Martori ai Fericirii. sapte vieti de sfinti romani

This book tells how seven Romanian Greek Catholic bishops lived. They died as the communist state crushed their faith, from 1950 to 1970. In 1948, the state banned their church. It told them to break a pledge long kept. They chose jail over giving up their faith and ties to Rome.

These life stories suit readers drawn to the Christian faith. They also suit those who study Romania’s communist past. They explore vows to serve, care for others, and moral courage. They show the church’s role in schools. They trace how it shaped Romania’s sense of nationhood. It also helped people see the nation’s Latin roots. The bishops saw their bond with the pope as God-given. Their faith did more than help them bear pain. It brought joy as they shared in Christ’s suffering.

Francisca Băltăceanu and Monica Broșteanu draw on a file sent to the Vatican. It sought to have the bishops’ deaths deemed martyrdom: deaths for their faith. Both authors trained in philology, the study of texts and language. Both also trained in theology, the study of God and faith. They have taught Bible studies and worked together to translate the Bible. Broșteanu also studied English, Romanian, Arabic, and Persian. Băltăceanu’s background also includes the study of classical languages.

The book has a text by Mihai Frățilă. He is the Greek Catholic bishop of Bucharest. The cover uses Victor Vasnețov’s study of the Archangel Michael on his knees. He made it for Saint Vladimir’s Cathedral in Kyiv in 1885–1893.