Endurance through culture and faith in Romania’s concentrating system Cover Image

Rezistența prin cultură și credință, în sistemul concentraționar românesc
Endurance through culture and faith in Romania’s concentrating system

Author(s): Ioan Cristinel Teşu
Subject(s): Theology and Religion, Sociology of Religion
Published by: Editura Doxologia
Keywords: Pitești Experiment; reeducation; communist prisons; Valeriu Gafencu; Fr. Justin Pârvu; endurance; prayer;

Summary/Abstract: In the study „Endurance through Culture and Faith in Romania’s Concentrating System” the author describes the way how many prisoners suffered martyrdoms in the communist prisons of Pitești, Aiud, Gherla etc. A life of high intelectual and spiritual virtues was kept alive due to the work of great figures. These individuals were emprisoned because of their anti-communist beliefs. Thus, many of the communist Romanian prisons became great „amphitheatres” of culture and laboratories” of christian holiness. Poetry and prayer were well-known harbours for the prisoners. Some of them, such as: Valeriu Gafencu, known as „The Saint of the prisons”, Fr. Justin Pârvu, Fr. Arsenie Papacioc, Fr. Gheorghe Calciu-Dumitreasa, Grigore Caraza etc. embody great examples of contemporary sainthood.

  • Issue Year: 2017
  • Issue No: 9-12
  • Page Range: 5-24
  • Page Count: 19
  • Language: Romanian