December 13 is dedicated to printers, commemorating their peaceful protest in Bucharest for socio-economic rights and press freedom.
Nearly 600 printing workers in Romania’s capital ceased their activities and marched to the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, joined by other factory workers. Their peaceful demonstration in front of the National Theatre was met with violence as authorities opened fire.
Following orders from Prime Minister Ion I.C. Brătianu, hundreds were arrested and brutally mistreated, with several fatalities and injuries. Cultural and political figures of the time, such as Ioan Slavici, Nicolae Tonitza, and Gala Galaction, strongly condemned the government’s actions.
Despite the repression, the efforts of the printers yielded results. On December 22, 1921, the printing guild became the first in Romania to sign a unified collective contract at the branch level, valid for one and a half years.
Printers’ Day was officially established on December 11, 1968, through Decision No. 2733/1968.
Honouring Metropolitan Saint Dositheus
December 13 also celebrates Saint Dositheus, the Metropolitan of Moldavia, a revered scholar and one of the pioneers of Romanian literature.
Born in Suceava in 1624, he studied at the College of the Three Hierarchs Monastery in Iași and the Orthodox Brotherhood School in Lviv, mastering Greek, Latin, Slavonic, and Polish.
Tonsured as a monk in 1649 at Probota Monastery, he became Bishop of Huși in 1658 and later Metropolitan of Moldavia in 1671.
As Metropolitan, he revised the Old Testament translation by Nicolae Milescu, later included in the Bucharest Bible (1688). Despite political challenges, his scholarly contributions significantly shaped the Romanian literary language and culture.
Canonized by the Romanian Orthodox Church in July 2005, Saint Dositheus is commemorated on December 13, the day of his blessed repose.
This year marks the 400th anniversary of his birth, celebrated through numerous cultural events honouring his legacy as a great scholar and spiritual leader.
Photo: Basilica.ro
