Statement given in the Security Prison (7 June 1948)
Declaration
I, the undersigned, Hieromonk Arsenios Boca, of the Brâncoveanu Monastery, Sâmbăta de Sus-Făgăraș, declare the following:
Q: “When did you join the legionary movement?”
A: I never joined the legionary movement.
Q: “Who did enrol you?”
A: By not enlisting, no one enlisted me.
Q: “If you were a sympathiser?”
A: Neutral and apolitical.
Q: “Which legionnaires did you know?”
A: When I was in Bucharest for my studies, between 1933 and 1938, I saw Captain Codreanu, but I never spoke to him. I knew Pătrașcu, but only because he went to confession in the monastery. He went to confession a few times in 1947. He went again in 1948, but since he lived nearby, he was just a passer-by. I had no political ties with him, only strictly priestly ones. Other ex-legionnaires also came to the monastery, both from the neighbouring peasant communities and from further afield, but we had no political discussions, only spiritual ones. What’s more, after finding out their political situation, I urged them to calm down and lay down their weapons, revenge and other sins. I made them understand that the rulers are ordained from above and that those from below must only receive them.
I also know the lawyer Mateiaș from Făgăraș; he came 3-4 times. The last time he came was on “Spring Friday”, 7 May 1948.
I also know the hieromonk [Cristofor] Dancu, who belonged to the Cernica monastery when I was studying in Bucharest. Victor Dobrin from Arpaș, Gheorghe Apostol, who did some carpentry work for us and we took him in temporarily to see if he could be taken in permanently. Or he was a refugee.
Q: “What was your role and where were you between 6 September 1940 and 25 January 1941?
A: I had returned from the Holy Mountain in Greece at Easter 1940 to the Brâncoveanu Monastery with the ministry of a hieromonk, where I remained.
Q: “So you had a role during the rebellion?”
A: No role.
Q: “What links did you have with the Legionaries from 1941 to 1948?”
A: “The only links I had with the Legionaries were spiritual ones, which are natural between a priest and his faithful. And between us priests (Fr. Gh. Malene and Fr. Uria), the normal ones of colleagues.
Q: “With which leaders of the Legionary Movement were you in contact?
A: Only with Pătrașcu, spiritual links, as I said; I also knew Av. [Virgil] Mateiaș as a friend.
Q: “Who leads the legionary movement in the region?”
A: I have no exact knowledge. I know that Pătrașcu is from Sâmbăta and probably he could be the one in charge.
Q: “How much did you contribute to the movement and when?”
A: I didn’t contribute and I wasn’t asked.
Q: “What clandestine newspapers or pamphlets have you received in recent years?”
A: I did not receive any political ones, but sectarian ones were sent to me, small pamphlets printed in Bucharest, by Adventists.
Q: “Where and in which countries have you travelled and which Romanians have you met in the countries you have travelled?
A: I only went to Greece, to the Holy Mountain, where I met monks of all nations, including Romanians: Theodosius Domnaru, Fr. Antipa Dinescu, Gherontie and others. I also went to the Romanian legation in Thessaloniki. I did not go to Athens. The journey took place in 1939-1940. I returned to the country on 8 June 1940.
Q: “Did you intend to hide in the mountains or not?”
A: I had no thought of hiding in the mountains, but I had thought of retreating to a cell, for which I have the leadership’s permission.
This is my declaration, which I give and sign, Hieromonk Arsenios
7th June 1948
ACNSAS, Information Fund, file 2637, vol. 2, pp. 114-115.
(Extract from “Father Arsenie Boca in the Attention of the Political Police in Romania” by George Enache and Adrian Nicolae Petcu, pages 95-96)