Bishop Atanasie Dincă, a great psalmist and a man of vocation (1945–1948)

On 7 November 1939, at the request of the state authorities, the Diocese of Râmnic-Noul Severin was abolished by royal decree, giving rise to the Metropolis of Oltenia, based in Craiova, under the leadership of Metropolitan Nifon Criveanu 1. After much insistence from the faithful of the former diocese, it was re-established on 20 April 1945, with its seat in Râmnicu Vâlcea, and the following day, Bishop Atanasie Dincă, formerly Patriarchal Vicar, known as Bârlădeanu 2, was appointed as locum tenens, and he remained at its head until 11 March 1948, when he retired 3.

His life prior to his election as bishop

Born Alexandru, the new archbishop of Râmnic was born on 22 December 1896, to the family of Constantin and Elena, hard-working people from the village of Tânganu, in the commune of Cernica, Ilfov County, where he spent his childhood and attended primary school. His inner calling, the beauty of the divine services and the exemplary way of life of the monks at Cernica Monastery led him, even as a young man, towards monastic life; he took the monastic vows at the age of 19, at Tismana Monastery. Blessed with a remarkable voice, like that of a true singer, and with a natural inclination towards church music, he combined his monastic training with his academic studies, attending, between 1911 and 1914, the courses at the School of Church Singers, followed by those at the ‘Metropolitan Nifon’ Seminary in Bucharest, from which he graduated at the top of his class. An outstanding pupil, after graduating from the School of Church Singers, he was appointed, whilst still at secondary school, as a singer at the churches of Olari and Sfânta Vineri-Hereasca in the capital.

As a dedicated minister, over the years he held several posts, which he endeavoured to fulfil with the utmost responsibility. Thus, between 1915 and 1916, he served as a deacon at the Diocese of Râmnic, having been ordained by Bishop Sofronie Vulpescu, who appreciated his vocal talent and liturgical knowledge, and during the First World War he was ordained a priest and appointed chaplain at the Vasile Lupu Military Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine in Iași, whilst also serving as a nurse. After demobilisation, he was posted to Cernica Monastery to recuperate, serving alongside the monastery’s clergy. There, he received the abbot’s permission to teach church music, having been noticed by the former Metropolitan Primate Atanasie Mironescu, who had retired to the holy monastery.

Appointed to serve at the parish of Câmpurelu, in Ilfov County, in 1918, then in Crunți and Arțari, in Ialomița, and after five years he was appointed chief sacristan of the Episcopal Cathedral in Constanța, followed by the post of teacher and headmaster at the city’s School for Church Singers. At the same time, he taught the Liturgical Order and Church Music to prepare candidates who were to be ordained for vacant parishes in Dobruja. Upon moving to the capital, in 1924 he was appointed deputy director, spiritual director and professor of Church Music at the ‘Metropolitan Nifon’ Seminary, as well as professor of Church Music and religious studies at the School of Church Singers. In recognition of his merits, in 1926 he was called back to Constanța, where he served until 1931 as protos of the Cathedral, exarch of the monasteries in the diocese, and director and teacher at the School for Church Singers.

Eager to deepen his religious knowledge, he continued his studies at the Faculty of Theology in Bucharest, where, in 1934, he completed his bachelor’s degree with a thesis entitled ‘A Pillar of Christian Preaching in the Orthodox Church: Saint Theodore the Studite’, for which he was awarded the distinction ‘magna cum laude’. During his studies, he withdrew from all ecclesiastical offices and duties, settling at Ghighiu Monastery. Recognising “the merits and spiritual qualities of this zealous and energetic labourer in the Lord’s service”, on 15 March 1936, Patriarch Miron Cristea entrusted him with the leadership of the monastery, which he rebuilt, endowing it with 150 ha of woodland. These achievements led to his promotion, on 1 June 1938, to the post of exarch-referent for the monasteries of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, and then, a few months later, as abbot of Căldărușani Monastery, which was in an advanced state of disrepair. There he restored the church and the other buildings, introduced electricity, dug an artesian well, erected a gate at the main entrance, built a road, and reinstated the rules of Saint Sava and the day and night services. Owing to his virtue and musical talents, Patriarch Nicodim moved the School of Chanters of the Archdiocese of Bucharest to Căldărușani, under his direct leadership, in order to organise it under the best possible conditions. A church museum and a sculpture workshop complemented the fine achievements of the new abbot. As the 1940 earthquake had damaged the monastery, he rebuilt the main church and the other cells, classrooms, dormitories and the cemetery chapel, restoring the site to a flourishing state, worthy of a princely foundation 4. All this was due to Archimandrite Atanasie, ‘a man of great energy, courage and skill, who, from the very next day, despite having spent many millions on repairs to both churches and buildings prior to the earthquake, started afresh with the restoration work, tackling everything at once from all sides’5.

These impressive achievements earned him widespread acclaim, and on 16 September 1941 he was appointed abbot of Cernica Monastery, which he would also restore following the great earthquake 6. Contemporary sources indicate that in this threefold ministry—as exarch, abbot and professor—the future hierarch proved himself to be “a man of action, of tireless labour. ‘At religious services and ceremonies, he would enrich our church worship with his singing and his beautiful voice’7.

In addition to his administrative duties, Archimandrite Atanasie Dincă was also a prolific writer, publishing several theological works, including: Concepts of Monastic Culture (Bucharest, 1939), Saint Theodore the Studite: His Life and Work (Bucharest, 1940), The Words of Saint Theodore the Studite (Bucharest, 1940), A Bibliographical Study of Works on the Monasteries and Hermitages of Romania (in manuscript), Endeavours in the Field of Monasticism (Bucharest, 1941) and The Organisation of Monasteries and Monasticism (in manuscript). He also contributed to various publications, leaving behind numerous compositions of psaltic music, in manuscript form, which highlighted his intellectual qualities. All his works were highly regarded by the country’s cultural figures, such as Nicolae Iorga and Alexandru Iordan of the magazine Viața Românească.

Vicar Bishop in Bucharest

In recognition of his work, on 1 November 1943, Patriarch Nicodim recommended him as patriarchal vicar, and on 12 December of the same year, he ordained him in the Patriarchal Cathedral, conferring upon him the title of ‘8 of Bârlad’. On this occasion, the newly appointed bishop said: “I believe in a spiritual mission of the Romanian Orthodox people—the oldest and, today, the strongest in the faith of the East—for whom the Church must raise the standard of life and teaching of the ‘fools for Christ’, the monks; to commit the lay clergy to a course of action through which they may cultivate a life in Christ, both for themselves and for the Christian community; to rigorously select candidates for the higher hierarchy, and to unite these three ecclesiastical orders in spirit and in work; to confer prestige upon theological culture, to make full use of the means of holiness through speech, through teaching and with full authority. I believe in the strength of my nation and in its inexhaustible sources of energy, that it has produced and continues to produce, even today, heroes and saints and […] counts amongst its sons those in whom all the attributes of the nation have coalesced, who embody all its potential and who justify the Romanian people’s right to equality”. Here, too, our attention is drawn to the Patriarch’s address, in which he highlighted his own distinguished qualities: “But when I came and began to work with Your Grace, I came to know at first hand the skill, the dedication and the faith with which you know how to work for the benefit of the Church. I would add that I have found Your Grace to be a worthy worker in whom I place great hope. This, too, is a reason why I have insisted and persevered in ensuring that you be elevated to the high rank of bishop’9”.

In this high office, “the tireless renovator of holy places, promoter of monastic life” was entrusted with the reorganisation of the Patriarchate’s Biblical and Missionary Institute, which had reached an impasse due to the hardships of the times. Thus, “thanks to His Grace’s tireless care and exemplary energy”, numerous much-needed religious books were published: The Book of Hours, the Akathist, the Panikhida, the Bible and other theological works, as well as works of secular and religious culture. As a result of his work, the pages of the magazine Renașterea noted: ‘A profound expert on missionary issues and himself a zealous missionary by nature, a staunch advocate of missionary dynamism, Vladyka Athanasie works to free the Church from spirit-stifling formalism and archaic ecclesiastical bureaucracy’10 For his part, the auditor T. Manea-Băleni wrote in a Report on the balance sheet as at 31 March 1945: “With the appointment of His Grace Bishop Athanasie to the Biblical Institute, a new era of prosperity and legality began”11

“A profound expert on missionary matters and himself a zealous missionary by nature, … Bishop Athanasie is working to free the Church from spirit-stifling formalism and archaic ecclesiastical bureaucracy.”

On 3 April 1945, he took part in the Conference of Religious Education Teachers in the Capital, where, as a patriarchal delegate, he delivered an enthusiastic speech, in which he highlighted the role of the priest-teacher in guiding schoolchildren in Christian and humanitarian activities. Expressing his willingness to collaborate, he then indicated that he intended to establish a missionary colportage section for the enlightenment of young people and announced the publication of the 1944 Bible, translated for the most part by Patriarch Nicodim, and requested that it be introduced into school libraries, together with Lopuhin’s Biblical History, translated from Russian, and the volumes from the patristic collection The Sources of Orthodoxy, translated under the care of Father Dumitru Fecioru 12.

Acting Bishop of Râmnic

With a wealth of experience in administrative and ecclesiastical educational roles, following the re-establishment of the Diocese of Râmnic in 1945, he was appointed to lead the Orthodox Church in Oltenia. Known as a “worthy steward and skilful worker in the fields of cultural and administrative activity” 13, he was appointed acting bishop on 21 April 14, and five days later he was installed with great solemnity in the presence of delegates from the Holy Synod, government, civil and military authorities, as well as numerous faithful. In his customary address, the man who was to lead the Diocese spoke with evident emotion: “I am familiar with the rich ecclesiastical tradition of the Diocese of Râmnic, for I am the spiritual son of this Diocese, and I have no stronger desire than that, through the work and service I shall carry out here, to live up to this tradition, rich in cultural achievements, in the founding of churches, and humble Christian life, established and continued in Râmnic by illustrious hierarchs such as Antim Ivireanul, Saint Calinic, Ghenadie Enăceanu, Antim Petrescu and others”. Deeply moved by the expressions of confidence from representatives of all the parties in the Government, he concluded by stating: “All the work that will be carried out within the Church of Oltenia will be inspired by the great principles of love for the people, which constitute the remedies for life in these new times for the Romanian people and for all peoples who love peace and justice”.

No less significant was his speech delivered at the banquet hosted by Râmnicu Vâlcea Town Hall, where he thanked all those who had contributed to his election, as well as those who had insisted, year after year, for the re-establishment of the Diocese, “in fulfilment of this legitimate, historical and canonical desire of the entire clergy and people of Oltenia”15. Of particular note is his Address to the clergy and faithful, in which he proudly declared his connection to these lands: ‘As a spiritual son of the Diocese, I received a fitting upbringing and was deemed worthy of monastic life at the Holy Monastery of Tismana and of serving as a deacon in the Episcopal Cathedral and in various churches and monasteries in Oltenia. The glorious past of the Oltenian foundations at Cozia and Bistrița lives on in my heart. I am familiar with monastic life and I value the enrichment of culture and spiritual elevation that the faithful and the monastic community have brought to the life of the Diocese and our entire country. I am aware of what has been achieved in almost every one of these places of worship and I hope for the brightest of futures for them all”16

His appointment has brought great joy to Oltenia, a fact attested to by Fr. Fl. M. Mihăescu, who, on behalf of the clergy and the diocesan administration, stated: “And anyone who has followed Your Grace’s work to date as a consummate steward of the Holy Monastery of Căldărușani, for which you received public recognition from His Eminence the Patriarch and were consecrated through your election as Vicar of the Holy Patriarchate, and subsequently, in this capacity as Vicar, Your Grace’s spiritual and missionary zeal, which has not allowed you a moment’s rest, taking you everywhere where your missionary calling found a need to be met, to strengthen and increase priestly powers in the struggle against the darkness within souls; that person may be certain that the page you will write here too will be a page of light. And it will be such that it may be a source of honour and pride for Your Grace, and a blessing for the people of Oltenia17

Fully convinced of the qualities of the new leader of the Church in Oltenia, ‘a Bishop endowed with exceptional gifts and blessed qualities’, the editorial team of the magazine Renașterea have, in turn, left us the following notes, which merely sketch out his character in broad strokes: “The beautiful and uplifting services conducted with his whole being, His Grace’s rich musical talent, his lively and penetrating sermons, rooted in personal conviction, and his tireless work in the social, cultural, philanthropic, missionary and religious spheres, are all sources of rich achievements, from the heights of which His Grace, through his worthy and episcopal example, calls upon all the clergy and faithful of the Diocese of Oltenia in these times of great social upheaval, to carry out the most fruitful work in the fields of their souls and parishes. But, above all the good intentions that animate the new Archbishop, what stands out is His Grace’s spirit of self-denial and sacrifice for his people and the ancestral Church in which the Lord has appointed him as a worthy Bishop. His endeavours in all areas of religious, missionary, cultural and administrative activity have been, and continue to be, appreciated by all those familiar with the major issues facing the Church, foremost among them the late scholar of our nation, Nicolae Iorga, Professor D. Gh. Boroianu, His Eminence Nicolae, Metropolitan of Transylvania, and in particular by His Eminence Patriarch D. D. Dr Nicodim…”18.

In his capacity as Vicar of the Diocese of Râmnic, we note his presence, on behalf of our Church, at the reception organised on 19 May 1945 in the hall of the Romanian Association for the Strengthening of Ties with the Soviet Union (A.R.L.U.S.), on the occasion of the visit by the delegation of the Russian Orthodox Church, led by Bishop Ieronim of Chișinău, where, in a fine speech, he highlighted the ties between the Romanian and Russian Churches 19. In the same year, the faithful in Craiova were introduced to their spiritual father at the feast day of St Dumitru Cathedral, ‘perceiving his pious and dignified countenance as a successor to the Apostles and listening tohis masterful voice as he performed the monastic and archaic church hymns, which not even the greatest connoisseurs of psalmody had ever heard, not even from the mouth of the great Popescu-Pasărea”. Present at the event, Father Th. Popescu-Urlueni was to leave us a few lines that are particularly evocative of the manner in which he performed the holy services: ‘The Glory at Lauds, the Great Doxology, the Ekphonesis with all manner of phrases, each more impressive than the last—‘Lord, save us’, ‘Peace to all’, the Axion in tone VI, various ‘Lord, have mercy!’, the biblical texts of the Eucharistic Epiclesis—in short, all the hymns rendered by the powerful yet subtle voice of the Bishop of Oltenia revealed to all not only his personal talents in this art, but also the treasures of unsuspected beauty in our ancient church music, so widely maligned and often quite rightly so, though this is solely due to the lack of competence, feeling and sensitivity on the part of those who sang it. We believe that anyone who has heard Bishop Athanasie—for we know of no more accomplished singer throughout the entire Diocese—has secretly unravelled in their soul the long, yet radiant, thread of his monastic life, in the shadow of which, day after day and night after night, during long years of discipleship spent in the utmost obedience, submission and voluntary renunciation, he learnt through long and arduous endeavour, as well as by listening to their performance by other holy monks, these divine hymns, so that he might thus pass them on and share them with others, like jewels which, though sometimes dusty, remain nonetheless precious gems by virtue of their worth, regardless of time or place”20.

From other notes we learn that on 8 July 1945 he took part in the consecration of the church in the village of Izvoarele, Prahova County, where, after celebrating the Divine Liturgy, he opened the series of speeches, noting that nowhere else had he found “a more perfect example of ecclesiastical and Romanian architecture than in the village of Izvoarele”. He went on to express his joy that representatives of the people’s government were also attending this event, as they support the Christian and Romanian work of the Church 21.

In his traditional pastoral letter that same year, on the occasion of Christmas, he offered the following advice to his flock: “Let us draw closer to one another, uniting in the spirit of peace! Let us understand one another and recognise the demands of the times! Let us bear one another’s burdens and lighten the hardships that so often weigh down so many of us unjustly and crushingly! Let us hasten without delay to fulfil the duties demanded by the needs of reconstruction in the wake of the devastating war that has passed, and let us offer our help without hesitation, each in the place where our work is to be done!”22 In a pastoral letter issued in 1946, on the occasion of Holy Easter, he urged “children to be good, merciful and obedient! Let every little child look, in the evening and in the morning when they pray, towards the icon on the wall, and there they will see the holy, inviting face of the Lord Jesus, Who loves childhood and little children so very much. Children who go to school must not forget that they have a duty to ensure their own proper education. They must be tidy, keeping their clothes, books, hands and bodies clean. They must avoid bad company. They must avoid picking up bad habits. They must not swear. They must not tell tales. They must not steal. The Lord and His angels forsake children like that. A good child and a model pupil helps a classmate in need. They are kind to their fellow human beings and to animals. Moreover, the pupil, as a true pupil, must always have their homework thoroughly learnt. Every pupil must constantly bear in mind the picture showing Jesus amongst the scribes. ‘How astonished these scholars were when they saw how much learning and insight the Saviour possessed in His mind, even as a child!’ And to the young people he would say: ‘Beware of anything that might harm the health of your soul and body! Do as the young people of bygone ages did: be the pillars of order for the common good, the cornerstones for the guidance of the multitudes! Delve deeply into the principles of our enduring way of life! Consult your spiritual fathers! Draw near to the spirit of our unspoilt moral foundations and breathe the air purified by virtue! Do not turn away from the Church! The institution that has provided the most essential aid in the building and rebuilding of the country, both in times of war and in times of peace. Look around you with care!’23

“It is no small thing to speak beautifully, for the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles and all the great hierarchs shaped public opinion through the beauty of their words.”

A year after his enthronement as bishop-lieutenant at Râmnic, the priest C. Zamfirescu wrote in the pages of the magazine Renașterea: ‘His Grace Athanasie, episcopal lieutenant at Râmnic-Vâlcea, possesses many qualities befitting an Orthodox hierarch and priest. His Grace has a talent for conducting the divine service with great skill, reviving the timeless beauties of Byzantine music. I heard him speak at St Dumitru’s Church in Craiova and at the opening of the academic year at the National College in Craiova, where he made a fine impression with the speeches he delivered. It is no small matter to speak well, for the Lord Jesus Christ, the apostles and all the great hierarchs shaped public opinion through the beauty of their words. I have also heard that His Grace is not a seeker of earthly treasures, which has not been the case in the recent past of the Church in Oltenia. In the short space of a year, given the difficult circumstances we are going through, His Grace has not been able to fully demonstrate his abilities as administrator and leader of the Oltenian Church. So far, however, he has given us a foretaste of what he will achieve in the future. His Grace bears a predestined name. His name is Athanasie, meaning ‘without death’ – not in the sense that he will never die, but in the sense that he will remain immortal through his works. His Grace came to Râmnic not to fill a vacant bishop’s seat, but to fill a void left by others. We wish him every success in moving from a temporary to a permanent role, for the good of the Church in Oltenia24

Synodal activity

We have further news regarding his synodal activity. For example, in a heartfelt address, he highlighted the fruitful work of Patriarch Nicodim during the six years he had been at the head of the Church, saying, amongst other things: “We who are close to His Eminence have come to know His Eminence’s capacity for hard work, we have drawn upon His Eminence’s Your Eminence, and we have striven to be as diligent as possible in our work so as to keep pace with the zeal of our Leader, who works day and night to carry out a great undertaking for the Church and the country. Your Eminence’s work and achievements across all fields are records whose remarkable value will go down in history”25

Since no action could be taken at the School of Bistrița Monastery due to the interference of the Ministries of Health and National Culture, the Holy Synod decided, on 30 July 1945, that: “His Grace the Lieutenant Bishop of Râmnicu-Noul-Severin shall investigate the situation on the spot, shall take the necessary measures in his capacity as local Bishop to ensure that the Diocese regains its canonical rights over the monastery; and that the status of the school be regulated so that it falls under the remit of the relevant ministry, namely the Ministry of Religious Affairs’26”. A few months later, at the meeting on 4 December, on the occasion of Patriarch Nicodim’s 80th birthday, he took the floor on behalf of the members of the Synod, saying to him: “We recognise your zeal for our ancestral law! We know your capacity for hard work, and in the light of this, what else can we say but that it would be difficult, indeed almost impossible, for any of us, or for anyone else, to read in a lifetime only what Your Eminence Your Eminence, from the dead of night until daybreak and ‘from the watch of the morning until night’, over many long years, have set down on paper, in words that edify the soul, strengthen the will and spread light—imperishable works of Christian culture, translating and, through your own creative inspiration, giving birth to theological culture, proving yourself27”. Finally, he added: ‘May God prolong your life, renew your strength for work as in the youth of an eagle, and bless you with the satisfaction of seeing, in due course, the fruits of the labours you have sown in the field of our Nation and our Church, may that joy be as great as the joy felt by the blessed Helena when she discovered the honourable and life-giving Cross of the Lord God and our Saviour Jesus Christ!”28.

His name is then mentioned in the meeting of 9 December 1946, when he requested an increase in the salary scale for hierarchs, patriarchal advisers, metropolitans and bishops, and proposed conferring the rank of archimandrite upon the protosingels Firmilian Marin, Ghenadie Nițoiu and others 29. The following day, at his suggestion, the Holy Synod decided to appoint a commission, of which he himself would be a member, to present a memorandum to the Minister of Education advocating the retention of religious education lessons in all secondary schools, at a rate of two per week, emphasising that the pupils’ parents were also calling for this. Furthermore, at this time he read out the report of the Canonical and Disciplinary Commission on the remuneration of hierarchs, central and diocesan advisers, cathedral priests and deacons, at a pay scale that is commensurate with the offices they hold and the education they have received, under the new civil service regulations. To address this injustice, he put forward proposals for fair remuneration, specifying the relevant pay scales. Upon receiving the proposal, the Holy Synod decided to establish a commission, of which he himself would be a member, to submit a well-documented memorandum to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in order to secure the rectification of the salary classifications for hierarchs, central and diocesan advisers, and priests and deacons at cathedrals, to a coefficient commensurate with the offices they hold.

In his capacity as rapporteur for the Canonical and Disciplinary Commission, at the meeting of 11 December, he read out several reports concerning disciplinary cases within the Diocese of Oradea and the Metropolis of Transylvania30 On 19 November 1947, he read the report on the examination of the documents relating to the election of Bishop Justinian Marina Vasluianul to the vacant see of Metropolitan of Moldavia, and the following day he read the report concerning the canonical examination and review of the election documents for the newly established see of Archbishop of Craiova, to which Archimandrite Firmilian Marin had been elected 31.

On 30 November 1947, he took part in the service for the ordination of Archimandrite Firmilian to the episcopate, alongside Metropolitan Justinian of Moldova and Bishop Veniamin of Sinai, in the Patriarchal Cathedral, and subsequently at his installation on 28 December as Archbishop in Craiova 32.

Resignation from the see

Prompted by the initiative of the clergy and the faithful of Oltenia, Bishop Atanasie Dincă made representations to the Government and the Minister for Religious Affairs for the re-establishment of the Metropolis of Oltenia, which had been abolished in 1945. It is likely that these appeals went unheeded, as he frequently spoke out against the Petru Groza regime, forbidding priests from aligning themselves with pro-Communist politics. Indeed, following the establishment of the People’s Democratic regime in 1948, he expressed his views on the ruling regime ever more openly, stating: ‘I am fed up with the current “democracy” of the Groza Government, which is nothing more than an unbearable farce. Although leading figures in the government show us a fair amount of sympathy, I cannot, in all honesty, align myself with the regime, nor does my conscience dictate that I should.” Such statements could not go unpunished, and his appointment as acting bishop of33 was revoked on 11 March 1948 34. Returning to the post of patriarchal vicar, on 1 May 1948 he was appointed abbot of the Domnița Bălașa Church in the capital, where he remained for just one year. The appointment was due to his outstanding merits in chanting and church ministry, in accordance with the provisions of the church council’s will.

A keen connoisseur of monastic life and church music, in 1952 he was appointed professor at the Neamț Seminary to promote monastic education, teaching psaltic and vocal music as well as ‘35’. After only one year, however, the Ministry of Religious Affairs revoked his appointment, and he was forced to retire. ‘He remained in the memory of his pupils as a great teacher, stern on the one hand and exacting in accordance with all the rigours required by the school curriculum, but also an unrivalled performer of church music. Only a few pupils received high marks from him; the rest barely passed their year, not without reproach – which, incidentally, most of them deserved. Alongside his episcopal ministry, music was the great gift he received from God’36.

“He remained in the memory of his pupils as a great teacher, stern on the one hand and exacting in accordance with all the rigours required by the school curriculum, but also an unrivalled performer of church music.”

After retiring, he withdrew to Căldărușani Monastery, so dear to his heart, and to which a large part of his work is linked 37. Here he spent his life in work and prayer, composing and arranging numerous church hymns to psaltic music for the services of Vespers, Matins and the Divine Liturgy – compositions which remained in manuscript form. He harmoniously combined his endeavours in psaltic music with his scholarly, ecclesiastical and social work 38. “For nearly 20 years he bore his cross of suffering in silence, braving the turbulent times that befell the Church. He was often seen singing in the choir with other skilled monks, amongst whom we recall Silvan Nistor and Martinian Stoienescu.” During this time, his path crossed that of the Greek-Catholic Bishop Iuliu Hosu, who was residing in the same monastery at the time. Although they lived in buildings situated in different parts of the monastery, they were often seen strolling along the courtyard paths.

Between 1953 and 1965, Bishop Atanasie performed several consecration services and patronal feasts within the Archdiocese of Bucharest, as entrusted to him by Patriarch Justinian Marina, whom he often met when the latter visited the community at Căldărușani. He was also visited there by the Patriarchal Vicar Bishop Teoctist Arăpașu, the future Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, who had held him in particularly high regard ever since the time when he had accompanied him as a hierodeacon at various church services and missions. The latter would periodically send him money and the necessities of life, becoming one of his close friends and benefactors. In turn, Patriarch Justinian would sometimes lend him his car to take him to the doctor or to various places in Bucharest or elsewhere in the country. In the final years of his life, whilst undergoing various treatments, he lived in the capital, at the metochion of Căldărușani Monastery, the former birthplace of Metropolitan Ghenadie Petrescu, situated in St Stephen’s Square, and at the weekend he would return to the voivode’s foundation to officiate. From the records of the time, we learn that the monks ‘often found him gazing from the balcony of the house out over the expanse of the lake during the hours of vigil. At other times he would sing, and his voice could be heard far and wide through the open windows. It was a hymn of praise dedicated to the Almighty, a well-received offering, like a harp song from times long past. He had become increasingly withdrawn, solitary, overwhelmed by the trials and adversity of his life. His singing, his prayers, his ministry, but above all his hope in the enduring blessings and rewards from the Saviour Jesus Christ, the Eternal and Great High Priest, gave him the strength to walk to the very end along the path of thorns”.

Speaking of the beauty of his episcopal ministry, as the years passed, the late Patriarch Teoctist made these precious testimonies: “Atanasie Dincă was hard to match in his ministry. A connoisseur of music and a leading protopsalt, a composer and a brilliant minister, Bishop Atanasie Dincă transformed an ordinary service or a church consecration into a true and rare celebration. When he uttered the words ‘Lord, Lord…’, it was as if you could see heaven descending to earth and the angels singing in unison with the presiding bishop. After the service, the ritual was also special. The bishop’s attendants, even if they were mere monks or parish priests, were transformed into veritable lords who served the meal with the utmost elegance, with cutlery carefully arranged, with glasses raised in unison and a discipline that seemed borrowed from the great royal houses. The Patriarchal Vicar Bishop Atanasie Dincă had worked hard throughout his life. He, the son of simple folk from the vicinity of Cernica Monastery, became a true prince through his extraordinary willpower and assiduous labour in the service of the Church.” According to Archimandrite Lavrentie Gâță, the abbot of Căldărușani Monastery, “the late Patriarch Teoctist was almost like his apprentice. That is why, later on, he spoke of him so gratefully in his memoirs, bearing witness to the elegance of Bishop Atanasie’s liturgical movements, whether at a service in a parish or monastery, or at any other event. At the agape meals that followed the holy services, Bishop Athanasius was attentive to others, initiating constructive, instructive conversations, so that those present, in addition to nourishment for the body, also received sustenance for the soul.”

From the recollections of Archimandrite Partenie Apetrei, former churchwarden of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iași, it is clear that “in everything he was a perfectionist, from the smallest details to the most important matters”. Reflecting on his personality, he testified “that he had never met anyone who surpassed Atanasie Dincă in his ministry. He had had him as a teacher at the Monastic Seminary at Neamț Monastery and had sometimes accompanied him to the services he conducted, whether at Pocrov, Vovidenia, or at the Icon, or even in the main church of Neamț Monastery, where, at that time, Bishops Partenie Ciopron, Eugeniu Laiu Suceveanul, Emilian Antal and Pavel Șerpe also served in rotation. After the service or after a hymn, Bishop Atanasie Dincă used to say: ‘I sang best of all. I enjoyed it myself, and others enjoyed it too…’”. “In his very being, his love for all things holy was intertwined with his love of singing. Blessed with a fine voice and a special sense of music, he emphasised the hymns in a particular way, which is why Archimandrite Partenie Apetrei said he had never heard anyone sing in such a manner. Even the intonation mattered greatly to him, from the simple hymns to the great antiphons of the Divine Liturgy, which he would sometimes intone on his own’39.

“In his very being, his love for all that is holy was intertwined with his love of singing.”

The end of his life

On 6 January 1973, Bishop Atanasie passed away and was buried in the cemetery of Cernica Monastery, in accordance with his last wishes. The funeral service was conducted on 9 January by a group of clergy, led by Archbishop Gherasim Cristea, who was at that time vicar-general of the Diocese of the Lower Danube. At the end of the service, he delivered a eulogy in honour of the deceased, in which he highlighted his work and achievements, emphasising in particular his love for the Church, for liturgical rites and the typikon, and for psaltic chant, regarding him as one of the finest exponents of Romanian psaltic music. Speaking on behalf of Căldărușani Monastery was Archimandrite Veniamin Nicolae, who offered a final farewell on behalf of the monastic community, mentioning the numerous restoration works carried out during his abbotship, as well as the beautiful church services and ceremonies in which he participated, as an excellent minister and consummate performer of our psaltic music. Following the funeral service, he was laid to rest in the monastery cemetery, in accordance with his w40’s wishes. ‘What remains of his life is the memory of a monk who understood the way of things, who loved silence and singing dearly, especially in summer when, in the house where he lived at Căldărușani Monastery, outside the monastery walls, through the wide-open windows, a song like that of a harp could be heard…’41

In recognition of his tireless work in the service of the ancestral Church, Archbishop Calinic of Argeș dedicated a few lines to him in 2013 in the work Toată vremea-și are vreme: ‘Wearing a green shirt, as some gossip, at a rally in Bucharest, the Communist regime forced him down to Căldărușani, where he lived for over a quarter of a century. He was a hard-working abbot and a lover of culture, and especially of church music. He was a natural protopsalt. Together with Martinian and Silvan Nistor, they graced the monastery’s choir with perfection. On top of that, he was also a bishop of the highest calibre. Patriarch Teoctist himself spoke of this with admiration, having served as his deacon at various consecrations and other church services. As for hygiene, he was a fanatic. Everything had to be clean and, above all, disinfected. He never opened doors with his bare hands. He wore gloves, just like the counts and cardinals of old, or would use his cassock or stole—held in his hand and placed on the door handle—to open doors. If, however, he forgot, he would wash for two hours to disinfect himself. Once or twice we went with the choir to sing carols to him and offer our best wishes. He was thin, pale-faced, with a small, sparse beard, his face full of deep sadness. He died whilst being looked after by a woman who was not exactly good at housekeeping or at preparing food. One morning, he was found dead, all alone in the world. He was lying face up, his head tilted back, dressed as if for a journey. The oak coffin was ready. We laid the bishop to rest in the new little house, which was about 50 centimetres longer than it should have been”42

In examining the life and work of Bishop Atanasie Dincă, a figure little known in historiography, we find that he was one of the true hierarchs of our Church in the last century, a good shepherd of souls and a diligent steward, a man of letters, a consummate minister and a talented singer, with a passion for church music, which he sang with exceptional skill. Despite the hardships he endured, having been forced to leave his residence due to the regime of the time, he knew how to overcome all difficulties with determination and trust in God, and he remains in the collective memory as one of the most distinguished psalm singers the Romanian Orthodox Church has ever had. We therefore believe that he deserves a place of honour amongst the great lovers of psalmody, standing alongside Nifon of Ploiești, Evghenie Humulescu, Iosif Naniescu, Iosif Gheorghian and many other hierarchs who have contributed to the enrichment of church music.

Despite the hardships he endured – having been forced to leave his residence due to the regime at the time – he knew how to overcome all difficulties with determination and trust in God, and he remains in the collective memory as one of the most distinguished psalm-singers the Romanian Orthodox Church has ever had.

• 1

  The Holy Metropolis of Oltenia, Râmnic and Severin, Church Life in Oltenia. Yearbook of the Metropolis of Oltenia, Printing House of the Holy Metropolis of Oltenia, Râmnic and Severin, Craiova, 1941, p. 95; Ghermano Dineață, The Diocese of Râmnic and Argeș, Rm. Vâlcea, 1969, p. 9.

• 2

  Gh. I. Moisescu, ‘The Consecration of His Grace Atanasie Dincă Bârlădeanu as Bishop’, in The Romanian Orthodox Church, vol. IX (1943), nos. 1–3, p. 611 (hereafter cited as BOR); Teodor N. Manolache, ‘Internal Chronicle. The Re-establishment of the Holy Diocese of Râmnic-Noul Severin’, in BOR, vol. LXIII (1945), nos. 7–8, pp. 404–405; † Nicodim, Patriarch of Romania, ‘Letter from the Holy Synod’, in Renașterea, vol. XXIV (1945), nos. 5–6, pp. 224–225 (hereinafter cited as R); Gr. T. M, ‘Notes and Information’, in Revista Teologică, vol. XXXV (1945), no. 6, p. 264.

• 3

  Fr Niculae Șerbănescu, ‘The Bishops of Râmnic’, in Mitropolia Olteniei, vol. XIV (1964), nos. 4–6, p. 210 (hereafter cited as MO).

• 4

  The Editorial Board of the journal Renașterea, Our Archbishop, in R, vol. XXIV (1945), no. 7–8, pp. 301–306; Assistant, ‘†Bishop Atanasie Dincă 1896–1873’, in Glasul Bisericii, vol. XXXII (1973), nos. 1–2, p. 239 (hereinafter cited as GB); Deacon George Dincă, ‘Portraits of Hierarchs Who Were Composers and Great Church Singers (Part II)’, in GB, vol. XXXVI (1977), nos. 10–12, pp. 960–961; *** ‘Bishop Atanasie Dincă’, in BOR, vol. XCI (1973), nos. 1–2, pp. 229–230; Rev. Prof. Dr Niculae Șerbănescu, ‘The Hierarchs of the Oltenian Region during the First Hundred Years of Autocephaly of the Romanian Orthodox Church (1885–1985)’, in MO, vol. XXXVII (1985), nos. 5–6, pp. 356–357; Rev. Prof. Dr Mircea Păcurariu, Dictionary of Romanian Theologians, Andreiana Publishing House, Sibiu, 2014, p. 208.

• 5

  Archimandrite Melchizedek Dimitriu, ‘Internal Chronicle. A canonical visit to Căldărușani Monastery in Ilfov’, in BOR, vol. XLI (1943), nos. 1–3, 1943, p. 147.

• 6

  The editorial team of the magazine Renașterea, Our Archbishop…, p. 307.

• 7

  Assistant, † Bishop Atanasie Dincă…, pp. 239–240.

• 8

  The editorial team of the magazine Renașterea, Our Archbishop…, pp. 307–308; *** Bishop Atanasie Dincă…, p. 230; Assistant, † Bishop Atanasie Dincă…, p. 240 (On 12 June 1942, he was ordained bishop by Nicodim, with the title of ‘of Bârlad’, and appointed acting bishop of Râmnic); George Dincă, Portraits of Hierarchs…, p. 961.

• 9

  Deacon Gheorghe I. Moisescu, ‘Church Chronicle. The Consecration of His Grace Atanasie Dincă Bârlădeanu as Bishop’, in BOR, vol. XLI (1943), nos. 10–12, pp. 611–622.

• 10

  The editorial team of the journal Renașterea, Our Archbishop…, pp. 308–309.

• 11

  “The Missionary Bible Institute of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Report by the Administration and the Accounting Department on the Balance Sheet as at 31 March 1945”, in BOR, vol. LXIII (1945), no. 6, p. 284.

• 12

  Teodor N. Manolache, ‘Internal Chronicle: Religious Education Teachers under His Eminence Nicodim, Patriarch of Romania’, in BOR, vol. LXIII (1945), nos. 4–5, pp. 195–196.

• 13

  “The Solemn Installation of His Grace Athanasie Bârlădeanul as Lieutenant Bishop of the Diocese of Râmnicu Noul-Severin”, in R, vol. XXIV (1945), no. 5–6, p. 226.

• 14

  † Nicodim, Patriarch of Romania, Gramata Sf. Sinod…, pp. 224–225; Teodor N. Manolache, Cronica internă. Reînființarea Sfintei Episcopii a Râmnicului-Noul Severin…, pp. 404–405.

• 15

  The Inauguration Ceremony…, pp. 225–229.

• 16

  † Athanasie, Acting Bishop of Râmnicu-Noul-Severin, ‘A Word of Encouragement and Greeting to the Christian Faithful of the God-protected Diocese of Râmnicu-Noul-Severin’, in R, vol. XXIV (1945), nos. 5–6, pp. 231–232.

• 17

  Rev. Fl. M. Mihăescu, ‘Statement by the clergy and the diocesan administration on the occasion of the installation of His Grace Patriarchal Vicar Athanasie Dincă Bârlădeanul as Lieutenant Bishop of the Diocese of Râmnicu Noul Severin, on 26 April 1945”, in R, vol. XXIV (1945), no. 5–6, p. 236.

• 18

  The Editorial Board of Renașterea magazine, Our Archbishop…, pp. 301, 309.

• 19

  Teodor N. Manolache, ‘Internal Chronicle. ‘Reception organised by the Religious Section of the A.R.L.U.S.U.L. in honour of the delegation from the Russian Orthodox Church’, in BOR, vol. LXIII (1945), no. 4–5, p. 192.

• 20

  Fr. Th. Popescu-Urlueni, ‘Internal Chronicle. His Grace Bishop Athanasie visits Craiova on the occasion of the Cathedral’s patronal feast’, in R, vol. XXIV (1945), nos. 11–12, pp. 425–426.

• 21

  Teodor N. Manolache, ‘Internal Chronicle: The Consecration of the Church in the commune of Izvoarele, Prahova County’, in BOR, LXIII (1945), no. 9, pp. 470–471.

• 22

  † Athanasie, Acting Bishop of the Diocese of Râmnic-Noul Severin, ‘Pastoral Letter issued on the occasion of the Holy Feast of the Nativity of the Lord’, in R, vol. XXIV (1945), no. 11–12, pp. 387–388.

• 23

  † Athanasie, Lieutenant Bishop of the Diocese of Râmnicu Noul Severin, ‘Pastoral Letter for Holy Easter’, in R, vol. XXV (1946), no. 4–5, pp. 66–78.

• 24

  Fr C. Zamfirescu, ‘One Year Since the Enthronement of His Grace Athanasie, Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Râmnic-Noul Severin”, in R, vol. XXV (1946), no. 4–5, p. 82.

• 25

  Grigore Spiru, ‘Internal Chronicle. The 60th anniversary of the patriarchate of His Eminence Patriarch Nicodim’, in BOR, vol. LXIII (1945), nos. 7–8, pp. 399–400.

• 26

  “The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Ordinary Session of 1945. Meeting of 30 July 1945”, in BOR, vol. LX (1945), no. 7–8, p. 8.

• 27

  Bishop Athanasie D. Bârlădeanul, ‘A Word of High Esteem’, in BOR, vol. LIII (1945), nos. 11–12, p. 556.

• 28

  ‘A Well-Deserved Tribute’, in R, vol. XXIV (1945), no. 11–12, p. 388.

• 29

  “The Official Record. Proceedings of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Ordinary Session of 1946. Meeting of 9 December 1946”, in BOR, vol. LXV (1947), nos. 1–3, p. 113.

• 30

  “The Official Record. Proceedings of the Holy Synod of the Holy Romanian Orthodox Church. Ordinary Session of 1946. The sitting of 10 December 1946”, in BOR, vol. LXV (1947), nos. 1–3, pp. 123–127.

• 31

  “The Debates of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The meeting of 20 November 1947”, in BOR, vol. LXV (1947), nos. 10–12, pp. 420–422.

• 32

  Deacon Gheorghe I. Moisescu, ‘The Election, Ordination and Installation of His Grace Bishop Sebastian of Maramureș’, in BOR, vol. LXV (1947), nos. 10–12, pp. 357–363.

• 33

  https://ziarullumina.ro/societate/historica/arhiereul-athanasie-dinca-in-primii-ani-ai-comunismului-romanesc-2736.html, accessed on 2 August 2021. *** Bishop Atanasie Dincă…, p. 230. (On 11 March 1948, he retired to Căldărușani Monastery, where he remained until the end of his life). The entry dated 23 November 1946 read as follows: “The following hierarchs were regarded in this way by the Communist Party: Metropolitan Efrem Enăcescu, former Metropolitan of Bessarabia, and Bishop Atanasie Dincă ‘are detested to the point of death’ and ‘blacklisted’”.

• 34

  Mircea Păcurariu, Dictionary of Romanian Theologians…, p. 208. The minutes of the ordinary session of the Holy Synod held on 27 February 1950 show that it was decided he should retire with effect from 1 March 1950. See ‘The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Ordinary Session of 1950. Minutes of the Meeting of 27 February 1950”, in BOR, vol. LXVIII (1950), nos. 3–6, p. 291. Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Dură, ‘Hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church removed from their sees and sent into monastic seclusion by the communist authorities between 1944 and 1981’, in *Memoria. Journal of Suppressed Thought, nos. 55–56 (2–3/2006), p. 168, states: “Following the closure of the monastic seminary at Neamț in 1952, Bishop Athanasie was sent to Cernica Monastery, where, according to Father Păcurariu, ‘he died on 6 January 1973’. Vasile Manea writes, however, that Bishop Athanasie Dincă ‘died at Căldărușani’ and indeed ‘in the year in which he was removed from his episcopal see’”.

• 35

  George Dincă, Portraits of Hierarchs…, pp. 961–962.

• 36

  Archimandrite Timotei Aioanei, ‘The Song of the Harp on Cernica Island’, in Monitorul de Suceava, vol. XV, 23 July 2010, no. 171 (4462), https://www.monitorulsv.ro/Religie/2010-07-31/Cantecul-harfei-in-ostrovul-Cernicai, accessed on 3 August 2021.

• 37

  Assistant, † Bishop Atanasie Dincă…, p. 240; Mircea Păcurariu, Dictionary of Romanian Theologians…, p. 208.

• 38

  George Dincă, Portraits of Hierarchs…, p. 962. The manuscripts are contained in nine files and include, amongst other things, the Rite of Welcoming the Bishop on the eve of imperial feasts and other celebrations, when he wishes to celebrate Vespers with various aspects of the episcopal rites. The work has not been published, owing to the death of Metropolitan Firmilian Marin of Oltenia, who had promised to publish it once it was in its final form. See † Timotei Prahoveanul, vicar bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, ‘Bishop Atanasie Dincă and singing as sacrifice and prayer’, in ZL, 21 December 2023, accessed on 2 August 2024.

• 39

  † Timotei Prahoveanul, Vicar Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, ‘The Song of the Harp on Cernica Island’, in: ZL, 21 July 2010, accessed 3 December 2021; † Timotei Prahoveanul, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, ‘The Song of the Harp on Cernica Island (II)’, in ZL, 28 July 2010, accessed 3 December 2021; † Timotei Prahoveanul, Vicar Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, ‘Bishop Atanasie Dincă and Song as Sacrifice and Prayer’, in ZL, 21 December 2023, accessed 2 August 2024.

• 40

  *** Bishop Atanasie Dincă…, pp. 230; Assistant, † Bishop Atanasie Dincă…, p. 240; George Dincă, Portraits of Hierarchs…, p. 962.

• 41

  † Timotei Prahoveanul, Vicar Bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest, ‘Bishop Atanasie Dincă and singing as a sacrifice and prayer’, in ZL, 21 December 2023, accessed on 2 August 2024.

• 42

  Elena Marta, ‘His Eminence Calinic: When the coffin is longer than the grave’, in Universul argeșean.ro, 30 October 2015, https://www.universulargesean.ro/ips-calinic-cand-sicriul-este-mai-lung-decat-groapa/, accessed 2 August 2021.