Cluj, Romania, October 1, 2021
Photo: marturisitorii.ro
Yet another name of the 20th-century martyrs and confessors to be considered for canonization by the Romanian Holy Synod in 2025 has been revealed.
The hierarchs of the Metropolis of Cluj, Maramureș and Sălaj of the Romanian Orthodox Church met in Cluj on Monday, September 27, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj. Among the topics on their agenda was to examine materials related to the possible canonization of Fr. Liviu Galaction Munteanu, a martyr who suffered in communist prisons, reports the Metropolis of Cluj.
According to the report, Fr. Liviu suffered for his zeal in teaching the youth about Orthodoxy.
The materials on Fr. Liviu were approved and will be sent on to the Synod of the entire Romanian Church for possible canonization in 2025.
In February, the Romanian Synod announced that it intends to canonize a dozen 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 Cleopa (Ilie), Fr. Dumitru Stăniloae, Elder Gherasim (Iscu), Elder Paisie (Olaru), Elder Dionisie (Ignat), Protosyncellus Fr. Calistrat (Bobu), Fr. Ilarion Felea, Elder Dometie (Manolache), and Serafim (Popescu).
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Fr. Liviu was born on May 16, 1898 in Brasov County. He studied at a local theological high school, and then at the Theological-Pedagogical Institute in Sibiu, and then at the Faculty of Theology in Chernivtsi, where he also obtained a doctorate.
He was ordained to the priesthood on February 17, 1927, and appointed as professor at the Theological Academy in Cluj. He eventually became rector of the school.
In 1958, Fr. Liviu developed a catechetical program for children and adults, for which he was investigated by the Securitate. On May 6, 1959, he was sentenced to eight years of imprisonment for “conspiracy against the social order.”
He died on March 8, 1961, in Aiud Prison as a result of the inhuman treatment to which he was subjected by the communist regime.
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