gheorghe Argay, Lutheran Bishop; Dr. Moses Rozen, Chief Rabbi; and Iacub Mehmet, the Mufti.
63. Romînia Liberǎ, 10 January 1958.
64. British Legation, Bucharest, Item 1015/11/58, LPA, CECFR, OC File 158.
65. On 20 March 1958, Justinian received Dr. Joseph Plojhar, Minister of Health from Czechoslovakia, who was introduced by Dr. Voinea Marinescu, the Romanian Minister of Health. The main theme of discussions was the position of the Catholic Church in Czechoslovakia.
66. N. Cazacu, " Vizite primite de Prea Fericitul Patriarh Justinian, " BOR, 1958, 7-8, 721-4.
67. Interview of the author with Bishop John R. Satterthwaite, 2 February 2006.
68. Report of the Church of England Council on Foreign Relations, 29 March 1957, LPA, Lambeth Conference Papers 196, f. 97.
69. Letter to Archbishop Fisher, 4 March 1957, LPA, Correspondence and Papers of Geoffrey Francis Fisher, Archbishop of Canterbury, 1945-1961, 184, f. 158; Notes of discussion at Council of Lambeth Conference and Proposals for Anglican/Orthodox Discussions, the Bishop of Chichester, 15 November 1957, LPA, CECFR, OC File 158.
70. I. Rǎmureanu, "Direct Talks for Union between the Orthodox and Anglican Churches from 1920 till Today," Romanian Orthodox Church and the Church of England, Bucharest: Biblical and Orthodox Missionary Institute, 1976, 45-66.
71. Herbert Waddams, Interview with Patriarch Justinian, 8 April 1958, LPA, CECFR, OC File 158.
72. Letter from Canon Waddams to Patriarch Justinian, 22 September 1958, LPA, CECFR, OC File 158.
73. Ortodoxia, 1958, 2.
74. Romînia Liberǎ, 10 May 1958.
75. The Romanian delegation was composed of Patriarch Justinian; Metropolitan Justin of Moldavia and Suceava, Metropolitan Vasile of Banat, and Father Simeon Neaga as translator. Simeon Neaga, " Vizita delegaţiei Bisericii Ortodoxe Romîne în Uniunea Sovieticǎ, " BOR, 1958, 7-8, 587.
76. Representatives of the following Orthodox Churches participated in these festivities: the Ecumenical Patriarchate, Alexandria (Patriarch Christophoros), Antioch (Patriarch Alexander III), Georgia (Catholicos-Patriarch Melkisedek III Pkhaladze), Yugoslavia, Romania (Patriarch Justinian), Bulgaria (Patriarch Kiril), Greece, Albania (Primate Metropolitan Paisii), Poland (Primate Metropolitan Macarius), Czechoslovakia and Finland, and Armenian Church (Patriarch Vazgen I).
77. Romînia Liberǎ, 31 May 1958 ; 6 June 1958.
78. Easter Messages by the Patriarchs of Russia and Romania, Item 6191/56, HU OSA 300-60-1, 511/2607 Propaganda Speeches of VIPs Justinian [Patriarch 1955-1956].
79. Between 31 and 5 June, Patriarch Christophoros visited Plumbuita monastery, CiorogârlaSǎmurc ǎseşti, Sinaia, Dragoslavele, Curtea de Argeş. " Inaugurarea unor aşezǎminte bisericeşti construite sau restaurate la centrele patriarhal şi mitropolitan din Bucureşti, " BOR, 1958, 7-8, 684.
80. Father Stoica from Farcaş, captain of ruler Mihai the Brave; Ilarion of Argeş, a friend and advisor of Tudor Vladimirescu; Father Radu apcǎ; Father tefan Cazacu; and Father Neagu Benescu, considered a defender of peasants' rights.
81. " Vizita în ţara noastrǎ a Prea Fericitului Patriarh Hristofor al Alexandriei, " BOR, 1958, 7-8, 632.
82. " Conferinţa Mişcǎrii creştine pentru pace de la Debreţin, " BOR, 1958, 10-11, 1069-72.
83. " Alexandru Ionescu, 'Conferinţa de la Lambeth 1958', " BOR, 1959, 1, 73-98.
84. George Enache, Ortodoxie şi putere politicǎ în România contemporanǎ (Bucharest: Nemira, 2005). 381-400 ; Cristian Vasile, Biserica Ortodoxǎ Românǎ în primul deceniu communist (Bucharest: Curtea Veche, 2005). 257-60.
85. Father Dumitru Stǎniloae was arrested in 1958 and sentenced to five years imprisonment. He was released in 1963. Paul Caravia, Virgiliu Constantinescu, Flori Stǎnescu, The Imprisoned Church, Romania, 1944-1989 (Bucharest: The National Institute for the Study of Totalitarianism, 1999). 367.
86. Professor Theodor M. Popescu was arrested in 1959 and sentenced to fifteen years imprisonment. He was released in 1963. Adrian Nicolae Petcu, " Profesorul Theodor M. Popescu şi regimul communist, " In Consiliul Naţional pentru Studierea Arhivelor Securit ǎţii, Arhivele Securitǎţii, vol. 1, (Bucharest: Pro Historia, 2002). 80-96.
87. Digest 113, 4 March 1961, AKI.
88. Cristian Vasile, " Autoritǎţile comuniste şi problema mânǎstirilor ortodoxe în anii '50,' " In Analele Sighet 8, Anii 1954-1960: Fluxurile şi refluxurile stalinismului, (Bucharest: Fundaţia Academia Civicǎ, 2000). 179-89.
89. Mitropolia Moldovei şi Sucevei, 1958, Sept.-Oct., 694.
90. British Legation, Bucharest, Item 1783/1/59, TNA PRO FO 371/143380.
91. Ibid.
92. Canon Waddams, Romanian attacks on the Church [ 1958];
93. Canon Waddams, Note, 30 December 1958, LPA, CECFR, OC File 158.
94. World Council of Churches, Confidential Memorandum from WA Visser't Hooft to Canon Waddams, 13 January 1959, LPA, CECFR, OC File 158.
95. World Council of Churches, Current Developments in the Eastern European Churches, no. 1, January 1959, AKI.
96. British Legation, Bucharest, Item 1784/11/59, TNA PRO FO 371/143380.
97. Church Has Lost Christian Meaning, Item 640/60, HU OSA 300-60-1, 522/2803, Religion: Obstacles to Worship God, 1951-1965.
98. Translation from "The Rumanian Nation, " Paris, February 1961, LPA, CECFR, OC File 159.
99. State and Religion, Item 4433/59, HU OSA 300-60-1, 522/2803 Religion: Obstacles to Worship God, 1951-1965.
100. The Orthodox Church in Romania, Item 3345/59, HU OSA 300-60-1, 522/2801 Religion: Communist Influenced Religious Movements, 1951-1968.
101. Scînteia Tineretului, 19 September 1959.
102. Digest 97, 7 November 1959, AKI.
103. Scînteia Tineretului, 2 August 1959.
104. Memorandum, Interview between Patriarch Justinian and Reverend John R Satterthwaite, 7 March 1959, LPA, CECFR, OC File 163/1-2; British Legation, Bucharest, Item 1781/3, TNA PRO FO 371/143380.
105. Ibid.
106. Ibid.
107. Ibid.
108. Ibid.
109. British Legation, Bucharest, Item 1783/4/59, TNA PRO FO 371/143380.
110. Extract from a visit of Reverend Satterthwaite to Professor and Mrs. Popescu, 8 March 1959, LPA, CECFR, OC File 163/1-2.
111. Letter from Patriarch Justinian and Archbishop Fischer, 9 March 1959, LPA, CECFR, OC File 163/1-2.
112. It is still unclear if Justinian ever received all the books or if they were confiscated by the Romanian customs. Letter from Reverend Satterthwaite to Patriarch Justinian, 28 July 1959, LPA, CECFR, OC File 163/1-2.
113. Letter from Canon Waddams to Visser't Hooft, 16 March 1959, LPA, CECFR, OC File 163/1-2.
114. Father Seşan attended another session of the Prague Conference between 16 and 19 April 1959 while the Holy Synod issued a message to the World Council of Peace in Stockholm on 8 May 1959. " Conferinţa Mişcǎrii creştine pentru pace de la Praga, " BOR, 1959, 5-6, 456-64.
115. Romînia Liberǎ, 5 August 1959.
116. British Legation, Bucharest, Item 1784/11/59, TNA PRO FO 371/143380.
117. Doreen Berry, Record of Conversation with Mr. Rotunda, Head of the Romanian Desk of the Voice of America, 14 November 1959, BBC WAC, E1/2308/2, Romania A-Z.
118. Lucian N. Leustean, " Between Moscow and London. Romanian Orthodoxy and National Communism, 1960-1965, " Slavonic and East European Review, 85: 3 (2007). 491-522.