The hierarchs of the Metropolis of Cluj, Maramureș and Sălaj met last week at the metropolitan residence in Cluj-Napoca. The agenda included the canonization file of Professor Rev. Liviu Galaction Munteanu, a martyr of the communist prisons. The hierarchs approved the local arguments for his canonization in 2025.
His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei chaired the meeting on Monday, Sept. 27, 2021. Participants included Bishop Justin of Maramureș and Sătmar, Bishop Petroniu of Sălaj, Assistant Bishop Benedict of Bistrita and Assistant Bishop Timotei of Satmar.
Father Liviu Galaction Munteanu was born on May 16, 1898, in a family of teachers from Cristian, Braşov County, and was trained as a theologian at Andrei Şaguna High School in Braşov and at the Theological-Pedagogical Institute in Sibiu. He became a doctor of theology at the University of Chernivtsi.
On February 17, 1927, he was ordained a priest by Bishop Nicolae Ivan, who appointed him professor at the Theological Academy in Cluj. Later he was also rector of the institution.
In 1958 he was appointed administrative vicar by Bishop Teofil Herineanu, who had a project to relaunch catechesis ministry in the Diocese of Cluj. Father Liviu Galaction Munteanu drew up a program for the catechesis of children and adults, which brought him to the attention of the Securitate.
He was investigated, and in 1959 he was sentenced to eight years in prison for “conspiracy against the social order.” He was imprisoned in Aiud and Gherla penitentiaries. He died on March 8, 1961, in Aiud, as a result of the inhuman treatment to which he was subjected by the communist regime.
In February, the Holy Synod announced that it intends to canonize several elders and confessors who suffered under communism in 2025 to mark the 140th anniversary of autocephaly and the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Patriarchate.
Several names have been revealed: Elder Cleopas (Ilie), Fr. Dumitru Stăniloae, Elder Gherasim (Iscu), Elder Paisie (Olaru), Elder Dionisie (Ignat), Fr. Calistrat (Bobu), Fr. Ilarion Felea, Elder Dometie (Manolache), and Fr. Serafim (Popescu).
Photo: Cluj Metropolis / Darius Echim
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