Prison Saint

8/10/2019 Prison Saint

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Valeriu GafencuThe Saint of the Prisons of Romania

Valeriu Gafencu is a well-known name in Romania. He was named by Nicolai Steinhardtas the Saint of the prisons !urnalul "ericiri# p. $%%& and there are many people who are

askin' that he be canoni(ed a saint. )"r. Geor'e *alciu speaks about him in his book

*hrist is *allin' +ou-pp. $,-$,$#$,%. Some mistakes# howeer# were made-Valeriu ishis name# not Viorel. /lso# he entered prison at a'e 0. He died in 1ar'u 2cna in $340.51hose who knew him and are still alie hae written their memoirs of him and they hae

been published.

Virgil Maxim writing about Valeriu Gafencu: (Virgil Maxims article is combined from

two boos: !"mn of the #rossbearer and Gafencus boo$ The" are slightl" different

%ersions$&

Valeriu is the son of Vasile 6asil& Gafencu# a 'ood farmer 'ospodar-better word than

farmer7& in San'erei-6alti 6essarabia who had been a deputy in 6essarabia8s *ouncil.He inherited from his parents a natural inclination to fi'ht for the 1ruth and the loe of

nation# to which is added a profound *hristian education which his mother imparted and

implanted in this her offsprin' the brilliant )radiant5 irtues# in whom 9oe oerflowedinto a capacity for sacrifice that is rarely encountered:only in 'reat souls. He had

oerwhelmed een the most stubborn adersaries into humility submissieness&.

;hen 6essarabia was abducted in the Ribbentrop-asi. Valeriu was already a student at the ?niersity of 9aw and=hilosophy# in his first year. Valentina was a student in her last year of hi'h school

)>ndustrial 9yceum5 for 'irls# and hae brou'ht you here so that you will take careof your mother and your sisters. > char'e you with this responsibility before God. > must

'o back amon'st my own. Valeriu was troubled. 1he old one obsered his emotion and

continued@ ;hat would all our brothers say:our 6essarabian brothers:and how would

> be able to raise my eyes to heaen if > and others like me# who until now# hae fou'htfor the maintainin' of the Romanian soul on this land:would flee )run5 from the path of

the oppressor and not take part in the sufferin' which awaits us7

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Valeriu understood the spiritual position of his father and did not try to make him

renounce his decision. He the father7& reali(ed the hei'ht of his son8s7& state of

conscience and su''ested proposed& to him that neither should he deny# as a worthy son#this same faith in God and in the future of his nation.

6etter times will come# but now there is need for sacrifice# added the old man. /ndafter embracin' his son one more time and makin' the si'n of the *ross# he headed

strai'ht for the water and swam across the =rut# into his beloed 6essarabia. / short time

later he was arrested and deported with a 'roup of Romanian 6essarabians beyond thepolar circle where in terrible liin' conditions he died after one year# with his thou'hts on

God# to whom he had entrusted those whom he loed. Someone came who had

miraculously escaped from there& and related these thin's to Valeriu.

Valeriu was arrested in $3A$ in >asi to'ether with a 'roup of students and also youn'er

schoolboys who were members of the 6rotherhood of the *ross# but the inBuiries were

done in such a way that all the others were set free# he bein' the only one condemned to

04 years of hard labor. He was sent to /iud =rison.

)Valeriu8s mother and sisters went back to the farm in San'erei# after the liberation of6essarabia !une $3A$&. His mother and sisters took refu'e in >asi when the soiets# with

the help of the /mericans# turned the fate of the war.5 His mother and sister stayed in >asi

under the care of Valentina# the oldest sister. 9ife was hard for them )1hey were suriin'with difficulty5. Valentina washed the linens of the rich people in >asi# and they lied

under the continuous menace of bein' arrested and deported.

?nder the 'uise of bein' arrested and condemned# a soiet a'ent by the name of1arnoschi infiltrated the life of the youth of the 6rotherhood of the *ross in /iud# who

was een from 6alti )same place VG was from5. Valeriu knew him and eCposed him. 6ut

1arnoschi was so well instructed that he succeeded in winnin' oer a lar'e maDority ofthose imprisoned and castin' doubts on Valeriu re'ardin' his sincerity# accusin' him of

wantin' to be the chief of the 6rotherhood of 1he *ross in /iud# He was determined to

cast aspersions on him for this offence of )callin' him a5 soiet a'ent and eny for hisability to brin' about deni'ration of his person.Valeriu attracts the attention# howeer# of

all that will later see the deception in which they were in when 1arnoshi will show his

true face. /nd# three years later $3AA the first political prisoner who was taken out of

/iud by a soiet commission# that had come especially here )for this5# was 1arnoschi.

>n the refu'e )fli'ht# escape5 that he made from /iud to /lba >ulia between the battle

lines# in one of the soiet tanks which went in front on the hi'hway toward 1urda was1arnoschi# 'irded with a red banner# salutin' with a closed fist and thunderin' forth in

mi'hty oice his ictory. Valeriu no lon'er needed to defend his position.

6etween $3A$ and $3AA# Valeriu Gafencu# to'ether with other 'reat souls 'ifted by God

)with the act of intuition# EEEEEEE)salutarii5 and understandin' of the future5@ Fr. !ud'e

1raian 1rifon# !ud'e on Schian# *onstantine =ascu# and others# traced )mapped5 out a line of

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*hristian and Romanian conduct for all political prisoners:aluable not only for the

period of the /ntonescu dictatorship footnote needed& but also for the whole life of

those imprisoned as a model of the attitude# no matter what form of oppression and typeof domination@ not acceptin' any form of compromise and submission and acceptance of

whateer tortures )torments5# conseBuences in confession of the 1rue God# in their

personal life and in the community of the nation. 1his attitude )better word75 was like abalance that inclined )tilted5 the ictory in our faor on the inisible plane# een if the

isible enemy belieed himself to be the conBueror. )He did not know that throu'h each

one acceptin' the supreme sacrifice# the nation was climbin' up onto a new step of li'htin the kin'dom of God.5

6etween $3AA-$3A when God wanted to separate us in order for each one of us to fulfill

another chapter of His plan# /lmi'hty God had mercy on me to stay to'ether with Valeriuin the same cell for two years alon' with "r. Vasile Ser'hie winter $3AA-A4 to fall# $3AI&

and

was ery youn' and Dust a be'inner:a noice in deeds of conscious spiritual efforts#

many times to the point of losin' 'ood Dud'ment )ma sminti57 "r. Vasile Ser'hie loedme a lot and he felt me like a barometer# puttin' me back a'ain on the spiritual water-line

and he made# with eCceptional peda'o'ical tact# a connectin' brid'e )puntea5 between the

two sta'es of spiritual life:mine and Valeriu8s:knowin' how to lower the apparent

Dumpin' hurdle to a leel > could reach and lie# inwardly and outwardly.

>n our common prayers# > felt like a chick fallen from the nest# tremblin'# with win's Dust

powdered with the down of faith# and > felt Valeriu like )as5 an ea'le soarin' in thehei'hts# dra''in' me alon'# too# behind him.

Valeriu was not a conformist. He broke the forms with boldness of spirit# withoutsacrificin' the 1ruth with personal ima'inin's 'uilty of troddin' underfoot canonical

decisions. >n the in freedom of his spirit all was naturally included in the archetype of

*hrist:


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imposed forms and formalism and which look like defiance addressed to God. 1hat is

why ery few of those who knew him were able at first to understand him.

9ater on# when God 'ae me the Doy of bein' able to 'o more deeply into the spiritual

life# > understood that 'reat spirits throu'h which and in which special 'races work

cannot be Dud'ed on a worldly or een reli'ious leel. 6ut only accordin' to thirst for*hrist# the thirst for unconditional inte'ration in Him# can you partake of a bit of

understandin' of the other spirits. *hrist leadin' you on the same path# but on your own

feet.

Valerius had this freedom of spirit of which the Holy /postle =aul so ama(in'ly speaks

about@ to not Dud'e yourself in what you do# but let *hrist Dud'e you# in the state where it

is not you who works but the 'race works in and throu'h you. His presence anywhere inany 'atherin' that we had amon' us who were spiritually close:decently called

mystics by some and ironically by others:as well as in the midst of those who were

less initiated into spiritual life# he created Doy# respect and sometimes een uneasiness

)anCiety5 or fear.

!oy:because from his mouth you would hear of thin's beyond the insipid dailyproblems. His words took you out of time and made you i'nore the conditions of human

misery. Respect:for the beauty of the 1ruth eCpressed at each one8s leel of

understandin'. Jach one could taste the sweetest part# the most proper to him# from the6ein' of *hrist. Holy fear or uneasiness# for thou'ht of your unfulfillment# the personal

implication in those thin's confessed as truths that condition life itself as eCistence

bestowed by God:)that5 will ask for the seerin'# the tearin' up and death# sacrifice and

permanent sacrifice.

Valeriu personified the *hristian battle which occurs simultaneously )for eeryone5 on

the mountain of suffering the driin' out of the passions:the sta'e of purificationand in the forest of wild beasts# the fi'ht with the spirits:the sta'e of illumination&

and the marsh [bog] of despair# splittin' )clearin'75 it with the arm of the *ross#

consciously carried and also subDectiely accepted# not as I will, but as Thou wilttheunitin' sta'e:perfection&. His presence 'ae win's of confidence to any soul# makin'

one fully aware )of his desire for5 the spiritual hei'hts toward perfection.

;hen the soiet commission came# who were repatriatin' 6essarabians to the ?SSR#Valeriu was called before them. 1he commission asked for Valeriu8s transfer to the Soiet

?nion for his darin' )audacity75 of standin' up a'ainst their inasion# in order to Dud'e

and conict him for insultin' the soiet 'oernment and army. 6ut God wanted to saehim throu'h a representatie of the commission. /s Valeriu narrated# this one man kept

silence and kept lookin' at him the whole time:he classified his file# includin' him

amon' those who cannot be repatriated.

His mother and poor sisters were pursued by the soiet secret serice for seeral years in

order to repatriate them. 2n a sort of eCodus throu'hout the whole country# from one end

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to the other# they were hidin' in the outskirts of towns# in mountain illa'es# thus

escapin' deportation to Siberia.

;hen the times seemed to be Buieter# in $3AI-$3A,# his mother and sisters receied

official permission to isit him at Galda de !os the work colony& and there we also met

them. 1heir isit was obtained with the approal of the =enitentiary and of the localpolice in /iud. Valeriu8s mother was subDected to a lon' interro'ation and was then

obli'ed to wash all the toilets )water closets5 and floors of the militia buildin' in /iud# a

day and a ni'ht without stoppin'# een thou'h she was oer I years old and was weakand ill.

/nd when she saw Valeriu and all of us around her# she was not able to say a sin'le word.

2nly tears were streamin'# while she embraced her son and us# too. Valeriu carried her inhis arms she was small in stature& as you would carry a child# and she was cleain'

)stickin'5 to his breast with the same loe whichK perhaps# Valeriu was comforted at hers

in childhood. His sisters deoured )looked at him full of loe5 him throu'h their eyes

with their loe and he embraced and consoled )caressed# comforted5 them with words oftrust in God# makin' all of us present float as on liin' water to the haen )harbor#

sanctuary5 of holy hopes.

>n our periodic meetin's to discuss a special )particular5 spiritual problem# a word as

the Holy Fesert "athers would say# > could affirm without errin'# readin' the passa'efrom /cts of the /postles# like in 1roas where there were many lights in the upperchamber, where they were gathered together /cts 0@&.

"or each of us# and for all of us to'ether# *hrist was not only an eCterior ideal towardwhich and at which we wanted to arrie at some point. He was our daily life itself# our

eery moment# desirin' inte'ration in Him as a way liin' permanently# not accidental

)by chance5# or Dust occasionally or prooked by a random eent throu'h which or beforewhich we would display a 'reater attention.

1he lies of the Saints as they are presented to us in thePatericonandPhilokaliawereeCcuse my boldness& re-& eCperimented# erified# as bein' possible to attain# not only

mentally# but especially in practical life. 1he characteristic trait of these mystics was

humility# and each one felt in the others their specific trait:the 'ift which God inested

in him:his own 'ift:which was workin' for the 'ood and 'rowth of all in *hrist.

Furin' our spiritual interiews# our elder brother# 1rifan:the oldest one amon' us:

raised the problem# a Buestion on a word subDect& and we tried# each at his own leel#to eCpress the meanin' and possibilities of applyin' it# makin' it a new step in the ascent

toward the peak of the *ross. >f we did not find the optimal solution# we would inoke

help to be enli'htened. /bba# as we sometimes called


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position God had put him in# in front of those in sufferin' and those that who will hae to

know the truth in the battle opened )started5 by these representaties of the nation for the

honorin' of God on earth and receiin' Him in diine 'lory.

/n'hel =apacioc:later# "r. /rsenius&:was one who trod without any doubt in his

mind# the well-trodden path of those who throu'h bodily and spiritual stru''le# attainedto purification and illumination of mind. on Schiauwas able to die and resurrect eery day for *hrist and nation >on >adolide was fierce like

a crusader# climbin' )ascendin'5 the hill of Gol'otha# spillin' his own blood. /nother

would look at each of them as at a mystery# stru''lin' to unrael the meanin' accordin'

to God8s plan# in his mind# reDoicin' that he was 'ien the opportunity to share in thehidden Doys of the wisdom of the world:that which reealed to babes )infants.5

/nd each one of them# all of whom > cannot now enumerate# bore in silence# unknown by

men# but known by God# the sins of this nation# in order to burn them on the altar of

atonement of their own free will.

/nd# Valeriu Gafencu was on fire.

He was burnin'# totally on fire# )within himself5 )la propriu5# before all# like a torch ofli'ht to which and from which each one took his spiritual and bodily power. His words

were spirit bearin'. His 'estures were blessin's and embracin'. His acts# rarely or more

recently noticed and discoered# were complete 'ifts of his bein'.

Valeriu wasn8t offerin' )somethin'5# he offered himself.

His capacity for sacrifice# put in concrete form in the Saior8s words# Whosoever shall

smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will take away

they coat, let him have thy cloak also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go

with him twain.cf. doubted the sincerity )'enuineness5 ofValeriu8s spirituality. >t seemed to me that some of the forms# which clothed his spiritual

life were sometimes artificial and een ostentatious. > reealed the 'uilt of my thou'hts

before him. He listened to me attentielyK when > finished# weepin'# he embraced me# and

prayin' to'ether# he took upon himself all the turbulence# which he had prooked in me.

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> am 'uilty before God for the trouble which > prooked in you. > thank you that you

discerned a 'ap )lack5 which > was truly not conscious of# since not only throu'h the so-

called sin can you mislead )offend5 someone# not only from the thin's on the left side# butalso those on the ri'ht:with the irtues# when they are not done with spiritual sensitiity

)tact5# unto the protection of the thou'hts of your brother who can be offended )misled5

on account of your liberty )freedom5# while you are coninced that you are doin' 'ood)the ri'ht thin'5 > discerned this idea in the epistle of St. =aul to the *orinthians >

*orinthians &. 9ater on# > understood it@ all the Holy "athers made from it a 'uide for

their lies# especially in the monastic communities and the desert.

>t was !uly $3AI. ;e8d be'un to hoe the ineyard a second time. Nicolae Visan and

=aul.Vilescu were two amon' our comrades we all liked ery much for their 'ood

disposition )hi'h spirits5 which they always created whereer they were. 1hey wouldtease each other# without lettin' their Dokes de'enerate into ul'ar or harsh words. 1he

re'ions they came from 'ae sufficient material for funny disputes. Visan was from

2ltenia and Vilescu from =rahoa county. "ootnote needed about these two re'ions.&

2ne day# their arrows became embittered )full of enom5. 1he Dokes de'enerated into

subtle remarks# without addressin' each other directly# and then to direct# addressin' eachother with irony and mockery# endin' with direct insults. ;hat other work does the deil

hae7:to break the peace and friendship between people. 1hey were accusin' each other

of lack of common sense# unconsciousness and other offendin' accusations. 1hediscussion was carried on in a low tone. 1he wind was blowin' and brou'ht fra'ments of

their phrases to the ears of those workin' near them. ;e were embarrassed )disturbed5 for

what had happened and we looked helplessly at each other# not knowin' how to settle the

tension between them. Valeriu was on a nei'hborin' row behind them and heard thewhole dispute between them. ;hen they came to the end of the parcel# Valeriu left his

hoe and went oer to his two comrades and knelt down# with emotion in his oice and

implored them@ =lease# for'ie me# for > heard the words:beautiful as the =salms:which you spoke to one another. ;ith tears on his cheeks# he kissed each one and went

back to work. 1he two fell suddenly into each other8s arms. ;ith tremblin' oices# they

asked for'ieness from all of us.

1hese were the works of the Spirit accomplished throu'h Valeriu in our community# the

holy life of loe between the branches of the


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Valeriu Gafencu# >on >anolide and can cry out@


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Jleonara# and Jli(abeta. ?ntil $3A# we were the happiest. 1he Soiet occupation

destroyed us. "ather was deported to Siberia# where he disappeared without a trace. >

could not find out anythin' about him. He was an ideal father and husband. / correctnessand 'oodness rarely found. n $3AA# was with Valentina and a friend# Neculai 9opsanschi. Valeriu # >on >anolide and

on and on8s arms. >on died in $34.5 ;hen > saw them behind the prison bars > was so moedthat > fainted. /fter > came to and the three of us left# we were standin' in front of the

prison# and Valeriu called out to me@ Nora# Nora# and he be'an to sin' a son' he

composed. "ilm could neer capture what the three of us felt# his sisters# seein' him

standin' there:so 'ood# honest# handsome# and talented# placed )situated5 innocentbehind the bars. /ll of his sufferin' and father8s was only because they loed their

country too much. ;e were blessed with an intelli'ent mother:a 'ood and wisehousewife who tau'ht us to be honorable 'irls and to study well# because in that is our

wealth. So we did. Valentina became a professor. Jleonora became an )assistant in a

asylum# shelter75 and a sin'er in many different choral 'roups after studyin' in theconseratory. Jlisabeth became an en'ineer. Valeriu and father8s prayers helped us. /ll

three of us married ery 'ood men# all who were from 6essarabia and were en'ineers.

>n $3AI Valeriu and other student prisoners were taken to a labor colony Galda de !os#close to /iud# and they were housed in a castle. 1hey worked the 'rape ineyards and

were the only ones takin' care of them. ;e had permission to isit him there# and > had

some eCalted moments durin' those isits. > was there for *hristmas with mama and mysisters# and we were surrounded by so much sublime loe. >was surrounded by sublime

loe. > decorated to'ether with Jlisabeth a *hristmas tree brou'ht by Valeriu. ;e san'

*hristmas carols composed by Valeriu. ;e reDoiced and we cried. 1hen# at Holy =ascha >was there a'ain with him and we participated in the Resurrection in the Galda

community. 1he boys san'# directed by V. n the mornin'#

the priest and the illa'ers offered us an unfor'ettable meal in the church courtyard.

1hen they were taken him to /iud# =itesti# 1ir'u 2cna and we neer saw Valeriu a'ain./fter Galda followed oppression# torture# eCile and death# and we hae wept our whole

life for him# for father and for mother. 7&

!e was arrested with a "oung man+ ,ean Val-ean .onescu$ !e described him in his

memoirs in ))*: "p. &$%

>n $3A$ > was condemed to siC months and one day# to'ether with Valeriu# for

participatin' in the rebellion. Valeriu was an eminent student of the Fept of 9aw and

=hilosophy in >asi# endowed with a superior stock of culture# raised from icon to the altar#

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the li'ht of one of the 'reat Romanians# Jminescu )"ootnote@ Jminescu was Romania8s

'reatest poet5# and othersL.

L;hen we were imprisoned to'ether he would read to us from EEEEEEEEEEEE )Spatial

t8s used a lot5# independent and steadfast )stable5# in the hostility of our times./fter a few months we separatedL.

Valeriu was a pure soul full of 'enuine loe because he was in permanent contact with

diine perfection. >n the shadow of the cross and of *alary# he felt the desire to be near

to !esus *hrist as if he waited for Him to protect and take him to Himself. He understoodin a sublime fashion that the supreme 9aw# which directs the world is 9oe# in the true

sense of the Supreme 1eacher L He is the Saint of the =risons as "ather Nicolai

Steinhart called him.

/uring those "ears until )0) there are some 1recious letters written b" Valeriu to his

mother and sisters+ although the" were censured$ 2ne letter in 1articular+ shows his

understanding of suffering for #hrist:)p. $I-$II5

This letter is dated January 29, 1946:

write you now# with my soul

reconciled with the li'ht of truth.

1oday > receied and read# with the 'reatest ardor of soul# the letter that you sent to me. >

hae reali(e that in the life of our family# somethin' new has interened# somethin' neer

encountered# somethin' unusual )neobisniut5

God has willed that# in the most natural way# to spiritually raise you throu'h the trials you

are liin' throu'h andLslowly# slowlyLto deelop in you the true meanin' of life#which is@ 9oe-*hrist.

> pray from my whole heart# full of loe for you# that you will follow with your hearts and

minds# step by step# word by word# all that > am writin' to you now.

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9ife is nothin' other than that which accustoms and forms men.

hae written to you for many years now from prison. /nd all my letters are pierced withthis same continual threadK the same central truth@ *hrist# eternal life.

?ndoubtedly# most of the time )ca de cele de mai multe ori5# )who75 liin' in the realityof darkness and defiled by sin# )who75 stolen from the whirlpool of life# you hae asked

yourseles@ ;hat is with our precious Valea# why does he always write to us about the

same thin':consciousness of sin# 9oeL*hrist7

> want to be sincere and open# from the fibrous depths of my soul. > hae neer been

under any illusions in re'ard to the way you see my life# especially as you hae lied

throu'h these past years of unrest.

>t is enou'h that you think that > hae lied almost three years# day after day# locked all

day in a cell# alone four days# with a sin'le openin'# the window# and with bars at that.

;ell# fine# throu'h that openin':the window:my iew cannot be strai'ht eCcept into

one direction@ ?p:toward heaen.

>n this lon' period of time# in which > cannot 'o for a walk# eCcept for one and a half

hours a day# > hae not done anythin' eCcept pray# meditate and read.

Very rarely am > able to speak with anyone. 1he material conditions of life in which >

hae lied# were amon' the most difficult.

"rom the first step that > made in my life in prison# > hae asked myself the Buestion@

M;hy was > imprisoned78

;hen > look at my social life and how my relationships were in the world in which >

lied# > was always seen as bein' ery 'ood# an eCample of honest and pure conduct.

6oth in hi'h school and especially in uniersity# where the leel of moral life is at a muchlower ebb# eerybody:professors# collea'ues# and especially my friends:had seen in

me a model of chaste )pure5 life# a type of new man# who maintained a moral life#

abstinent# with complete resoluteness )determination5 and steadfastness.

=olite and correct in attitude# ele'ant in bearin'# 'ood in studies:these most beautiful

Bualities were always bestowed up me. >f > entered into conflict with someone# it wasonly for the truth.

2kay:fine. >f thin's were so# why was > brou'ht to prison# alone# far from the bustle of

the world# far from so many temptations )atitea si atitea5

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> hae 'one throu'h 'reat turmoil. > read a lot# > meditated and een moreL> prayed.

;hat is life7

/fter much frettin'# after eCperiencin' much pain )sorrow75# the cup of sufferin' > drankto the full# came a holy day# in !une $3A%# when > fell onto my knees with my forehead to

the 'round and my heart broken# in sobbin' tears.

"or seeral hours# with complete perseerance )steadfastness5 of soul# > prayed to God to

'rant me li'ht.

/nd# all of a sudden# durin' my ardent prayer# > fell onto my knees with my heart full oftears# with my eyes wet with tears. > sobbed for a lon' time. /t this time > had lost all my

trust in men. > was sufferin' in a dreadful way. > was well aware that > would find in

myself the truth. 6ut why was > sufferin'7

loed.

3o one understood me$

>n the midst of my prolon'ed weepin'# oercome by waes of tears# > be'an to make

prostrations. /nd all of a suddenL/ miracle How 'reat 1hou art# 2 9ord > saw my

whole soul full of sins# the root of all human sins > found in meL2# my# so many sinsL

/nd the eye of my soul# hardened by pride# had not let me see them )before5.

How 'reat is God Seein' all my sins# > felt the need to cry out in a loud oice@ >

renounce them /nd a deep peace# a sublime wae of li'ht and loe settled in my heart/s soon as )imediat cum5 the door was opened# > went out like a storm )tempest5 from my

cell and > went to all those who > knew loed me the most and to those who hated me and

who had sinned the most a'ainst me and > openly confessed to them@ M> am the mostsinful man > am not worthy of the trust of the last man amon' men. > am happy8 /ll of

them were astonished )dumbfounded# ama(ed5# flabber'asted )nonplussed5. Some looked

at me with scorn )contempt5# others looked at me with indifferenceLsome looked at me

with loe# which they themseles were unable to eCplainL2nly one man said to me@ Hedeseres to be kissed

/nd > ran Buickly to my cell# > flun' my head into my pillow andL.> continued to weepLthankin' and 'lorifyin' God.

/t that time my attitude was somethin' completely misunderstood. n these

moments# Nelu8s soul and "eliC8s soul were.

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/h 6ut what can > tell you Neer hae > felt so much loe of the Saiour oerflowin' in

my heart as then.

"rom that time# when > had seen all the sins of my soul:in deed# word or in thou'ht# >

be'an to fi'ht consciously a'ainst sin.

Fo you know how difficult fi'htin' the war a'ainst sin is7

Now > reali(e that God in His boundless loe for me# kept me from committin' thebi''est sins. "or eCample@ ;hile > was in hi'h school# > loed a 'irl. >n my loe > could

hae fallen with her into sin# if the power of God had not interened# who 'ae sufficient

stren'th of soul to the 'irl# who had also loed me ery much and in this way# both of us

were saed from sin.

6ut# my dear ones# here in prison# when > understood the word of the Saiour who said

that een if only you look at a woman and lust after her in your heart# you hae also

committed the sin of fornication# > understood# that > had sinned. 1herefore# in order to beabsoled from this sin# > had to 'o to a priest confessor and confess@ > hae fornicated

)curit5K > hae sinned.

1he thin's that > am confessin' to you now perhaps will make you shudder# but it is my

spiritual duty to make these confessions for my peace and for"our ha11iness. > want youto know that not only here# but een when > was outside# > fou'ht hard a'ainst sin. > must

therefore confess that > also had times when > fell# two in particular:one in *lass 4 and

the other in *lass :which could surely hae been aoided# if > had had a serious

*hristian education# and if > not let my best friends influence me# if > had fou'ht harderwith the weakness of this earthly nature. >t is true that these two falls# due to the nature of

my soul# dedicated to chastity )purity5 and morality# were not fully committed# since the

dis'ust of sin made me ashamed of myself. >f God did not make me ashamed at that timeand then afterwards# > had 'reat remorse and re'rets# neertheless > must reco'ni(e that >

was weak. )sentence not clear5 +ou cannot ima'ine how mistaken and superficial

education is that was 'ien to us in school. ;hen > was in *lass )how old are those inclass 75# a'itated by the problems of youth# > confessed to Fad my thou'hts. /mon' all

my friends# both in hi'h school and later in uniersity# > was always the most frantic

supporter of abstainin' in relations with women. 2f course there were many# the most#

the absolute maDority# who made fun the situation also )75 confessed openly my understandin' of

life. >t was 'reat )Ji bine5. Fad was at his hei'ht. Not only did he understand me# but he

'ae me# hain' a life full of eCperience# the most pure and beautiful counsel.

"rom then on# without a doubt# all my efforts were aimed toward perfect chastity )purity5.

> talked more with dad openly about these thin's at our separation in $3A:the same

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beautiful 'uidance. /t ?niersity > was much loed. 6ut > 'uarded myself and did not fall

into sin. /nd the 'ood God helped me.

Now > hae fallen into prison. Here > hae eCamined my thou'hts. /nd > hae reali(ed

that# een if > haen8t committed these sins in deed# and many others# > hae committed

them in word and especially in thou'ht. 1hus then# in $3A%# > went to a priest and after adeep eCamination of my conscienceK > confessed all the sins of my life.

1he confession unburdened me of them. /nd > continue to take up the fi'ht constantly./nd for man# the fi'ht doesn8t slacken until death. >t is ri'ht that prison keeps me away

from many sins# for eCample# women# but it also has a multitude )of temptations5# and a

multitude of aspects.

1oday > am a happy man. /nd > am een happier# as God has arran'ed it in such a way so

that > confess to you all of my intimate life 2f course# you hae undoubtedly lied in

)terror5# but > am coninced that it is unto you blessedness )happiness5.

1he eCample that > hae 'ien you# with all the eCperience of my life# which > hae

openly put before your eyes# will help you see )look into5 the depth of your souls.

/nd now# > am coninced# that you will lie the Buakin' that > hae lied in makin'

contact with all the sins of your soul. Go immediately to the priest and confess. 1heredoesn8t eCist a 'reater happiness than a man liin' unburdened of his sins throu'h

confession and communion.

6ut without repentance no man can make one step forward. 1hat is why >8m sendin' youGuidebook for *onfession. 1hat is why >8e sent you the book of my intimate life.

>f there is a man who wishes for you 'reater happiness# that one is >. 9isten to the adice >am 'iin' you. /nd then you will know eerythin'# absolutely eerythin'# Nelu will

understand you. 6ecause Nelu8s loe for me and for you surpasses all limits > tell you

these thin's with complete surety.

;hat is therefore 9ife7 >t is a 'ift of God# 'ien to us men# in order to purify our souls of

sin and to prepare ourseles throu'h *hrist# to receie eternal life# eternal blessedness.

;hat is n social life men look at each other and Dud'e each other not accordin' to

what they are in essence# but accordin' to how they appear in form. Fo not be under any

illusions about man. 9oe him +es 9oe him 6ut do not be under any illusions about

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him# because whoeer is under illusions about man suffers bitterness. 2ne alone is

perfect. 2ne alone is 'ood 2ne alone is =ure *hrist-God. /ll men are sinners. / holy

'ift was 'ien us# the pearl of 'reat price@ 9oe. 9ie 9oe./nd now@ ;hat is the 1ruth7

1he 1ruth is the ;ord of God# *hrist. ;e hae the commandment from God to lie intruth# to tear ourseles away from sin# to sacrifice eerythin' for *hrist# for the truth.

2nly thus can we be saed# can we 'ain )obtain# acBuire5 blessedness. ;e find the ;ord

of God written in the Holy 6ible# the 6ook of 6ooks. 9et us draw near with humblehearts to this holy book# in pure faith that God will illumine )enli'hten5 us. /nd we will

receie the li'ht.

> 'ie you complete liberty# with all my intimate confessions# to be read by all my dearones. Jen if they will not fully understand today# a day will come in which they will

understand me and they will reali(e how much 'ood > wished for them# placin' my open

soul before them. 2f course# there are two thin's# which in your innocent souls# you will

be shy to speak about openly. 9et it be known from me therefore@ Not one man is pure#eCcept the 2ne# only *hrist-God. /nd who eer runs from this reality in his own soul is a

liar.

Seek to sincerely draw close to *hrist in peace and leae behind the world with its sins#

+ou will then be happy and you will be much loed by any pure soul. 9oe 9oe9oeO

> am healthyL.

1he letter was censured.&

Marin 3aidim+ one of his closest friends+ has this to sa" about their time in 4iud and

the Galda #olon":pp. AI-A&

Valeriu Gafencu7 /bout him Nicolai Steinhardt said he was the saint of the prisons. >on

>adolide# F. 6acu and all who passed throu'h the prisons wrote about him. /ll only spoke

'ood about him# whether they knew him personally or only heard about him. > knew him

personally# and > confess that all that is said about him is true# without any doubt. He wasa hero-martyr. He did not do one simple heroic act of coura'e in a moment of time but a

continuous heroism each day. He died little by little eery day# always maintainin' a

*hristian stance.

He was 6essarabian from San'erei-6alti. His father was a deputy on the country8s

adisory council which oted on n $3A after the surrenderin' of 6essarabia to the Russians by the


16/46

Russians were headin' toward the ;est. 1hey withdrew with what they could take in a

horse-drawn cart and arried in "a'aras. Valeriu was studyin' 9aw in >asi and was in his

second year when he was arrested. He was condemned to years in prison because heinconenienced )disturbed5 those in power with his ideas. He loed his country with a

passion since he who does not loe those of his own house is worse than a pa'an.

Read# from memory# from the Holy 6ook.& So > met him in /iud in $3A0. "rom thebe'innin' > reali(ed that > found myself before a rare eCample# and > attached myself to

him the first time that > met him. >n my sincere desire for perfection > sou'ht out

friendships with superior men from whom > could spiritually 'ain. ;e were Doined by afriend# >on >adolide# who subseBuently# when we were in the work colony of Galda#

became en'a'ed to one of Valeriu8s sisters.

Valeriu had an enthusiastic nature. He had his head in the clouds. He was not of apractical nature. > neer saw him sew with a needle# knit wool# or wash clothes. He would

tear them into ra's and tatters# but he was spiritually present and had an awakened

conscience. He was a poet by nature. >t is known that poets are on the first step of the

ladder to perfection and under that is the other cate'ories@ heroes# prophets# saints. > readthat somewhere >oan Fucici and it seems true to me. =oets fulfill their destiny

beautifyin' life and upliftin' man. Valeriu een wrote poems. He wrote in white erse 7&and in classical form. ;hen he was at 1ar'u 2cna in prison# like a )tebecist75# > was in

the mines in 6aia-Sprie at the same time. He found out that > was in the iron mines# and

he dedicated a poem to me# which# from one man to another# finally reached me. "rom it >remember only a few lines@

2n my calm forehead# put +our hand

/nd call me 'ently incetisor& by name!ust as +ou called +our friend from the 'rae

=lease# !esus# 'ie me a drop of water.

He had heard that it is dreadfully hot underneath the earth# that you are coered with

perspiration and you are always thirsty and in his compassion he implored God8s mercy

:he asked for me# his friend:for a drop of water.

>on >adolide# who was with him at the hour of death# told me that in 1ar'u 2cna there was

a !ew# ;urmbrand# who conerted to *hristianity due to Valeriu Gafencu )not true5. /nd

he told me that some medicine was 'ien to some of the sick with tuberculosis. /ndValeriu# who was on his death bed# yielded the streptomycin 'ien to him to this !ew. >n

that situation men will clutch at a straw to lie. 6ut he# Valeriu# found sufficient spiritual

resources to be 'enerous. 1his tells us somethin'K it tells us a lot. 9ook at the end of thelife of your 'reat ones and follow their faith. Valeriu showed us the path that leads to

salation@ *hristian loe. 1he loe was an ordinary word spoken to those around him:in

writin' or erbally# in a 'reetin' from 'ood-bye or anythin'.

;hen he entered prison# he was clothed in a suit of Jn'lish material# EEEEEEEE)ernal5.

>t fit him well# but he did not feel comfortable in such stylish clothes anymore and sou'ht

to 'et rid of them. ;e were in the Galda *olony. 2ne day he met a poor man and he came

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to the colony without clothes. He8d 'ien them away. ;hen > asked him where are your

clothes# he answered me with a word from the =atericon# > sent them on ahead# that is#

he 'ae them as alms# in order to find them in heaen when he 'ot there. > reproed him#accusin' him of lack of discernment since his family stru''les in want@ >t is better that

you 'ie them to a sister to make herself a Dacket# but he still thou'ht that he did 'ood#

sayin' that God will take care of them.

/lso at that time# a 'ypsy woman came out onto the road askin' for a match. He reached

into his pocket# and he promised to 'ie her all the chan'e he had if she would throwaway the ci'arette and the whole pack of them and he will crush them with his foot. 1he

'ypsy did it and took the money. He knew that the 'ypsy would buy other ci'arettes with

that money. Neertheless# he was pleased that he tried to damn up )stop5 eil# that maybe

he 'ae that woman somethin' to think about:in re'ard to smokin':that it is a sin.

L?ntil $3A we were taken out of the cells into the fresh air about one hour a day. Step

by step# the time was diminished# until it was $-$4 minutes and there were days in a row

when we weren8t taken out at all. >n the courtyard of the prison was a flowerbed# butwithout any flowers. Some 'rass 'rew there. >t was not taken care of by anyone. >n the

center was a troitsa:a lar'e cared wooden cross:made by made by those whopreceded us and who made it missin' dra'on77# snakes with 'lasses777 1he troitsa

also disappeared one ni'htK the communists smashed it to pieces. ;hat remained# how

can > say# an orphaned flowerbed:of flowers and of the cross. Valeriu# returned from awalk around the flower bed# and brou'ht into the cell a handful of 'rass in which was

found both a dandelion and some pieces of a shepherd8s ba'. ;ith a radiant face# he

showed them to me# sayin'@ 9ook what beautiful flowers > hae brou'ht you. He saw

beauty there where it was not. 2r# perhaps# it was there# but we did not see it. He had theeyes to see it.

Nature is beautiful# indeed# but you must be endowed with some special antennae in orderto receie the hidden mysteries of creation. Valeriu had this capacity of the reception of

beauty from nature# because Valeriu loed nature and nature doesn8t reeal itself eCcept

to those who sincerely loe.

>n the colony of Galda# he would 'et up at an early hour on Sunday# and he would 'o into

the field to 'ather flowers. He would come back with his feet wet with dew and his arms

full of flowers for the church. He would ur'e me to do the same# so > also would 'atherred poppies# but > would feel somewhat embarrassed )awkward5 to 'o with my arms full

of flowers throu'h the illa'e. He:no. He would do this ery naturallyK he did not feel

the least bit awkward )embarrassed5. He did not feel the least bit ridiculous. He himselfwas an element of nature. He was part of the picture.

He was a type of incorri'ible dreamera kind of Fon PuiCote. > heard him often readin'

a paradoC from *erantes@ Run throu'h prisons after freedom. 1he erses referrin' to

the death of Fon PuiCote are fittin' for him@

/nd ># )> cannot find Buote in Jn'lish# but it is somethin' like this@5

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18/46

/nd ># am dyin'# beside an old candle

> will hear Sancho weepin' and the priest@

How could he find room for such a 'reat dream>n this feeble )frail5 and weak body of Fon PuiCote7

He would sin'. )He would sin'5 "redona often# Serenade of Schubert or differentreli'ious hymns@'y the (iver of 'abylon# !od Is With )s#ord of the Powers)75. He

would improise his own melodies# and all were in a minor tone. > neer heard him sin'

worldly son's# it seems that he did not take part in this world.

He read a lot in his life# but now he no lon'er read eCcept for one sin'le book@ the 6ible#

and that which was in connection with it@ the Philokalia# thePatericon#*ollowing After

+hrist. 2ne could still read in /iud until $3A.& /nd he prayed. >n the colony. He would'o into the ruins of an old abandoned church where there was a hill# in a

EEEEEE)lucenniste5 of the colony. >t did not hae a roof. >t was eCposed to the rain and

bad weather# and he would pray there.

;hen someone would come to the house for him# he would always approach them with

the problems of faith# seekin' to conince each one of the importance of the problem ofsalation. He had told me that een if we do not succeed in chan'in' the world# at least

we awakened their interest# so let us make it so that they no lon'er feel 'ood when they

do eilK let us create problemsK let us put Buestions before themK let us chan'e theirsteps.

He made a case of the consciousness of sin because there were many who considered

only fornication# theft and crime to be sins# and many did not reco'ni(e themseles as

sinnersthinkin' either they had none or minimi(ed them as not bein' important. 1hey

had lost from iew that they and others are and perhaps 'reater than these# how pridefulthey could be@ !od is against the proud and gives grace to the humble.1he man who putson airs the 9ord will leae to himself and# without Him# he will reali(e that he can do

nothin' and then he will cry out to Him.

"rom him Valeriu& > acBuired the habit of tellin' eerythin' to my brothers that > had on

my soul# practicin' what can be called brotherly confession. +onfess your sins one to

another.> cultiated myself in this way at his insti'ation# )his5 moral coura'e.

Valeriu affirmed that there are two paths to salation@ 2ne# normal# aluable for many#

throu'h marria'e# and the 0ndpath# aluable for the few# for those who feel called#

throu'h monasticism. /t first# he tried the first solution# he wanted to marry and proposedto someone# and old friend in freedom# to be en'a'ed. Refusin' acceptance# he resorted

to the 0ndpath@ he owed to become a monk when he was set free. His decision was

enou'h for God and He took him to Himself# he no lon'er had need of other si'ns)proofs# eidence5 of faith from him. He died in prison at 1ar'u 2cna. God 'rant rest to

the ri'hteous.

$


19/46

4ustide 5efa+ who was with him in Pitesti 1rison in )0)+ writes this about those "ears:

"pp. &-#%

> met Valeriu Gafencu in $3A3 in =itesti prison# the destination of all students who were

arrested. /t the end of the year# we left to'ether with a 'roup who were sick withtuberculosis to Vacaresti prison on their way to the prison-hospital of 1ar'u 2cna. "rom

amon' approCimately forty students# Valeriu was one of ei'hteen who were admitted

since he was so seriously ill. / blessed occurrence was that > was also numbered amon'them een thou'h > did not hae lun' disease. ;e were not separated until "ebruary $#

$340 when Valeriu passed away.

> knew him closely. > had the chance to be able to speak with him# to take care of him andto know his conception of life# and especially his boundless loe for God and man. "rom

my ery first contact with him# > was deeply moed by his immense 'oodness )kindness5#

which emitted from his whole bein' and especially the li'ht from his blue eyes. He had a

diine presence.

/t his trial# Valeriu8s ciil law professor# /n'elescu# presented on his own initiatie hisdefense# sayin'# >t is a sin that such an element is sent to prison# because society is the

one that loses if he will be taken out of its midst. He is one of the best students > hae had

in all my years of teachin'. He was a handsome boy# with intense blue eyes# way hair# a

hi'h foreheadan outstandin'# all-around pleasant presence. ;ithout his will he had a

lot of youn' women admirers.

He told me the story that when he was imprisoned before his trial# he was informed thatthere was someone to see him. /t that time this ri'ht of prisoners was respected. 1he

communists did away with this almost completely. / youn' 'irl# who he did not know# aswaitin' for him# and# who# due to emotion# could not say a word. >n order to sae thesituation# he pretended that he knew her# askin' her how thin's are at home# thus scrapin'

to'ether a dialo'ue. He asked her to communicate to his family to send him the little

cross which he did not take when he was arrested. ;ithout any hesitation# the 'irl tookthe cross from around her neck with the 'olden chain and offered it to him. He receied it

and up until his death he was neer separated from it.

He succeeded in sain' it# without the chain# from hundreds of searches throu'h which hepassed throu'hout the $$ years in prisons# and at death it was put into his mouth with the

hope that at an eentual disinterment he could possibly be reco'ni(ed. ?nfortunately# this

is no lon'er possible because in the common 'raes# the political prisoners were throwntopsy-tury )si de drept comun5 and by common law7

> will try to paint a modest picture of this friend and brother of mine in the faith. > think >will define a few si'nificant moments from his short and tra'ic eCistence# at least in part#

to show his oerwhelmin' personality. >n $3AI-$3A,# a 'roup of prisoners were sent to

Galda de !os from /iud =rison to care for a ineyard of a proprietor named /lbini. 1his

man had owned a lot of assets# and he solicited the prison to send some political

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20/46

prisoners to care for the ineyard. 6ecause of a drou'ht and material need# the prison

a'reed. 1he prisoners lied in a mansion )castle# says his sister# p. AA5 from sprin' until

late fall when the work ended# bein' symbolically 'uarded by one 'uard. /t theirdeparture to the colony# they were asked for their word of honor that they wouldn8t

escaped and truly no one trampled on his 'ien word. 1hey took care of the 'rape

ineyard from the di''in' in sprin' to the buryin' in fall. >n winter#whenEEEEEEEEEEE)se coceau5 the 'rapes# lads from the illa'e would come at ni'ht and

steal the 'rapes. )Note@ another ersion says it was communist hooli'ans.5 1he prisoners

would be 'ien arms to 'uard the 'rapes at ni'ht. > think it is the only case in the historyof penitentiaries when prisoners receied arms for 'uardin'. 1he Buestion was asked if it

was appropriate for the prisoners to eat the 'rapes.Valeriu was the only one of the

prisoners who neer tasted the 'rapes from the ineyard. He ate only when he would 'o

to work in the illa'e with the peasants who he would help in their different labors.

>n 1ar'u 2cna# when the numbers of the seriously ill 'rew# it was necessary to increase

the care for them. 1wo of the least affected took turns watchin' oer Room A the most

seriously ill wereL. 9ater this was eCtended to Room 4L. 1o'ether with my collea'ue was able to hae lon' discussions with him and to

know him well. /nd ># like his other comrades in sufferin'# were oerwhelmed

)oercome5 by his powerful personality and eCalted )hi'h5 *hristian bearin' that he liedwithout ostentation# which 'reatly influenced the spiritual atmosphere of the whole

sanatorium# een thou'h he was permanently confined to his bed.

>n this room hundreds of the sick died:the maDority of them youn'. > stayed in their

midst and > saw them dyin'. Not one of themabsolutely not one reolted a'ainst his

destiny and een less a'ainst God. 1hey died reconciled# confessin' *hrist

een >on"ilipescu# an old socialists# who claimed to be atheist# only otherwise )sin'urel de

altfel75. /nd all of this was due to the spiritual atmosphere which was mostly attributed toValeriu Gafencu. Room A# in which each one awaited his end# was a temple of prayer# a

temple of the dead. Jach one who would enter into contact with the dyin' was aware of

the dan'er which was in store for him# but faith > God 'ae him stren'th to defeat thatfear without showin' it.

> remember how Valeriu# durin' the ni'ht# when he needed to urinate# would endure until

the orderly on duty was called by others# so as not to bother him# 'ettin' him up fromwhere he was restin'# een thou'h it brou'ht about a stron' discomfort and een pain. So

much spiritual refinement

>n the summer of $34$# alon' with his serious illness he suffered# on top of thathe had

acute appendicitis. 1hey could not operate at the sanatorium because they lacked the

sterile instruments and materials necessary to 'o into the abdomen.


21/46

operation# with a faint oice# he said to the doctor@ Foctor# you operated on me while >

was awake. 1he doctor# surprised# told him to lift up a le' and when he saw that he could

do this# reali(ed that the anaesthesia did not take and that he did operate on him with noanaesthesia. ;ell# sir# why didn8t you tell me7 > would hae 'ien you local anaesthesia

and it wouldn8t hae hurt you. How were you able to endure so much pain7 1his

occurrence much affected those present and a sister furtiely 'ae him a handkerchief#hain' tears in her eyes. / short time after the operation# he was crowded into a kind of

cart with two wheels and Doltin' oer the rocks of the paement# was brou'ht back to the

sanatorium. He confessed to me upon his arrial that the road was awful. He told meneer to be operated on because it is inhuman. > lau'hed and > told him that the 'uilt was

his. He should hae brou'ht to the attention of the medic that he wasn8t anaestheti(ed.

>n the summer of that same year# one of our sufferin' brother# Relu Stefan# if > rememberri'ht# receied from his family many 'rams of streptomycin# salutary medicine at that

time. 1he state of Relu8s health had improed# so out of *hristian loe and eneration for

Valeriu# he decided to 'ie the medicine to him. Valeriu was thankful# and without sayin'

anythin' to anyone# he decided# in his turn# to 'ie it to Richard ;urmbrand# whose stateof illness was still critical# een thou'h Valeriu was Dust as sick. ;ith all our insistence

and medical ar'uments which we brou'ht to him# he refused to chan'e his decision. 1heconseBuence@ ;urmbrand was saed and he died. Jarth shatterin' sacrifice. !reater love

hath no man than he lay down his life for his friends, the Saior says. /nd who was this

for whom he 'ae his life7 / !ew# who hae been a communist# who became a =rotestant.;hy did he keep to makin' this sacrifice in faor of this one and not for others who were

Dust as sick and who were much closer from all points of iew7 =erhaps eCactly for this

reason. No one found out and the mystery )secret5 was taken to the 'rae )tomb5. 1he

'esture# re'ardless# raises him to the ranks of our church fathers.

Furin' that same winter# one afternoon# he had a medical crisis of atriala fibrilatie@ with

all its conseBuences. ;e all consulted and decided to administer a dose of strofantinawith 'lucose# the only maDor )cardiotonic5 which we prescribed. /ll waited for the effect#

but we did not find any modification of the heart8s rhythm# een thou'h the effect of this

medicine is almost instantaneous. *losin' time had come and > was on duty for the ni'ht.;e decided and commonly a'reed to administer another dose after closin'# een thou'h

none of us belieed that he could come out of this crisis. He was a cyanotic7 He kept his

eyes closed# with his hand on his little cross and was probably prayin'. > was coninced

that only a miracle could sae him. /fter administerin' the 0nddose# > put my hand on hispulse and there was still no chan'e. /fter about a half an hour# > was called to another

sick person in the neCt room where > was for $4-0 minutes. ;hen > returned and looked

at him from across the room# > was coninced that he had died. He was no lon'ercyanotic# but pallid like he usually was# and > was afraid that a cadaerous pallor had set

in. > ran and when > took his pulse it was beatin' normal. > could not beliee it but it was

the truth. >t was a miracle. He opened his eyes# and he looked at me smilin'# serene# as ifnothin' happened. > dissoled su'ar in water and 'ae it to him to drink. >t was the only

way > could help his tired heart. ;hen he drank# he looked at me with that uniBue look of

his intense blue eyes# which flickered and he said to me# 1o Him they 'ae 'all# and to

me you 'ie honey7 note@ this rhymes in Romanian&.

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Jerybody loed and respected him. Jen those in the administration were impressed by

this powerful personality. 1hose so-called re-educated did not dare to look him in theeye# mainly because they had not done their duty# )footnote needed5 een thou'h he

would look upon and treat them like all the others# with the same *hristian loe. > had

many discussions with him# freBuently contradictory. > was in the position of a fi'hterwith sword in hand. He was liin' an eCalted *hristian life and had immense loe for his

nei'hbors as well as for his enemies. No sentiment of hate eer entered into his heart. He

coninced me that the most powerful weapon in fi'htin' eil is loe for one8s nei'hbors#but only after > went throu'h my own eCperiences in life# althou'h > was far from liin'

at the leel which only those called can attain. /nd Valeriu was one of these.

Jen thou'h he was seriously sick and always confined to bed# he was present in our life#with our Doys but especially with our sorrows. ;e all found in him wise counsel in our

'reatest moments of natural mental weariness in the fi'ht with eil within and outside

ourseles.

2n the day of "ebruary $# $340# he reposed Buietly# without any terror in the face of

death# with an an'elic serenity. He was conscious until the last moment. He said 'ood-bye to a 'ood part of us after which he fell asleep for eternity. 1hus ended a life which

came to an end much too early# a life which was not offered the usual earthly Doys# but the

sufferin' of bearin' the *ross of *hrist. 2n the other hand# his immeasurable faith wasthe blessedness of Jden# with all the hostile conditions in which he lied. 6ecause of him#

> am coninced# without a doubt# that there is no true happiness )'enuine blessedness5 on

earth eCcept throu'h effort )endeaor# pains5 and prayer to Him ;ho 'ae us the

possibility of salation. /fter the eCtin'uishin' of his life# the whole sanatorium fellunder a profound sadness. Jen those who would mimic the position of re-education

were moed. on >adolide with a meek oice# who he knew had been theclosest to Valeriu# if he had wanted to take somethin' from his thin's that had belon'ed

to him. 1his had neer happened before. He answered that he did not need anythin'K he

was 'riein' too much# hain' Dust lost his most beloed brother in sufferin'. ;hensomebody died# the body was raised from the section into a boC# which sered to

transport all to the 'rae. 1here they were thrown# without a coffin# into a sometimes&

common 'rae. ?ntil the buryin'# the boC was set near the eCterior wall# where there is a

kind of screen. out of rock. / short time after he was taken out of the section# it be'an to

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'ently snow# with bi' snowflakes# which in a short time coered eerythin' with an

immaculate layer# Dust like his pure soul. >t was for the first and the last time in my life

when > had the coniction that > was liin' near a saint. --/ustide 9efa

6lorian /umitrescu writes his memories of Valeriu:)p. ,A-,I5

>t was in the month of awoke in the middle of the ni'ht to the soundof bolts bein' opened that indicate intense actiity. /ll of a sudden# the door was opened#

and in the cell came two colonels# that were two peas in a podwith the same thick

fin'ers and the same enormous necks. 1hey were accompanied by the Dailor# and it was

the usual scenario. scene# which also was the be'innin' of the inhuman searches of thecells. 1raian =opescu# 2ctaian Voinea and were brou'ht in earlier.

;ith hate in their eyes# the colonels addressed us@ So# you want to escape# do you7Voinea8s interention was cate'oric@

>t is a falsification of the 1ruth# heard Gafencu answer@ > want reli'ious assistance# which is 'uaranteed to us by

law.

Hey you# what are you sayin'7 +ou say want us to brin' you a popa )dero'atie forpriest5 into the cell7

+es# > wish for this. >t is my ri'ht.

1his one is a fool

+es# > am a fool for *hrist.

Valeriu was totally at peace within himselfK there was a complete harmony between what

he said and what he did.

;hen the military man announced to us that we did not hae the ri'ht eCcept for one pair

of underwear7 )chiloti5 and one shirt# without a Dacket )oercoat5 or pants# we foundourseles in a different position. Valeriu was preparin' his parcel )packet5 with clothes

and body linen )underclothes75 in order to 'ie them oer to the storehouse# while we

were lookin' for places of hidin' in order to sae our health# because it was cold in thecell. ;hile we were preparin' our parcels without the assistance of the colonels and

military man# Voinea cried out@ ;e must defend ourseles from the criminals. /nd

Valeriu said@ 1he Saior teaches us to 'ie unto *aesar that which is *aesar8s and to

God that which is God8sK therefore > submit myself to the words of !esus. 1he colonels

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affirmed that they took these measures in order to preent an eentual escape# for which

the prisoners were preparin'.

asked Valeriu if he wanted me to ask found out# later on# he was taken to 16* tuberculosis& prison of 1ar'u

2cna# where he carried on a *hristian actiity that is difficult to eBual# een thou'h he

was confined to his bed# and he sealed his life throu'h a sacrifice for one of hisnei'hbors# accordin' to the word of !esus@If a grain of wheat does not fall into the

ground and die, it remaineth alone, but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit &.

'ugene /imitriu+ who was with Valeriu Gafencu in Targiu72cna+ writes:pp. ,,-,&

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LHours on end in the semi-darkness of the room# Valeriu Gafencu would speak in a

whisper to the youth on duty# remindin' them of the )moral5 collapse at =itesti@ God

hae mercy on us# and He brou'ht us to 1ar'u 2cna in order to perform a miraclemoral

re'eneration# the re'ainin' of diine 'race.

/ 6ible 'ot into the Sanatorim

unbeknownest )pe cai nestiute5

which circulated ininstallments. >t was neer discoered. 1he officer had his antenna out in the interior# andhe could not understand the sudden chan'e for the better of the bandits. *oered oer

by the medical profession# Fr. 6anu would stand at the head of the bed of one of the sick

and carry on a hi'hly si'nificant )substancial5 discussion. /nd some of us would not be)nu se fereau5. Valeriu Gafencu asserted that the salation of the Romanian nation must

be carried out by the youth alon' with the priests. 1hey must take amon' men the ;ord

of God and face any dan'er unto the supreme sacrifice )of their life5. 1hose who wereresolute to do this after they were freed from prison# at the hei'ht of the communist

terror# they were mercilessly assailed loit& and thrown back into prison. 1he research of

1he =itesti JCperiment had to be seriously broached )tackled5 as a counterwei'ht to the

1he 1ar'u 2cna =henomena where it was proen that men could become saintsL..

/nother sick man who lied an intense *hristian life was Richard ;urmbrand. / !ew# he

became a *hristian durin' the war. "acin' unima'inable risks# he spread the 6ible after$3AA# een in the ranks of the Red army in 6ucharest. *aptured# the pastor stayed in

isolation# was beaten# tortured and finally condemned to many years in prison# until he

came out in $3IA.

;hen > saw him the first time# > shuddered. He was a tall man# rather# a lie skeleton#

whose eyes shot forth like flames. He had a 'reat faith which helped him withstand all

trials )hardships5. > was sure he would not escape. Howeer# the miracle happened of

receiin' the streptomycin which recoered his stren'th# so much so that the life was notdrained out of him. Valeriu Gafencu serenely offered it to him# which he had receied in

turn from his 6essarabian friend Victor 9eonida Stratan# who was in obiousimproement. 1he discretion with which Valeriu decided to make the 'esture# sacrificin'

himself# is not met with eCcept in human bein's upon whom oerflows diine 'raceL.

4urelian Gutas writes: "p. /%

>t was a 'loomy eenin' between *hristmas# $3A3# and the New +ear# $34. >t was then

that > saw and embraced as a brother for the first time# 6r. Valeriu# een thou'h# fromwhat others said# we had known each other since the autumn of $3A$. ;e had also known

the path each would traerse throu'h the prisons of Romania.

He was thin from EEEEEEEE)cale afara5 and he was not able to stand on his feet by

himself. His body# which at another time must hae been tall and imposin'# now was like

a broken and leafless tree. >llness and sufferin' had put a heay stamp )seal5 upon hisbody. 1he look in his blue eyes# howeer# shone serenely# full of kindness. ;hoeer had

the understandin' )skill# ability5 could read in them 'reat si'nificanceloe of God and

man.

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>n that eenin'# we escaped from an earthly hell# )note@ He is speakin' about the re-

education that was about to be'in in =itesti =rison.5 with which God sternly reproed usfor our sins# and now# throu'h His mercy# we were headin' to a place where the blows on

us would be a little less painful# yet where illness would reproe us without mercy

throu'h our bodies. >n that epoch and in the conditions of prison# tuberculosis was oftenmerciless. ;e departed from =itesti =enitentiary to the tuberculosis prison# 1ar'u 2cna.

Valeriu was in his ninth year of uninterrupted sufferin' in prison. Not only the kochbacillus# but also rheumatism had ruined his stature that at one time# probably# descended

from le'end )was Buite noble75 Jen thou'h he was the most seriously ill amon'st

usso sick that it was only with 'reat difficulty that he could walk# only by bein'

supported under both arms by two of his brothers in sufferin'# he smiled the most andwas the most calm of all of us. He would neer utter een a word of dissatisfaction.

?nri'hteousness and hate# which would oerflow oer us# would melt before the

immeasurable loe that radiated from him ceaselessly. >n certain moments# in the course

of a day# in his bed of sufferin'# Valeriu would keep his eyes closed and his handsto'ether on his chest. ;e knew then that Valeriu was prayin'# not so much for himself#

but for us# the others# and also for the whole Romanian nation# for the ictory of*hristianity in the world and for the whole of humanity. 1hen# those who would find

themseles near him# in a natural impulse of respectK would abstain from anythin' that

could bother him.

/fter > arried at 16* 1ar'u 2cna =enitentiary# > had the 'reat honor of stayin' in the

same room with Valeriu Gafencu. >t was the room where the seriously ill were. "our were

confined bed# and the other two# more EEEEEEE)ali(i5# would endeaor# with ourphysical and spiritual stren'th# to be of help to the other four. 1hen# in the lon' eenin's

and ni'hts of winter# Valeriu would call us neCt to him# in order to eCchan'e thou'htsabout our *hristian conscience. 2n one such eenin' he asked me the most profound andessential Buestion# that was a 'ift that marked the rest of my life@ ;hat do you think is

the fundamental purpose of life7 > tried hard to formulate the richest answer in content#

but > think > did not succeed in renderin' the core of the truth. Valeriu8s answer was@ Q>consider the chief aim of our life must be a permanent preparation for the day of the

*hristian resurrection# when men and nations will present themseles before the supreme

Dud'ment# with their 'ood deeds and their sins# resultin' in the occupyin' of his proper

place in the spiritual stratification of heaen.8 =erhaps > had heard such thin's or otherssimilar# but they passed oer me like water flows oer stones. 1he way Valeriu eCpressed

them with that thrillin' ibration in his oice and with that heaenly depth in his eyes#

had the effect of spiritual conulsions )a spiritual Dolt5# which transformed my innerreality for the rest of my life. He practiced the prayer of the heart 9ord !esus *hrist#

Son of God# hae mercy on me a sinner.&a hesychastic practice which he took

possession of years before# so that now the prayer was self-moin' without ceasin'# in

the rhythm of the beatin' of his heart.

1he time that elapsed has stren'thened my coniction that neer hae > met since then a

*hristian personality so powerfully deeloped in both ertical senses@ in hei'ht and# at

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the same time# in depth. His concern for *hristian salation eCceeded by far his own

person and een Romania and Romanian )culture57. He was deeply interested in the

*hristian flowerin' of 2rthodoCy and he would think constantly upon the final destiny ofman. He would not make reference to the time that had passed or how lon' it will be until

our delierance. > reali(ed that he had encroached upon )defied5 the normal limits of time

and space# liin' in the dimensions of eternity.

>n other prisons# the political prisoners were liBuidated. 1hey were conformin' to the

neer once heard Valeriu complain# althou'h by his

appearance one could read accentuated sufferin'# and in his eyes there would appear tears

of pain when his wounds were bein' dressed# with meticulousness and brotherly loe# bythe prisoner doctors of medicine >on Ghitulescu# Nae "loricel# and /stide 9efa# hours at a

time. "rom strips of torn shirts# we would make banda'es for coerin' the sores# but#because of the lack of necessary medical substances# the strips would stick to the wounds

and cause terrible pain when they were taken off. +ou would not hear any outcry from the

mouth of Valeriu# but after a while# beads of sweat would coer the arch of his forehead.1he doctors obsered that that was the si'n that his patience had reached its limit. 1hen

they would stop and leae him alone for a short time to recoer.

>n those years# $34-$34$# almost all the prisoners of 1ar'u 2cna would stop by Valeriu8sbed Dust for a few minutes# in order to partake of his thou'hts and the diine 'race that

oerflowed upon him. He would preach the faith and the 2rthodoC do'mas of our

Jastern *hristian church# sayin' they are the most authentic and the most uninfluenced)unaffected5 by the spirit of the world.

Valeriu Gafencu# to'ether with his inseparable brother in faith and sufferin'# >on >anolide#created at 1ar'u 2cna a 'enuine spiritual community# to which new men adhered and

adapted themseles. 1he new ones were therefore able to know God more deeply# as well

as the others who bore God in their hearts# but they did not howeer# decipher all His

'randeur. /ll of this was due to these two souls chosen by God /t 1ar'u 2cna waswritten an outstandin' pa'e of *hristian solidarity and harmony between men. >t is the

pa'e of =astor ;urmbrand# a pa'e# which lon' a'o passed the borders of Romania and

became a known fact in numerous circles.

;hen the pastor arried at 1ar'u 2cna# no one knew what his real name was# nor the

stran'e story of his life. /ll considered him a poor man that was liin' out his last days#full of wounds )sores5 produced by tuberculosis 'an'lion and )osoasa5# wounds )sores5

that flowed with pus without cessation. He was brou'ht under the name of Vasile

Geor'escu. 6y his appearance it was eident he was a !ew. ;e knew this much@ that it

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was our *hristian duty to ease )alleiate5 his sufferin's# so that he could end his days in

as much spiritual peace and reconciliation as possible.

/t Valeriu8s ur'in' and under the special care of >on >anolide# we who were under their

spiritual influence# did eerythin' in our power to help a fellow human bein'. ;hy# in

our breasts we een reDoiced that he was not a Romanian in order to draw ni'h with thedili'ence of the merciful Samaritan in the 6ible.

/fter a certain time he confided in >on >anolide# who took care of him# and > found outthat in fact his name was Richard ;urmbrand# that he was a !ew# that he had embraced

the *hristian faith of the =rotestant confession throu'h a conersion EEEEEEEEE)iesita de

comun5# and that before his becomin' a *hristian# he was stron'ly implicated in

under'round communist actiity# hain' as his conspiratie name# Vasile Geor'escu. Hewas arrested and condemned durin' the years of $3%I-$3%3 for ille'al communist

actiity.

Jentually eeryone found out# but that did not at all chan'e our brotherly care for a manfound in terrible sufferin'. 1he difference in reli'ious confessions# of ethnic ori'in and of

past politics# for which so much blood was and is shed# melted into a sincere loe:*hristian# natural# without ostentation# rhetoric or pomp.

Valeriu was confined to his bedK and =astor ;urmbrand likewise was confined to bed# atfirst# in another room. "or many months# they could not see each other# but their thou'hts

would circulate from one to the other# throu'h our intermediary# and the ebb and flow

)tide# flood5 of *hristian loe eneloped him in his )Valeriu8s5 unity# in spite of the

distance.

1he relations of *hristian loe between these two was not reduced to the mere eCchan'e

)chan'e75 of thou'hts# but they were clothed in actual deeds# for as we know#*aithwithout works is dead. !ames 0@0&. 2ne of the prisoners obtained# throu'h eCtraordinary

efforts of his family# a sufficient amount of streptomycin for healin'. His or'anism

meanwhile had stabili(ed into a balance and had re'ained stren'th without antibiotics# He'ae the streptomycin to Valeriu# bein' ery happy that he could prolon' his life.

>n his eCalted loe and *hristian closeness to =astor ;urmbrand# Valeriu considered it

was fittin' that this one be saed from the clutches )Daws5 of death before himself# sincehe was able to sere uniersal *hristianity with 'reater success than he himself.

=rofoundly )deeply5 impressed by this eCalted 'esture of man uneBualed by what wasfound amon'st us# the doctor prisoners respected his will and assumin' the risk of their

punishment that could follow# if the chan'e of destination of the streptomycin should be

discoered# they accepted and administered it in 'reat secret to the pastor.

9ater# when a 'enuine miracle took place# when the dyin' pastor re'ained stren'th# and

could be moed# supported by us# his first wish was for us to take him to the bed of

Valeriu. 1hen met two destinies launched in life with different coordinates# but

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coner'in'. / miraculous occurrence brou'ht them face-to-face# in perfect *hristian

brotherhood and in the common fi'ht for the ictory of the will of God in the world. /fter

a certain number of months# Valeriu was called by the 9ord !esus to Himself. =astor;urmbrand suried the prisons and was een able to depart from the communist world.

His numerous books# articles# sermons spread throu'hout the whole world# bearin'

somethin' from the spirit of 1ar'u 2cna and the seal imprinted upon him by ValeriuGafencu.

/ spiritual sufferin' which the 2rthodoC *hristian prisoners felt# especially 6rotherValeriu# was the absence of the Holy had neer seen before with any who 'ae up their spirit in prison#or in the world.

Not all those who he won for God were able to say the final 'ood-bye to Valeriu. Somewere isolated on upper floors and bein' under lock and key# they could not come down to

the 'round floor. 1he others# howeer# scraped to'ether )assembled5 a ceremony full of

piety and tenderness )melancholy5# bein' ery aware that before us was a phenomena

which surpasses the human and is inscribed in the heaenly sphere of holiness.--/urelien Guta# *raioa#


30/46

conent in 1echir'hiols this what is says7 > made a

'uess.5 Sometimes the atmosphere would become oppressie and )puntile75 amon' the

'roups almost irreocably torn apart. 1hen Valeriu did somethin' that no one else eenconsidered. 2n the day of the leader of the principal aderse 'roup# Fr. Victor 6iris# he

went up to him with his hand eCtended and wished him many years and made a warm

appeal for the recoerin' of a spiritual connection between the 'roups in the spirit of

*hristian loe and understandin'. 6oth Victor 6iris and the others from his 'roup wereama(ed by Valeriu8s 'esture and they considered that it reflected the beneolent attitude

of the entire *hristian 'roup. "or a 'ood while# the relations between the 'roups

improed.

>n that period# at the end of the day# after workin' the earth# in the eenin'# by the li'ht of

a candle or 'as lamp# Valeriu would copy teCts from the =hilokalia and other reli'iouswriters# which he would send outside of prison to a friend or acBuaintance preoccupied

with *hristian problems. > receied a notebook worked by him and >on >anolide.

>n $3A > was arrested# condemned and sent to =itesti prison where Valeriu Gafencu was

also brou'ht. 1here > 'ot to meet him and we eCchan'ed a few words durin' a communal

walk in the courtyard. t seemed to me

that he was emanatin' an unceasin' rier of loe and a brilliant ener'y. >t made me thinkof the aura around St. Seraphim of Saro. He was for me# without a doubt# a charismatic

personality. ;e did not stay in the same cell howeer# as > would hae desired.

1hen the re'ime became hardened. ;alks were suspended. / secret re'ime was

introduced# in which you were not permitted to know your nei'hbors in the cell neCt to

you. > did not see Valeriu in those months. > found out he was in a cell on the same flooras me and that he had 'otten sick with lun' disease because of the cold# hun'er and other

inhuman conditionscharacteristic of the harsh re'ime of eCtermination# that preceded

and was preparin' for the re-education at =itesti. 1he prisoners had to be knocked

down to the 'round# not able to oppose any kind of physical resistance and spiritually to

be as weak as possible.

*onsiderin' that those sick with lun' disease were not able to withstand the tests of re-education# they decided to eacuate them from =itesti =enitentiary and send them to the=enitentiary-Sanatorium 1ar'u-2cna. 1he medic offical of the prison drew up a list# and

at the end of Fecember $3A3# a 'roup was formed of which both Valeriu Gafencu and >

were part. Valeriu was in a serious state. He could barely stand on his feet. ;hile on theroad# een thou'h we were also weak# others supported him and carried his ba''a'e. >n

the police an# with his cheeks EEEEEEEEE)scatoDii5 because of feer# he would talk to us

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about the blessedness )happiness5 in sufferin' for *hrist and like the martyrs of former

times# )we must5 withstand persecutions unleashed by enemies of the faith.

/rriin' at 1ar'u 2cna# he was accommodated in a room with the most seriously ill who

could no lon'er 'et out of bed. 1wo men remained with them in order to help them# to

'ie them food# to wash them# to clean the spittoon# to alleiate their helplessness. 1heatmosphere was dominated by a *hristian spirit which Valeriu imposed simply by his

presence. >n that cell neCt to Valeriu > also cau'ht spiritual win's that > had not had

before. He 'ae me the power to actually reali(e the mystery of deep repentance# which#theoretically# > had known well# for a lon' time. He led me to the prayer of tears that

washes the soul of impurities accumulated oer the years# and he opened to me the road

to rebirth@ metanoia.

1he food at 1ar'u 2cna was better# and the prolon'ed rest in bed# to'ether with a little

medicine# which was administered to him# allowed him to obtain# temporarily# an

improement. /lthou'h he was not yet able to 'et out of bed# his ener'y in preachin' the

;ord of God 'rew. >n the be'innin'# the re'ime was somewhat free in the penitentiary-sanatorium# so that the sick could come to his bedside from other rooms. 1hey would

listen to him# and they would be imbued with the truths that he spoke.


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6ucoina# Geor'e Nitescu and Jmil Sobieschi. 1hrou'h them and others are confirmed

the prophetic words of the 9ord !esus@*or whosoever will save his life shall lose it0 and

whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. *or what is a man profited, if heshall gain the whole world and lose his own soul1 2r what shall a man give in e3change

for his soul1 on >anolide#

one in soul with Valeriu# was able to return to the head of his bed to take care of him.

> would like to now render a confession from that period of somethin' that took place

when > was no lon'er at 1ar'u 2cna# but was shared with me by >on >anolide# when were-met after many years of separation. >on died in $34# so he can not 'ie personal

testimony. > be' you to allow me to render it# as > am able#with fear of conscience@

2ne mornin'# when# as usual# >on came to the bed of Valeriu8s bedside# he found him in

an unusual transfi'ured state. Valeriu related to him the followin'@ Q9ast ni'ht# while >

was stron'ly concentrated in prayer# > felt likeI went out of myself. >t felt like my spirit

left my body throu'h my mouth. 1hen > was raised up aboe myself and > saw my body

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lyin' immobile in bed# and the thin's below me became smaller and smaller. =erhaps >

was taken to heaven# as the /postle =aul says. > felt an indescribable peace and

happiness. 9ater# > re-entered myself# a'ain throu'h the mouth. > am now askin' for yourcounsel of what > should do. Should > ask the 9ord to let me continue in the same state7

/nd was this brou'ht about by the Holy Spirit7 *ould it be a temptation in order to make

me prideful and to make me beliee > was raised there to where it is fittin' only for thosewith special 'race7

/fter they consulted to'ether# they arried at the conclusion that the best is to let thin'shappen by themseles# without makin' any efforts or prayer for this state to be

repeatedL/ccordin' to >on# Valeriu neer a'ain had the same state until his death# which

happened soon after thatL.

/ 'reat Doy for Valeriu was the brin'in' to 1ar'u 2cna the prisoner# the priest# "r. Viorel

1odea# who could administer the Holy Sacrament of *onfession and officiate in the

on >anolide@ > must no lon'er think about

Seta# but about the Holy Vir'in.

1o end# it is fittin' to relate the most si'nificant act which makes Valeriu worthy and

which# alone# could situate him in the band )host5 of those who sacrificed themseles for

*hrist# of the martyrs who did not pursue sain' their earthly life# but their soul.

1he Saior says@ !reater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his

friends!ohn $4@$%&. /nd He Himself# in His 'reat loe# sacrificed Himself for men#seein' in them friends# not serants. 1his was the eCample that Valeriu followed.

)He tells how Valeriu had an appendiC operation while conscious.5 /fter he was brou'ht

back to the penitentiary after his operation# his pulmonary state had deteriorated# and a

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cardiac disease had also cropped up# followed by insufficient ability to breath. Valeriu

was dyin' day by day. 2ne of the other sick prisoners who loed and admired him# Victor

9eonida Stratan# had obtained from his family throu'h a special interention# a packa'ewith streptomycin. Since his condition had improed# he came with the medicine and put

it in the arms of Valeriu# happy that he could sae his life. Valeriu receied it and on the

neCt day he informed Stratan that he had decided to 'ie it to =astor ;urmbrand# becausehe is in the same serious state of health# and sain' him would mean more for the

deelopment of *hristianity. He is a renowned personality with international relations

and a 'reat power of influence. Stratan was an'ry and declared that he did not a'ree.1hen# Valeriu said to him meekly# that from the moment he bestowed the medicine upon

him# it now belon'ed to him and he was free to use if fittin'ly as his conscience ur'ed

him. >ndeed# the medicines were used by =astor ;urmbrand whose life was saed. 1oday

he is the leader of missions for the preachin' of the ;ord of God in the countries stillunder communist rule# or totalitarian# in the whole world. )"ootnote@ Richard ;urmbrand

reposed on "ebruary $,# 0$# a day before the repose date of Valeriu Gafencu# but

perhaps it was "ebruary $# the same day Valeriu reposed# by Romanian time. 1he

ministry he founded# Voice of the slamic rule# such as >ndonesia# Sudan# =akistan# and many others5 on >anolide@

1omorrow > will die. > want to say 'ood-bye to my closest friends. =lease arran'e it sothat they can come# one by one# to me# Buietly.1hen be'an to come one after the other#

discreetly# to his bedside# all those who had loed# respected# and admired him. /nd they

were not few in number. >ndeed# on the day he predicted# he died# sealin' with hissacrifice an eCistence dedicated to the *hristian faith# a hi'h and rare state of theosis. >t

was the day of "ebruary $# $340.

;hen the harshest of the 'uards# 2rban# who was on duty# saw that he had died# he leftthe section and did not return until ery late.


35/46

himself and the stru''le a'ainst the deil# in this situation# was the fi'ht with the

spirit of the world# which made his burden een more difficult. He did not lie a

life limited Dust to prayer and theoretical *hristian conictions# but his life was anactie prayer# transformin' eery moment throu'h his attitude and his deeds.

0& #onfessor:He preached the 2rthodoC *hristian faith# accordin' to the eCample

of the /postles# makin' many w

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