Asistența religioasă în armata română în prima jumătate a secolului al XX-lea
Religious service in the romanian army in the first half of the 20th century

Summary/Abstract: Priests were present in the Romanian army for centuries. The first official regulation regarding the activity of priests in the Romanian army dates back to 1870, when the "Regulations for the Military Priests" were issued. After World War I the activity of military priests was grounded on modern criteria and the Military Bishopric was founded. The activity of the military clergy was regulated by the "Law regarding the Organization of Military Clergy" of 1921 and the "Law on the Organization of Military Clergy" of 1937. The laws not only stipulated the duties of the military clergy in the Romanian army, but also set a wide frame for ecumenical manifestation of all creeds. Archive's documents point to the fact that active cooperation existed between the Ministry of Defense and the Ministry of Cults, in order to assign the military priests to units, garrisons or armies, and to fulfill the equirements for religious service of all cults existing in Romania. The activity of military priests seems to be in benefit for all creeds both in times of peace and particularly in crisis situations. In spite of this, the Inspectorate of Military Clergy was dissolved in 1948. Since 1994, action has been taked to restore the institution of military priests in the Romanian army.

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