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11/21/06
Rev
Fr
George
Calciu-Dumitreasa
Fallen
Asleep
in
the
Lord
Alexandria
VA
[ROEA
Chancery]
–
The
Reverend
Father
George
Calciu-Dumitreasa,
parish
priest
of
Holy
Cross
Church
in
Alexandria,
Virginia,
fell
asleep
in
the
Lord
on
Tuesday
afternoon,
21
November
2006
(The
Feast
of
the
Entrance
of
the
Mother
of
God
into
the
Temple),
following
a
short
but
difficult
illness.
 Father
George
was
born
on
23
November
1925
in
Mahmudia,
Tulcea,
Romania,
to
his
parents,
Stefan
and
Ileana.
After
finishing
elementary
studies
in
his
hometown,
he
went
on
to
to
Bucharest
to
study
at
the
Faculty
of
Medicine
(1946-48).
Then,
in
1948,
his
Orthodox
Christian
morals
and
deep
religious
conviction
led
him
to
be
imprisoned
by
the
communist
authorities
for
"reeducation",
a
tactic
used
by
the
regime
in
an
attempt
to
erase
Christianity
from
the
youth
of
the
nation.
He
remained
in
prison
until
1964,
when
he
was
released
as
a
result
of
a
general
amnesty,
and
returned
to
study
at
the
Faculty
of
Literature
and
Philosophy
where
he
earned
a
degree
in
French
and
began
work
on
his
doctorate.
During
this
time,
strengthened
by
his
sufferings
in
prison,
he
also
studied
Theology
and
was
ordained
into
the
Holy
Priesthood
on
30
January
1973.
Father
George
remained
vocal
in
his
criticism
of
the
atheistic
government
and
its
allies,
preaching
the
True
Faith
and
Christian
morals
to
all
who
would
listen,
especially
the
many
young
people
who
were
drawn
to
his
message.
He
taught
French
and
New
Testament
studies
at
the
Theological
Seminary
in
Bucharest
until
he
was
abruptly
dismissed
in
1978
for
speaking
out
in
defense
of
religious
freedom
and
human
rights.
The
following
year
he
was
again
arrested
by
government
authorities
as
a
result
of
his
convictions,
and
was
sentenced
to
10
years
in
prison.
Severely
mistreated
and
isolated
from
even
his
family,
news
of
his
imprisonment
aroused
protests
from
the
West
which
eventually
provoked
his
early
release
in
1984.
Still
living
under
persecution
by
government
and
cooperative
Church
authorities,
he
managed
to
emigrate
to
the
United
States
in
1985
and
was
accepted
into
The
Romanian
Orthodox
Episcopate
of
America
the
following
year.
Since
1989,
he
has
served
as
parish
priest
of
Holy
Cross
Church
in
Alexandria,
Virginia,
serving
the
community
there
with
love
and
dedication
until
his
final
breath.
Father
George
is
known
around
the
world
for
his
sufferings
and
commitment
to
Christ
in
the
face
of
persecution.
He
has
written
several
books,
contributed
countless
articles
and
has
been
asked
to
deliver
many
lectures
on
the
subject
over
the
years.
To
this
day,
his
example
continues
to
motivate
countless
faithful,
especially
young
people,
toward
a
renewed
commitment
to
Christ
and
the
Orthodox
Church.
He
leaves
behind
his
wife
of
over
40
years,
Preoteasa
Adriana,
and
their
son
Andrei
and
family.
Funeral
services
will
take
place
at
Holy
Cross
Church
in
Alexandria,
Virginia.
The
Saracusta
service
will
take
place
on
Friday
evening,
24
November,
at
7:00pm.
The
next
morning,
Saturday
25
November,
the
Divine
Liturgy
will
be
celebrated
at
8:30am
and
will
be
followed
by
the
Funeral
Service
for
the
Burial
of
a
Priest
at
11:00am.
Father
George's
remains
will
then
be
taken
to
Romania
for
burial
at
the
Theological
Seminary
in
Bucharest.
Condolences
may
be
sent
to
the
family
at:
Preoteasa
Adriana
Calciu-Dumitreasa
&
Family
6371
Birch
Leaf
Ct
Burke
VA
22015-3528
May
his
memory
be
eternal! |
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