De călăuza sufletelor. Preoții români din fostul District Năsăud în anii Marelui Război
Guides for souls. Romanian priests from the former Năsăud District during the Great War

Summary/Abstract: One of the most important institutions for the Romanians living within the Austro-Hungarian Empire was the church. The evolution of communities during the Great War was largely due to the efforts made by priests. The Hungarian authorities were supported in their dialogue with the Romanian Transylvanians, especially in the traditional rural world, by the priests, representatives of the Church. This presentation aims to emphasize the role the clergy played in the traditional Romanian community during the Great War. The priest accumulates multiple qualities in the world of the village: he combines a spiritual moral authority with a natural-political one, being also a good steward, all these defining him as an example to be followed. The communication between priests and believers became more important during the whole period of the Great War. The priest was always considered the wisest within the community he cared for. The clergy played an essential role in supporting the internal and external front mostly by mobilizing the population. Moreover, the priest held one of the most important functions in the community, always being an observer, but at the same time a mediator between the authorities and the locals, respectively between citizens in general, all throughout the conflict. It was the clergy’s task to prevent divergences, to observe and report possible abuses.

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