His Eminence Bartholomew – a Church’s soldier tested in tough battles

When I first became interested in theology, the only possible source for magazines and some books was the Patriarchate Publishing House. I befriended the “girls” in the warehouse and got the magazines for free. But for books I had to get the permission of the Father Director of the Biblical Mission Institute of the Romanian Orthodox Church. I think that’s when I first saw Father Bartholomew. He intimidated me with his massive stature, his extreme seriousness, almost severity, his strong voice, his pointed way of being. I was very impressed by his retreat to Văratic to study the translation of the Holy Scripture.

I knew that he had rejected proposals to move up in the hierarchy. On the contrary, I was a little sorry when, out of obedience, he accepted to go to Cluj, in an extremely difficult diocese, thinking that he would not be able to finish the work he had started. Time has shown that I was wrong, not only did he continue his work at a brisk pace, but he also did a very good job in administering an extremely difficult archdiocese. He returned to the Cluj of his youthful Romanian student resistance. I could say that it was only from then on that I began to appreciate him more and more. For the decisive and wise way, free of prejudice and inhibition, with which he dealt with very sensitive situations in his diocese. Each of His Eminence’s speeches is a joy of fairness and style. Then there is the way in which he knew how to encourage and surround himself with a number of very capable young people, to whom he gave his confidence, discreetly watching from behind so that they did not stray from the right path, but at the same time allowing them to show their full personality. He knew how to create the best and most lively diocesan publications and a radio station with a remarkable cultural openness. He is what he once called himself, an old elder of the Church, tested in hard battles, scarred by old wounds, but still carrying the sword of justice with a strong mind and a brave heart. He is a man who knows how to set the right accents and who can also stand out for his cultural breadth, which is wider than his purely theological breadth. Together with His Eminence, you can fearlessly take on the difficult and gruelling ecclesiastical battles. He will always know how to cut the Gordian knots.

(Costion Nicolescu – Salt of the Earth – Crossings, Encounters, Accompaniments, Doxologia Publishing House, Iași, 2011, p. 46)