Traian Dorz – father, teacher and spiritual guide of a great multitude of souls

“…of the great enlightened men,
when one has the world,
more than gold to count him,
for he is like the sun.”

When I try to speak about Brother Traian Dorz—about the many qualities of his life as a father, teacher, and spiritual guide to countless souls, as a man who served God faithfully and understood his vocation, remaining steadfast in obedience to the Holy Word of God until the end—it is very difficult for me, knowing my own unworthiness. Yet I attempt it sincerely, seeking to strengthen my own faith by following in his footsteps.

Especially since the 1980s, whenever it was known that Brother Traian would attend a meeting or a wedding, the brothers made every effort to be there. The first time I had the opportunity was at a wedding, accompanied by brothers Aurel Matei, Stefan Judele, Paul Asandei, and others. I was eager to meet him. I expected to see an elegant, distinguished man, as some people like to show themselves to the world. But that was not the case. From a distance, he appeared like any of us—modest, familiar. Yet when you approached him, his penetrating love became apparent in his words and gaze, in his warm, calm, convincing, and powerful manner of expression. You could see his suffering for the Lord etched on his face.

He looked at everyone as he spoke and was always joyful to see new young members taking their covenant in the Work of the Lord. Love thrived in the Work because it was rooted in humility, devotion, and tears. These fostered true relationships of trust and guided us to cultivate authentic love, not to judge others for “lacking love.” Unity in the Work arose naturally from sincerity, obedience, submission, and respect. There was no need to impose it by force, as is often attempted today. Even in Brother Traian’s time, some held beliefs contrary to sound doctrine; they were known as troublemakers, and the brothers were warned to beware of them. Isolated and seeking to disrupt, these individuals attempted to infiltrate assemblies, but the Work remained united because the brethren shared something deeper: sound doctrine, which they followed with humble confidence. Today, however, “unity” often means mixing in various outsiders, drawn away by teachings foreign to the spirit in which the Work of the Lord was born and nurtured.

In his teachings and speeches, Brother Traian frequently referenced the history of our nation, the forefathers, heroes, martyrs, and saints of our ancestral Church, presenting them as models to be followed.

Brother Traian also possessed a remarkable ability to make important decisions on the spur of the moment—decisions that consistently proved wise and inspired as events unfolded.

He was always present wherever challenges arose, especially of a doctrinal nature, strengthening the fronts of the Host. I recall in Bucharest, when the Assembly initially split into three groups. Brother Traian came to clarify matters at Brother Cornel Tonu’s house on Calea Călărași. After each group shared its perspective, Brother Traian, firmly and concisely, reminded us that we needed to be born again. Following that meeting, the Assembly consolidated into one healthy body, where—with the Lord’s help—Bible school and prayer meetings began, and the church grew in both faith and numbers.

At Brother Sabina’s wedding in Călan, my father met Brother Traian and returned home transformed. Though they had spent only a few moments together at the Saturday evening meeting, my father was as happy as a child. His joy extended to accommodating the brothers from Uzdin, Yugoslavia, singing songs of the Order in Serbian, which Brother Traian knew from his wartime service among the Serbs.

The wedding at Vulcana Pândele remains unforgettable. After the evening gathering, when the brothers—Culiță Mihăilă, Davidel Stan, Paul Dincă, Paul Asandei, Viorel Bar, and others—began to cover their instruments, Brother Traian said:

— Stay and play a little longer. We do not know when we will meet again for such beautiful moments. Sleep and rest can wait; these moments are rare.

We sang the beloved songs of the Lord’s Host until dawn. No one felt tired, nor did we notice the night passing swiftly. It was always like that when sitting beside Brother Traian.

At every meeting, he never forgot to express gratitude—directly or indirectly—to local authorities for their leniency in overlooking the forbidden work of the Society of the Lord’s Prayer.

In the summer of 1988, at the Cathedral of Galați, a large Order meeting was held with Brother Traian in attendance. During three key moments of the Holy Mass that morning, several brothers witnessed white flakes falling on Brother Traian’s head, which then crumbled and disappeared. I arrived in the afternoon, listening to a powerful teaching from him that brought tears to the eyes of the congregation. Curious onlookers saw brothers from across the world and wondered what was happening. Brother Petrică Condrea and others helped protect Brother Traian from the pressing crowd.

Upon leaving the cathedral, he encountered the Securitate, who told him:

— Mr. Dorz… stay at home…

In February 1989, I attended the commemoration of Father Losif Trifa in Sibiu with brothers from Bucharest. On Saturday evening, a fraternal council met at Brother Lăpăpăduș’s house. Brothers from around the world brought different concerns. For each, Brother Traian offered wise advice and beautiful exhortations, guiding us to happy resolutions. He spoke of Father Losif, sharing profound truths about his life and work, and concluded by comparing the Host of the Lord to a train passing beneath the triumphal arch:

— May the Lord help us to pass, even limping, but let us hold on to the train.

The next day, at Father Losif’s tomb, shortly after the Assembly began, Brother Traian arrived with a bouquet of flowers, walking with difficulty, assisted by two brothers. He spoke insistently of our duty to attend the commemorations every year, at that sacred tomb, with tears, sorrow, and song. This was his last speech at the tomb of the prophet of our nation.

On the Feast of the Holy Resurrection in 1989, at the invitation of dear brothers and sisters from Bucharest, I visited Brother Traian at his home in Mizieș. He was overjoyed to see us. At the time, Bible study manuals with neo-Protestant tendencies—Romans, Galatians, Students in the Bible—circulated in the country. Brother Traian advised us:

— Leave the Romans and Galatians, leave the Bible Students. Accept nothing in the assemblies foreign to the spirit of the original Host. We have treasures here that others do not possess. So much blood was shed, so much was sacrificed by Father Joseph and all who followed him—they are written in blood… cherish them.

We looked at him with tears. He could hardly speak; he was so tired and ill. Even in bed, his love for the brothers, the joy of reunion, and the warmth of the community gave him the strength to welcome us. We parted in tears. That was the last time I saw him alive. Yet the memory of his warm, penetrating gaze, and those clear, sweet blue eyes created a lasting sense of peace and tranquility. I wished that moment would never end. We would never part…

That was Brother Traian Dorz. That is how I knew him.

The gratitude of all those whose lives he touched was evident at his funeral, where nearly ten thousand brothers accompanied him on his last journey with flowers, tears, and song.

May God help us follow in his footsteps and those of the holy forefathers who sacrificed themselves for the faith and the salvation of others.

Glory to the Lord!

(Testimony of Nicu Tincă – In memory of Traian Dorz. Testimonies 20 years after his passing into eternity, edited by Corneliu Clop, Oastea Domnului Publishing House, Sibiu, 2009, pp. 277-281)