PATRIARHUL NICODIM MUNTEANU ŞI REGELE MIHAI I AL ROMÂNIEI – „DACĂ A PLECAT EL, EU NU MAI AM NICI UN ROST”
PATRIARCH NICODIM MUNTEANU AND KING MICHAEL I OF ROMANIA – „NOW THAT HE HAS LEFT, I DON’T HAVE A PURPOSE ANYMORE”

Summary/Abstract: The year 1939 represented one of the most important temporal landmarks in the history of Romania and the Romanian Orthodox Church. After two decades of peace and economic, cultural and religious development, Romania was in the eve of other dramatic changes. The constitutional monarchy, to which both the accomplishment of the Great Union and the international prestige of the country were related, was replaced by a royal dictatorship. The Romanian Orthodox Church had a new leader, as Patriarch Nicodim Munteanu took over after Patriarch Miron Cristea had led the institution for 20 years. The new patriarch’s mission was not easy, as it was unfolding in parallel with a series of important and sometimes dramatic events: the beginning of World War II, King Carol II’s abdication, King Michael I’s ascension to the throne, the establishment of the legionary regime and marshal Ion Antonescu’s dictatorship, the events of the 23rd of August 1944, the Soviet occupation, and the gradual establishment of the communist regime. The Romanian post-conflict reality proved that returning to the situation of the interwar period was a utopia, both for the Monarchy and the Church. The Communist Party would not make any concessions in the process of seizure of power. After eliminating its political adversaries, the Royal House and the Church were the only two institutions left of “old” Romania. Between 1945 and 1948, both were subjected to unbelievable pressure, and Patriarch Nicodim Munteanu and King Michael were increasingly on their own. Being aware that they had to work together in order to curb the communists’ actions, the two became very close and supported each other. It was the last lambency of the Byzantine symphony, the end of a symbiotic relationship that had lasted for more than 600 years. When King Michael I was forced to abdicate on the 30th of December 1947, Patriarch Nicodim Munteanu understood it was time for him to leave as well. The old patriarch lived for another two months, 58 days, in a country that had become a People’s Republic.

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