The Romanian Orthodox Church from perspective the political factor (1944–1989)

Based on specialized literature, unpublished historical sources (archive materials), speeches of political leaders of the time, press and legislation of the time, memoirs, etc. the evolution of the Romanian Orthodox Church in the post-war period is analyzed; the international and internal factors, radical changes in the life of the largest ecclesiastical institution in Romania. This article presented the influence of the main ruling party (Romanian Labor Party/ Romanian Communist Party) in the life of the Romanian Orthodox Church. A review is made of the main political and repressive instruments (Ministry/Department of Cults) that influenced the course of religious life under the communist regime. The moderate actions, as well as the radical ones used by the political authorities on religious life, were presented. The political discourse related to the edification of Romanian society was analyzed, identifying in this way the place of the Romanian Orthodox Church. In order to survive the new conditions, hostile to religious cults, the clerical institution had to apply different forms of “coexistence” with the political authorities. Although the legislation of the time provided for religious freedom, the political factor kept a close eye on the religious establishment. In the context of the “edification of the multilaterally developed social site society”, the role of the church in society became increasingly uncertain.