Easter with Virgil Maxim – Aiud, 1945

Taking advantage of the indecisiveness of the warden, we obtained permission to celebrate Easter with a religious service in the prison yard, at the Nicador’s roadside cross, attended by all the prisoners, including the ordinary prisoners. Only war criminals were not allowed to go out into the yard.

However, with the help of friendly guards, those on the other side of the T who could not see the Liturgy of the Holy Resurrection were placed in cells overlooking the roadside Cross. All our priests, together with the official priests, Orthodox and Greek Catholic, who were still functioning, prepared the Resurrection service.

When Father Ion Marinescu called out: “Come and take the light”, addressed to the “four dawns of the world” with the timbre of a true heavenly herald, everyone’s torches were lit, even those in the cells. The hymn “Christ is risen” broke the morning light and burst like a cry from the dead from the chests of those condemned for their faith in the resurrection of the Romanian nation. Father, acting outside of the typical practice, raised the Holy Cross to the Cellular.

– “Christ is risen for you as He is for us!”

– “Indeed, He is risen”, the souls of these suffering brothers broke out with one voice; they now knew the power of the true God, who would be their support, their hope, their consolation, their consolation and their blessing when, in their conscience, their suffering became expiatory and redeeming.

(Virgil Maxim – Hymn for the Cross Carried)