Abstract: During the communist period we have the angelic testimony of Father Hieroschemamonk Paisie Olaru, who did not preach against communism, was not in prison, has not been martyred, but gave a more beneficial testimony, by the fact that by inspiring mercy he showed to the faithful people the way to follow, even helping some of the oppressors not to sin by martyring him, but to do a good deed by leaving him in the monastery. Father Paisie Olaru’s message is a very contemporary one, in line with the most authentic line of our Holy Orthodox Church, exemplified also in this text. Father Paisie Olaru’s special gift of speaking and transmitting to people teachings useful for the soul, made him loved and at the same time a spiritual father with authority and discernment.
În perioada comunistă avem mărturia îngerească a Părintelui ieroschimonah Paisie Olaru, care nu a ținut predici contra comunismului, nu a fost în închisoare, nu a fost martirizat, însă a dat o mărturie mai benefică, prin faptul că inspirând milă a arătat poporului credincios calea de urmat, ajutând și pe unii dintre opresori să nu păcătuiască, mucenicindu-l, ci să facă o faptă bună, lasându-l în mănăstire. Mesajul Părintelui Paisie Olaru este unul foarte actual, el încadrându-se pe linia cea mai autentică a Sfintei noastre Biserici Ortodoxe, exemplificată și în textul de față. Darul deosebit al Părintelui Paisie Olaru de a vorbi şi de a transmite oamenilor învățături folositoare pentru suflet, l-au făcut să fie iubit, şi în acelaşi timp, să fie un părinte duhovnicesc cu autoritate şi discernământ.
Cuvinte-cheie: Părintele ieroschimonah Paisie Olaru, spiritualitate, isihasm, duhovnicie,
mărturisire duhovnicească, receptarea misiunii sale în lumea contemporană
Summary: The Blessed Father Hieroschemamonk Paisie Olaru was a man of joy, seriousness and discretion, a man who set out to increase seriousness and conscientiousness, and we believe he succeeded with great success. During the communist regime in which he lived, he was a worker of the philocalic beauty, awakening in every man this deep longing for the image of God and his likeness. During the communist regime in which he lived, he was a worker of the philocalic beauty, awakening in every man this deep longing for the image of God and his likeness. Father Paisie taught, first of all, by his life, by his deeds, by his striving, by humbling himself, seeking the mercy of God and of people, inspiring mercy, even to the communists and the secret police, who left him alone, in the peace of Jesus Christ. Father Paisie was throughout his life a confessor, a preacher of self-sacrifice towards one’s neighbor, but during his living at the Sihla Hermitage he reached the highest heights of purity in not judging others, so as not to be judged. For this he was rewarded by the Good Lord with prayer in the heart, becoming a living witness to the work of grace in the world. His special gift of speaking and especially of deepening the words of Scripture and especially of the New Testament, as well as the dogmas and holy canons, his concern for the fundamental books of the Orthodox Spirituality, such as the Patericon, the Limonarion and the Philokalia, but also for the liturgical texts contained in the Divine Office books, made him loved and at the same time an authoritative and discerning spiritual father. We see how much concordance there is between the teaching and life of Father Hieroschemamonk Paisie Olaru and the Holy Tradition of the Orthodox Church. Following our Holy Church, Father Paisie shows us what really is the life in Jesus Christ and how we manage to live it, especially nowadays, when it is so necessary the self-sacrifice for the neighbor, so beneficial for those who practice it and for those around them. Our words are few and powerless to say how much good Father Paisie Olaru did because of his moral and priestly conduct, his balance and wisdom, of his theological and scholarly preoccupations, of his love for God and people, of his attachment to this country and to his ancestral Church. Looking through the life and biography of this great spiritual father, each one of us can see, with amazement and admiration, his strength of character and the verticality with which he was endowed during his earthly life. It is right, therefore, that we pay him homage and gratitude, praying to God to reward him with His grace and His boundless love there, in the heavenly places, in the undying light of His Glory!
Dr. Stelian Titus Gomboș – Consilier (superior) la Secretariatul de Stat pentru Culte din
cadrul Guvernului României din Bucureşti;
e-mail: stelian_gombos@yahoo.com
