“You have to know, Your Eminence, that to give your bread, in those circumstances, to another, was a sign of total dedication”
One day, from where we were, all the doors (of the prisons Aiud) were opened: many were in bed, others could only be brought in on stretchers. […] And, … only when they opened, during Passion Week, the bean slots. And from a time when they only gave us just some watery soups, it came to the moment when they gave us a big bowl full of fresh roast pork, during Passion Week: What’s this, gentlemen? Are you Romanians? You know very well, all Romanians, that today is Good Friday, so far you have given us some watery soup and now you are tempting us with this.
Take them away! And we didn’t get them! Not even one bowl of that food! At least in my cell. In other cells, I found out, when we made contact, they were smarter and accepted it, but they didn’t eat it then, but later, another day. But it had to be 100% refusal, no compromise.
And after weeks, the doors opened and Commander Christmas appeared, accompanied by a security officer: “What are you staying here? You really like it!”. “What kind of question is this? Look around and let us know what anyone can find pleasurable to stay here!”. “So you don’t like it. Then get out, gentlemen! Why do you stay? Get out!” And he took us out and put us in the community.
And then I met Ananias [Bartholomew]. He… well, he wrote about it. I saw him; he saw me so weak… and he gave me part of his bread, one day, because I worked harder than… others. And he gave me his bread! And I got his bread! And when I came to Justinian [Marina, then Patriarch of the BOR n.n.], he asked me, so that he would know who his servants were. And I told Patriarch Marina how Ananias had offered me his bread: “I said: “You know, Your Beatitude, that to give your bread to someone else in these circumstances is a sign of total devotion. […]
I tried to introduce Ananias (and exchanged cards) to Mircea Malița, my friend. Malița said: “He’s a cultured man, clever, very knowledgeable; and he corresponds. But he fails the main examination. His greatest fault in becoming a patriarch is that his spine is too straight. He doesn’t bend an inch, he’s as stiff as an outlaw. Ceaușescu doesn’t like that”. And I was happy for him and said, “It’s good that he’s like that. And I went and told him and congratulated him. That’s right! I congratulated him for being built that way.
(Pr. Ioan Negruțiu – Access to the Memorial, St. George the Elder Publishing House, Bucharest, 1999, pp. 124-125)