Bessarabian deportees carried their faith into Soviet exile, Romanian priest says

Fr Viorel Cojocaru, cultural adviser to the Archdiocese of Chișinău, explained in an interview with Doxa how Bessarabians deported from the province during the Soviet period preserved their faith and hope in God amid suffering.

The priest said that although they were forced to abandon their homes and possessions, many of those deported “travelled with Christ in their arms” through the icons they took with them, bearing witness to “an authentic faith and an extraordinary trust” in the face of tragic circumstances.

“Even in the most difficult times of crisis, they turned directly to divine providence, to God. We see that during the deportations, those who suffered had great trust in God, and it was precisely in this context that they managed to survive.”

Drawing on testimonies from descendants of those who were deported, Fr Cojocaru recalled the ordeal of families forced to leave their homes at very short notice: “They abandoned their dowry chests, their homes and their furniture.”

“They all took their icons with them. So that Christ would not be plundered, they took Him with them,” Fr Viorel Cojocaru said, explaining that by choosing to preserve them, “they managed to…