Fr. Nicolae Steinhardt (en)

How I met Steinhardt

I met Nicu Steinhardt in Jilava. He writes in “The Diary of Happiness”, he has a chapter called “Cell 13. Jilava”. There, in his kindness, he tells how he met me. In his holiness, Steinhardt only mentions what I gave him, how I taught him the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom – a liturgy I also learned in prison, along with the Latin, Catholic Mass. I had also learnt these liturgies in Jilava, 3-4 years before I met Steinhardt. There was an infirmary where the Catholic Bishop Chertes and my friend Matei Boila were. Bishop Chertes used to transmit these […]

Plan of measures in the investigation file on “Ortodoxul” (28 February 1966)

Plan of measures in the “Ortodoxul” file / Nicu Steinhardt, suspected of subversive activities. 302/1/ON-28.II.1966 [Resolution]: In addition to the manuscript, his hostile activities also include the question of the book trade, for which he can be held responsible by the militia. 1.03.1966

Note of the informer “Marin Oltescu” on Nicu Steinhardt (16 November 1966)

Note of the informer “Marin Oltescu” on Nicu Steinhardt. Received: Lt.-maj. Stănescu St. Source: House “Marin Oltescu”: “Polar” Date: 16.XI.1966

Note of the informer “Adrian Cozmescu” on the knowledge of Nicu Steinhardt (December 30, 1970)

1970 December 30. Note of the informer “Adrian Cozmescu” on Nicu Steinhardt’s knowledge. State Security Council ISMB Top Secret Unique spec. 126/I.A./30.XII.1970 Note Nicu Steinhardt was ill on 26-28 December 1970, he had a bowel attack which came back after a relatively long time, apparently a recurrence of the old intestinal tuberculosis. He did not consult a doctor this time, but gave himself strong painkillers, which proved effective. He fears that the Godhead has turned His face away from him because of his alleged serious sins, leaving him prey to periodic illnesses and sufferings, either in the form of serious […]

Summary note on the work “The Diary of Happiness” by Nicu Steinhardt (28 November 1972)

Ministry of the Interior Inspectorate of Bucharest – Securitate 10/C.I./28.Nov.1972 Top Secret Spec. No. 2 Summary of the work entitled The Diary of Happiness by Nicu Steinhardt On 30.X.1972, thanks to the information resources of Directorate I, we came into possession of a photocopy of the work entitled “The Diary of Happiness”, written by Steinhardt Nicu Aureliu, containing 532 typewritten pages. Treating Christianity as the only faith that can bring happiness to a person, the author, among other things, slanders socialist society; defends the Legionary organisation; comments hostilely on the way the trials of political prisoners were judged and on […]

Anonymous denunciation of Nicu Steinhardt’s “suspicious” activity (10 December 1972)

10 December 1972. Anonymous denunciation[1] of the “suspicious” activities of Nicu Steinhardt. Connection with Nicu Steinhardt Stan (Dir. I. Vatamaniuc and Popescu) [Resolution:] Comrade Colonel… I request verification measures 10.12.1972 Commander I, a patriotic citizen, bring to your attention the following facts concerning a Romanised Jew who is particularly dangerous. I believe he has been convicted before for gold and political dealings and I see that he has not learned his lesson. It is also known that he has never been married and lives with several young boys, which is known to everyone in the block. Commander, it’s Nicu Steinhardt, […]

Statement by Nicu Steinhardt on the writing and typing of the manuscript of the “Diary of Happiness” (14 December 1972)

14 December 1972. Statement by Nicu Steinhardt on writing and typewriting the manuscript of the “Diary of Happiness”. Statement The undersigned Steinhardt Nicu Aureliu, residing in Bucharest, 3 Ion Ghica Street, son of Oscar and Antoinette, born on 29 July 1912, retired, external collaborator of Univers and Minerva publishing houses, former political prisoner, sentenced in 1960 to 12 years hard labour, of which I served 5 years, released on 3 August 1964, hereby declares the following: On 14 December 1972, I was invited by the militia to the Capital Police Headquarters, where I was informed that I was suspected of […]

Summary note of the informative investigation in the DUI “Scriitorul” on Nicu Aurel Steinhardt (31 July 1982) NETER

31 July 1982. Summary note of the informative investigation in DUI “The Writer” concerning Nicu Aurel Steinhardt. Ministry of the Interior IMB Securitate No. 134/R.I./001623/31.07.1982 Top Secret Spec. No. 1 [Copy No. 2 was sent to Dir. I via the address where DUI is controlled (Mr. Robu I.). Analysis note in DUI “Scriitorul” concerning Steinhardt Nicu Aurel Steinhardt Nicu Aurel is the son of Oscar and Antoinette, born on 29.07.1912 in Bucharest, residing at Ion Ghica str. nr. 3, sector 3. He came from a family of wealthy Jewish intellectuals, which enabled him to study law in Bucharest, specialising […]

Note by informer “Arthur” on the effect of the investigation on Nicu Steinhardt (3 April 1973) NETER

Note from informer “Arthur” on the effect of the investigation on Nicu Steinhardt. 121/143/61241 3 April 1973 Top Secret Spec. No. 1 Note I have seen Nicu Steinhardt twice in the last two weeks. The first time he came to see me and, not finding me in the morning, returned in the afternoon. The second time I went to see him. Each time he looked very frightened and crushed. He told me that his house had been searched and that an original manuscript about his life in prison and a typewritten copy of it had been taken from him. A […]

Plan of measures concerning Steinhardt Nicu Aureliu (27 November 1972)

Plan of action in the file of the Public Prosecutor’s Office concerning Nicu Steinhardt, to check whether the manuscript of “The Diary of Happiness” has been read by other people or sent across the border. Ministry of the Interior Bucharest City Inspectorate – Securitate Top Secret Unique Specimen No. 103/A/C.I./27.XI.1972 [Decision:]. Approved, Head of Department, (ss./indescribable) Plan of measures in the file on the intelligence investigation concerning Steinhardt Nicu Aureliu On 24.XI.1972, an information file was opened on Steinhardt Nicu Aureliu, son of Oscar and Antoinette, born on 29.07.1912 in Bucharest, lawyer, retired, residing at 3 Ion Ghica Street, Sector […]

What does Nicolae Steinhardt’s baptism represent?

Whenever I have the opportunity to recall the baptism of Fr. Nicolae Steinhardt, I have the opportunity to recall Divine Providence in that I was an outstretched hand in the name of the Christian Orthodox Church, in the name of the Holy Trinity, and in the name of the former Jew, Fr. Nicolae, to be an outstretched hand to intellectuals and youth, telling them: “Behold, I have known Christ through the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, like Paul on the road to Damascus, for how else can one explain the state of happiness that I experienced immediately after receiving Baptism from […]

The conversion to Christianity of Nicolae Steinhardt

It was towards the end of February 1960, when my trial had already taken place at the Bucharest Military Tribunal and I had been sentenced to 7 years’ imprisonment. I have not yet received the sentence. In the middle of the night, a number of prisoners, blindfolded, were taken in a van from the Uranus Securitate to Jilava Prison. The moment of reception and passing through the gate was important. Here, too, I enter the main gate, through which I have the good fortune to pass for the second time (in prison). The first time was in 1949, and now […]

“We, the younger ones, were like cups receiving the nectar of this wonderful man’s wisdom”

The period 1953-1956 was one of international political relaxation after Stalin’s death, when the West still hoped that East-West disputes could be negotiated. It was not until October that Hungary tore down the Iron Curtain and the Soviet colossus brought tanks to restore order in Budapest. In Romania, the political prisons, though overcrowded, saw a rapid influx in the autumn after the Hungarian tendency to break out from behind the curtain was stifled. In the dreadful communist prison of Gherla, where I survived, the already precarious diet suddenly got worse. Goiciu, the prison commander, appeared at the count with his […]

Father Steinhardt died watched over by the Securitate

On 29 March 1989, Father Nicolae de la Rohia died in a Baia Mare hospital at the age of 77. Thirty years had passed since he had been sentenced to 13 years of hard labour in the “Pillat-Noica lot” for the crime of “conspiracy against the social order”, an experience that would later give rise to “The Diary of Happiness”, which for many would become the book of his life. That day, Nicolae Steinhardt was to leave Rohia Monastery for Bucharest. On the way to the airport in Baia Mare, he confessed to Father Mina Dobzeu, who was accompanying him: […]

“What I owe to Christ!”

There is a prayer in Jewish ritual that consists of a syllable of thanksgiving to God for all the blessings bestowed upon His people Israel. As a refrain, or as an interjection after each gift mentioned, there are the words dai lanu, which means: enough for us. If it were only that the Lord brought us out of the land of Egypt, it would be enough to bless Him and bring Him glory. If only He had turned the sea into dry land, it would be enough to praise and thank Him. If only He had fed us in the […]

Back to Jilava

The van took us slowly and hurriedly from Malmaison to Jilava before noon. We get out: Fort 13. We are greeted by Lieutenant Ștefan, with the face of a primate, of an anthropoid, the gestures and the look of a prison colony sergeant in a film noir. He takes great pleasure in it, playing his role in slow motion, like a gambler spinning his cards. We spend the rest of the day in a small, unimaginably filthy quarantine cell, the doors unopened. In the evening we are transferred to the cave, a huge, dark, smelly cave which, although it is […]