Resurrection celebrated in chains, 1956

During the trial, in my last words, I accused the regime of not respecting human rights. I was immediately given the maximum sentence: ten years.

The lawyer hired by the family appealed and the sentence was reduced to four years.

In prison I was put in the large cell on the city side.

The great week of fasting and prayer came. On the night of the Resurrection I fell asleep. I had a wonderful dream. I was in the middle of a border strip, a wide strip of ploughed, raked, wet earth. I felt in great danger and didn’t know which way to go. Suddenly an angel came down and took my hand and pulled me out of the wet strip.

At that moment someone woke me. It was my bedmate, a young man, Rău, from Vaideeni commune, Vâlcea county, who told me:

– Wake up and hear the resurrection bells ringing proudly!

I had never believed in dreams, but this dream gave me the firm conviction that I would not die in prison, although my friends had also written my epitaph.

On Easter Day, dozens of people sang “Christ is risen” in my cell. The duty officer and the guards swarmed into the cell and shouted at us.

I asked the officer why Christmas and Easter were celebrated in Poland.

I was put in solitary confinement, and from there they took me to death row, after they put chains on my legs.

(Remus Radina – Testament from the morgue)