We conclude the publication of the letters addressed to Metropolitan Visarion Puiu – a correspondence which lasted from 1955 to 1963, and which aligned with one of the most difficult periods in the life of Archimandrite Victorin – with two letters from 1961. Afterwards, we present a letter from the first years of his hierarchical service, addressed to Father Ștefan Slevoacă, who later served as a priest in Canada for several years. These letters reveal the realism, but also the hope beyond hope, with which he eventually greeted the difficult pastoral conditions in America. Likewise, they show the delicacy, sensitivity, and gratefulness which he had toward those who supported him in his mission as monk, missionary priest, and later as bishop.
April 2, 1961
approaching Pascha
Your Eminence,
The great feast of the Lord’s Resurrection is drawing near and we know its distance from the days calculated by the yearly calendar. This year, only several days, those of our Lord’s Passion Week, remain, which we hope to spend peacefully and in good health, so that we may rejoice in the joy of the words, “Christ is risen”.
These words can, however, strengthen our faith that even the great passion week, for which there is no calendar, will eventually end with the resurrection into the joy of all our hopes being fulfilled.
With the same filial love toward Your Eminence, I ask You to receive from these faraway regions, the joyful expression of the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Day of Resurrection in Jerusalem, “Christ is risen!”
Archim. Victorin
August 29, 1961
Moundville
Your Eminence,
These days, I was at the monastery in Pennsylvania, but I only remained there a couple days. They sold almost all their printing presses because they stopped their publications due to lack of “labor force” or, more precisely, due to high costs.
I received the letter with the certificate that you sent me and I thank You from all my heart for the care and attention that you have for my material needs. I thank you with the same gratitude as when you sponsored my travel and living expenses for one month, when I went for the first time from Cernăuți to Neamț Monastery.
I think that sponsorship opened the door for me to the monastic life. Now, in whichever town I might find myself in this life lived according to the true sense of the monastic vow of poverty, I personally have never suffered from material privation, nor have I expected any salary or help from the authorities of the Romanian Church, either at home or abroad.
Therefore, even this certificate – in which I see nothing else than Your Eminence’s continual fatherly care – no matter what changes might happen, I don’t envision I will ever use it. If I personally had five dollars, or fifty, or five hundred, … I give them the same direction toward the hardships and needs of others. Even the small donations that I receive from some Romanians here, together with commemoration lists, I send to our projected church house for the Romanian monastics in Jerusalem.
I am not placing the certificate in this envelope so that You will not be shocked to find it in the envelope before reading the letter.
Please forgive me also for my occasionally long delays in responding in writing. I don’t know if I have ever mentioned that my letters sometimes pass through the hands of others here and they get to me later.
All that I desire and ask for from Your Eminence are only Your Eminence’s very helpful prayers and blessings.
Respectfully kissing Your Eminence’s hand,
Archim. Victorin
May 17, 1968
Detroit, MI
Beloved Father Slevoacă,
I am long overdue to respond to your spirited letter which you sent me, together with three articles for the “Faith” periodical. Thank you very much for your spiritual encouragements. It is true that our responsibilities are great before God and before the people; may we have hope, however, not in negligence but in compunction for our weaknesses, that the love of God and of our Savior Jesus Christ will not abandon us.
I am sending you a page from “Faith” with a much-appreciated article of Your Reverence. Another will be published in the Calendar.
I thought I would also be able to go to Romania in June, for the celebration of the anniversary of His Beatitude Patriarch Justinian. But, to my great dismay, it wasn’t possible. But I haven’t lost hope to come later this summer.
Regarding Your Reverence’s visit to America, I repeat that personally I would be overjoyed if you could manage to come, even if for a short visit, or if you would prefer to remain for a longer period and serve in a Romanian parish here. I wouldn’t want to tempt you too much, however, because priestly life here is inexpressibly difficult; true missionary sacrifice in the fullest sense of the word. With a strong will and with help from Divine Grace, even here one can attain spiritual fulfillment and blessedness in Christ.
Today, I also sent several lines to His Beatitude Patriarch Justinian regarding the possibility of Your Reverence coming to America. You have no obligation in the case you wouldn’t be able to come. If you can come, however, then you surely need the approval of His Eminence Metropolitan Justin of Moldavia, and on our end, we can begin the process of obtaining your visa at the American Embassy.
For the anniversary celebrations of His Beatitude, the Reverend Archimandrite Bartolomeu V. Anania is coming from here. He will stay in Bucharest until the end of next month (June 26). If you have the chance to go to Bucharest, you could meet with him.
With the best memories and best well-wishes for your Presbytera, your children, and all Your Reverence’s parishioners.
and brotherly embraces in our Lord,
bishop Victorin
English 
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