REMEMBRANCE IN TIME - Index of

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Remembrance in Time
Theological Seminar from Odessa. For instance, in the years 1955–1956, respectively 8
and 43 persons filed their cases. The non registered ones were strictly supervised and
ideologically processed by the party and komsomol organisations [21].
On 16 October 1958, the decision was taken to fully clear the monastic system from
Moldavian SSR [22]. In the 1960s, in Moldavian SSR, pulling bells was forbidden, more
than 30 000 crucifixions and crosses were removed from cities, pilgrimages to
monasteries and holy places were banned. On 1 January 1962, 98 churches were
transformed into clubs, gyms, libraries; 67 were demolished. Over one year, in the
Diocese of Chişinău and Moldavia, only 256 churches and a single monastery operated.
The political factor, supported by the one of the security’s structures, managed in a
short while to marginalize and to subject the institutional structures of the Orthodox
Church from SSRM. Moreover, the Soviet Moldavian Orthodox Church’s bishops were
partly changed into useful tools for compromising and closing the monastic abodes.
General situation of the monasteries and of the monastic congregation from
Moldavian SSR after the Second World War
After the Second World War, the number of the monastic establishments was
substantially reduced. In 1945, in the new Soviet Republic, 25 monasteries and
hermitages were registered (16 – of monks and 9 – of nuns) [23]. In 1948, only 22
monasteries operated: in the year 1949 –20, and in 1956 – 15, whereof 7 of monks and 8
of nuns [24]. All monasteries needed repairs, as they had not been maintained for several
years and had suffered from the global conflagration. Even monastic establishments with
good economic situation had no possibilities to make ample repairs, as during war the
construction materials and equipment were scarce [25].
As a consequence of the violent pressures from the central and local authorities, the
number of the monastic-establishment dwellers was substantially reduced. If, in 1947, the
number of the monks and nuns constituted 1642; in 1950 – 1746; in 1952 – 1569; then in
1956 only 311 monks and 1059 nuns remained. The number of the mothers superior was
three times greater than the one of the nuns. One more aspect: most dwellers were aged.
This way, in the year 1952, 51 persons were under 18 years old, 526 – from 19 up to 40
years old, 399 – from 41 to 55 years old, 593 were over 55 years old. As a result of the
Soviet intimidation policy as regards the religious lifestyle, the number of the monastic
newcomers gradually diminished. This way, in the first half of 1957, in the monasteries
only 14 persons entered, inclusively 9 youths (4 lads and 5 lasses) aged between 18 and
26 years old [26]. In ethnic terms, most were Moldavian, fewer Russian, Ukrainian,
Bulgarian, Gagauz. Most dwellers from monastic congregations proceeded from peasants.
In the year 1948, a single monk had secular higher education, one – theological high
education; 7 – secular high education; 1400 – primary education and 233 were illiterate.
According to the Soviet commissioner P.G. Romenski: “The persons who have entered a
monastery for the recent years are mostly local peasants, most Moldavians proceeding
from needy families, culturally and religiously backward to fanaticism; whereof there are
not only elderly and middle-aged people, but also youth and children who enter the
monastery prompted by their parents or, many times, by close relatives (brothers, sisters
etc.), who had become monks or had taken the veil before” [27]. On 23 January 1959, CC
Office of PCM decided: “The Council of Ministers of Moldavian SSR will submit to the
Council of Ministers of USSR the reduction of the number of monasteries throughout