On Sunday, anti-communist political prisoners were commemorated at the “Wings” Monument in Piața Presei Libere (Free Press Square), Bucharest.
The memorial event began with the singing of the national anthem and a memorial service officiated by Father Lucian Georgescu, dean of Sector 1 in Bucharest, alongside an assembly of Orthodox clergy.
“On this day, the Romanian State and the Church commemorate all anti-communist political prisoners from the period 1944–1989. This national day of remembrance was officially established by the Romanian Parliament through Law 247 of December 5, 2011,” stated Father Lucian Georgescu.
A Tribute to Those Who Resisted the Communist Regime
“The commemoration we have held at the ‘Wings’ Monument is a natural gesture of gratitude, a manifestation of our appreciation and that of the entire nation for those who dared to resist the communist regime,” Father Georgescu continued.
“As we all know, this regime had an explicitly atheistic component. As a result, many members of the Church were arrested, deprived of freedom, and even lost their lives—more precisely, they sacrificed themselves in the prisons of the communist era.”
He also recalled that among Romania’s anti-communist prisoners are many recently canonized saints of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
State Officials Pay Homage
Following the memorial service, representatives of state institutions laid wreaths in honour of the anti-communist political prisoners who suffered between 1944 and 1989.
The National Day of Anti-Communist Political Prisoners, observed on March 9, coincides with the feast of the Holy 40 Martyrs of Sebaste, drawing a spiritual parallel between their sacrifice and the suffering endured by those who resisted communist oppression.
Photo: Brigada 30 gardă „Mihai Viteazul” / Dănuț Ionuț Moloce
