Author: Preot Trist – Sad Priest
September 28, 2010
Some priests who have settled here after 1990 are saddened by the impertinence of some of their colleagues, mostly those who came from Romania between 1950 and 1990, those who did not forget the habit of collaborating with the Romanian Government and, in exchange for promises, favours and interest, they strike in all directions, hurting their fellow priests and most importantly, those they pastor. The fact that now, 20 years after the 1989 “revolution”, this group has a new-found yearning to unite under BOR (Romanian Patriarchate), proves clearly that they waited for this precise moment, when the notion of “Diaspora” and “Mother Churches” was being discussed by all Orthodoxy, to show the largest possible support for their side. It is the group of said future “bosses” and they act as if they are already in the positions promised to them in exchange for services rendered. Peace reigned in the Vatra Episcopate and for many years no one imagined the intentions of this tight but quiet group. For this reason, priests with honourable and good intentions also joined the Romanian Vatra, choosing it because they thought they would no longer have to deal with rude and impudent colleagues.
Too many of those who support our subjecting ourselves under BOR and abandoning the OCA (Orthodox Church in America), use lay-pastoral tactics which identify them as belonging to a single category: Profiteers! This is how some in the old country managed to arrive at the top of their “professions” under both the old dictatorship and the actual one. It can be seen from afar that many of you have forgotten Romanian grammar, that you use a restricted/simple vocabulary, and that you left the old country many years ago, leaving others to do the suffering, i.e. those tortured in communist shackles. Where did you stand when Romanians were suffering in the old country? You received your “Green Card” and all the rights of the United States, and this under the sheltering of the Vatra Episcopate. If your Romanian soul had been aching, you would have returned home to at least verbally console those suffering, or you would have militated against the communist system even from here. But no. You preferred anonymity, you made yourselves invisible and unheard, you assured your own well-being by taking and giving information, and all at once, after tens of years, you have a new-found love of Romanians. The communist system has fallen! You contributed to the suffering of the Romanian people here and there, and no one points at you to single you out, yet you still haven’t done enough? Your impertinence is overwhelming! It is time to retire. Let us younger priests forge our future here, honourably and in dignity.
Why didn’t you learn from the Priests who went into Romanian exile up to 1948? They and those with them, gave up everything in order to fight against the communism that overran their country of origin. They wrote in newspapers in exile, they spoke on Voice of America and on Radio Free Europe, they organised the liberation of many political prisoners from Romania through their influence in the countries they resided. Other exilees held the tricolor flag high, becoming renowned in their respective fields, and when they had the opportunity, they used their positions to promote the liberation of their country of origin from under the Soviet yoke.
Unhappily, among those settling in the West after the installation of communism in Romania and until at least 1990, there were also those who were sent or who left with the accord of the government and were used as tools of BOR and the Romanian communist Government, against the Romanian – Americans/ Canadians found here, the majority having anti-communist sentiments. While the exilees and those born from the first generations of Romanians here focussed on how best to help Romania, those who were sent, or those who left with the accord of the Romanian government, lived here very well indeed. They worked here and received salaries here, and from there, for “information” and “services rendered”. After 1990, when all had the right to leave Romania, and not only some, do you know how hard it was initially for us, those without “connections”?
I ask myself : “what gives with many of those who came between 1950 and 1990?” Do you know how many newly arrived priests and their families suffered and still suffer on this North American continent? They left the old country after the supposed “revolution”, they obtained their Green Card with great difficulty given that the status of “refugee” no longer applied, they worked in the lowest of jobs, and they still suffer the consequences of this separation. Yet, not one of these desires to return to the old or new dictatorship. We, who came after 1990 without “connections”, left to become foreigners because, to our shame, even foreigners are closer than “your own”, and here Church is Church, not like in Romania where the Church is the state, and the state the church. Over there it is enough to be someone’s son or nephew, a relative, or someone’s recommendation to get far ahead. It’s terrible, but it is very difficult to be both an honest man and a man with a future in our own country Romania. So, we left … and I believe you understand …
Who wants to still be honest here, does not get involved with Romania. Being Romanian is one thing, and Romania is something else altogether. They dirtied her and very many continue to do so; she has become a Romania in mourning. If you want to help her, help from the outside, from an immaculate place, undirtied, where you can actually do something. If you also want to dirty this oasis in what is left of the Vatra Episcopate, then carry on with Bucharest which you support so much.
How many Romanians have you helped in America, from when they arrived at the airport until now? Many old families that left Romania behind and suffered, are the ones who also help. Who once suffered, continues to suffer along with those still arriving today from Romania. Misery, corruption and suffering continue in the old country, and many honest people continue to leave. These people need help, even if it is nothing other than a kind word and a piece of bread. If we don’t help those here, how can we help those there? If our hearts don’t grieve seeing the suffering of those around us, how can we grieve for others far away? This can only be a facade, lacking any soul! This is only about personal interest and lies! That is the way it was in the old country and the way it still is today. We left the old country also because of this, but we find it here in certain individuals.
We left corruption behind. We want to live in truth! Truth is here! We have re-found ourselves in this place, in this country, in the Vatra Episcopate, and in this divine place, which is the OCA. We could have chosen to be under BOR by joining their Archdiocese here, but we wanted to start afresh, without influence from the old country corrupton where parishes and positions are bought and sold. We have sacrificed too much to be here. We don’t want to dirty ourselves anymore! Nor will we allow others, particularly those with questionable agendas, to dirty us! Leave the Vatra Episcopate continue growing in peace, and as you found her – as part of the OCA! Again we ask you: “Let us younger priests forge our future here, honourably and in dignity.”