Archbishop Victorin Ursache: a saint among us

We conclude our presentation of the documentary witnesses about Archbishop Victorin by jumping forward to the ninth decade of the previous century. This decade marked the culmination of pressure exerted by the communist authorities at Bucharest upon the gentle bishop, because the latter refused to yield to the former’s attempts to interfere. Therefore, on December 4, 1980, the Secret Service opens “the file of group informative action under the conspirative name Uprooted”, against Archbishop Victorin and his closest collaborators (we are publishing the photograph of this decision). And to have an idea about what the Secret Service could do to destabilize and what methods it used through its external services, we are publishing the transcription and photocopy of a document from July 9, 1985, from this file.

This is only a part of the calvary that Archbishop Victorin needed to endure because he wanted to maintain a canonical relationship with the Romanian Orthodox Church – from here are derived the continuous accusations, until today (!), that he was a communist spy –, refusing, however, any collaboration with the communist authorities, which resulted in the Secret Service launching open warfare against him. These documents are just several exposés of this warfare.

At Your resolute order from telegram no. 00721/HBO on 07/03/1985 regarding the ST. NICHOLAS ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH in NEW YORK, we report:

1.– ST. NICHOLAS ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH in New York is under the jurisdiction of the ROMANIAN ORTHODOX MISSIONARY ARCHDIOCESE IN U.S.A. AND CANADA, led by archbishop VICTORIN URSACHE, canonically subordinate to the ROMANIAN PATRIARCHATE.

In November 1980, this church was abandoned by the former parish priest NICOLAE BIRSAN who, taking a portion of the parishioners’ contributions, founded another parish in the QUEENS neighborhood in NEW YORK, transferring without hierarchical approval to the jurisdiction of the ROMANIAN ORTHODOX EPISCOPATE OF AMERICA, currently led by bishop NATHANIEL POPP, being subordinate to the so-called AMERICAN ORTHODOX CHURCH (the former RUSSIAN METROPOLIA IN AMERICA).

The conflict that arose from this situation, between the leadership of the ROMANIAN ORTHODOX MISSIONARY ARCHDIOCESE IN U.S.A. AND CANADA on the one hand, and the parish Council of ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH on the other hand, worsened following the decision of archbishop VICTORIN URSACHE to name his vicar, archimandrite VASILE VASILACHE, an element known to have a hostile attitude toward our country, as the rector of this parish.

The elections for the new officers of the parish in question, organized on February 10 of this year, were used by VASILE VASILACHE to remove the old parish Council in favor of elements with a hostile attitude toward our country.

These actions figure among the countermeasures that archbishop VICTORIN URSACHE adopts under the guidance of F.B.I. agents to submine the process of gradual unification of the Romanian Orthodox communities in U.S.A. and CANADA, initiated by the ROMANIAN PATRIARCHATE.

The appended materials express the efforts of elements loyal to our country among the parish Council of ST. NICHOLAS CHURCH to prevent it from falling under legionnaire control, simultaneously attempting to induce the taking of firm measures by the leadership of the ROMANIAN PATRIARCHATE against archbishop VICTORIN URSACHE and archimandrite VASILE VASILACHE, who presently adopt a clearly inimical attitude toward S.R. ROMANIA.

To this end, these elements have interceded before CHARLES KRAMER, president of the “COMMITTEE FOR BRINGING NAZI WAR CRIMINALS TO JUSTICE IN U.S.A.”, which, in the name of the respective organization, has appealed both to American judicial authorities and to several religious forums in U.S.A, demanding that measures be taken against NICOLAE CÂRJE and RICHARD GRABOWSKI.

2.– In cooperation with SECTION II and through the possibilities availed of through the RELIGIOUS DEPARTMENT, we will continue to act for:

– Enjoining the leadership of the ROMANIAN PATRIARCHATE to demand expressly of archbishop VICTORIN URSACHE that he take the appropriate canonical measures against archimandrite VASILE VASILACHE, whose activity prejudices the interests both of S.R. ROMANIA and of the ROMANIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH.

– Raising awareness among the Romanian diaspora to enjoin several persons from their midst to send letters, memoirs, and protests against the leadership of the ROMANIAN ORTHODOX MISSIONARY ARCHDIOCESE and the CONFERENCE OF CANONICAL ORTHODOX BISHOPS IN U.S.A., as well as of the JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, through which they express their indignation that the UNITED STATES still permits the dangerous behavior of several members of Nazi groups, including those from ROMANIA, for example NICOLAE CARJA, VASILE VASILACHE, and RICHARD GRABOWSKI.

– Using the power of influence that we avail ourselves of amid the main Jewish organizations in U.S.A., especially at the level of leadership of the “ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE” and “U.S. HOLOCAUST”, to enjoin them to take a public stance against the tolerance shown by American authorities toward the activity of several notorious Nazis, among whom will be those indicated above.

Likewise, the world acclaimed author ELIE WIESER, the “U.S. HOLOCAUST” president, and the renowned American journalist SCOTT ANDERSON will be engaged in the publication of materials on this topic.

– Continuing to orient the attention of CHARLES KREMER toward the neo-fascist and antisemitic activities directed by NICOLAE CARJA, VASILE VASILACHE, and the other elements in their entourage, thus aiming to stimulate him to intensify his efforts to expose and compromise the people in question. In this sense, the sources “GX 21”, “MITREA”, and “DANIEL” will be employed.

– Initiating, through means specific to our work, several combined actions directed at isolating VICTORIN URSACHE and VASILE VASILACHE from the Romanian Orthodox communities in U.S.A. and CANADA, and, ultimately, at removing them from their offices.

– Finalizing the training of the informer “SILVIU” and sending him to U.S.A. with directives from the “VENUS 2” operation to create the necessary conditions that he may assume leadership of “ST. NICHOLAS” parish in NEW YORK.

DEPARTMENT HEAD,