The blessing of Prince Ghica

I remember that on 5 August 1948 a first group of students was sent to Pitești prison. A few weeks later, another group of students, including myself, was sent to Târgșor prison.

There are two moments that I would like to tell you about: After collecting our luggage from the storeroom, we were allowed to go from cell to cell to say goodbye. I was coming out of my cell when General Petrovicescu called me from downstairs. He invited me into his cell and said that he could not contact all those who were leaving, but through me he wanted to give his blessing to the whole group leaving Aiud. I remember the wish: “May the re-education take hold of you like water does of a goose”. And it came true, that’s how re-education came to us. We knew from Aiud that the prisons of Pitești and Târgșor were intended for students and pupils.

The second moment that has stayed with me over the years was when I was parted from Mr. Ghica. The hustle and bustle of the corridors was over, the doors were closed and I was waiting to be taken out to be chained up for the journey when I heard the bolt being pulled and Mr. Ghica, a tall, erect man in true princely dress, came into the cell and said to me: “My boy, I almost didn’t get to say goodbye to you. I was asleep. Fortunately, Mr. Agapie opened the door for me”. He wished me well and ended by saying: “Remember that you were brought up in the spirit of the Captain. Walk only in the paths of honour! Then he greeted me with the Legionary salute: “Long live the Legion and the Captain!” His outstretched arm seemed to show me the sky. Electrified, I responded with the same salute. Mr. Ghica smiled. I had never seen him like this. Serene, gentle blue eyes surrounded me with sweet, fatherly love, then he embraced me and kissed me on both cheeks. Then I felt a warm tear fall on my face. He kissed me again on the forehead and then, looking up, he said: “May God look after you. May the sword of the archangel be your guardian. Who knows how many you will meet and how many of you will fall in this battle between the forces of good and evil?” He looked transfigured. He turned to the door and walked out.

I have often wondered what Mr. Ghica saw at that moment of our parting in Aiud? And today, as I tell these things, I seem to see him standing in the door of the cell, tall, erect, dignified, and I can feel his warm tear still on my cheek. Throughout the years of the dungeon, the canal, the delta, Prince Ghica’s blessing accompanied me, strengthened me, encouraged me.

(Testimony of Traian Coriciuc – The Innocents’ Prison. Memory as an exercise in forgetting, Vol. I, edited by Constantin Iorgulescu, Ed. Crisserv, Mediaș, 2000, pp. 17-19)