The Twentieth Century was the bloodiest century known to mankind. The Twenty-First Century seems to have learned nothing from the previous, or maybe, rather, it is purposefully applying the instructions of the last century.

More Christians were martyred in the Twentieth Century than any previous one. More Christians were martyred during the Twentieth Century than in the first three centuries of Christianity combined. Under the Pagan Roman Empire, the persecution of Christians was intense but never reached the level of all-encompassing and systematic persecution. Extremely methodical and tightly organized persecution of Christians was systematically applied during the Twentieth Century.

The ideologies that fueled the brutalities of the past century of blood, were all products of Western European secular philosophies/ideologies.¹ These philosophies in mass promised some grand “freedom” (always just around the corner) but in practice resulted in total tyranny and pervasive death. These ideologies are unified in their detest for Christianity. The French Revolution was an early manifestation of the horrors of these ideas when applied in practice. Much blame is also rightly placed on what is generally labeled as Marxism and the subsequent applications of Communism (well over 100,000,000 dead under its hand). It must not be overlooked that these are but a few variations that operate under a much greater governing ideology and spirit. Marxism in its various applications was simply a tool of de-Christianized Europeanism that was able to effectively destroy many traditional cultures and societies, most of which were “Eastern” European or Eastern, generally speaking. It is interesting to note that after World War II the enlightened liberal democratic Western Powers knowingly turned over half of Europe – the eastern half – to the brutal and bloody machine of Sovietism. These lands were still very religious and traditional, having vast populations of Orthodox Christians and Catholics, at that time Roman Catholics were still quite traditional (the renovations of Vatican II had not yet transpired). The “Western” powers consciously turned over millions of Christians to certain and atrocious persecution and death. To think that systems labeled as Capitalistic or Democratic or Fascist (and so forth) are in reality directly opposed to the various manifestations of Marxism is to ultimately miss the grand picture. Each one traces its branches back to a common root of ideologies. The means of application of these ideologies – the program and structure – is the primary cause of divergence and contradictions.

I have written several articles on the various methods and means being employed (from ideological to technological) in our times that continue to advance secular European ideologies (The USA is by and large a product of European ideologies). Since these ideologies are in great part founded firmly upon rejection and rebellion against Christianity, generally speaking, the final fruit is very dehumanizing, although they boast loudly of “rights” and equality.” The end result is most often complete tyranny, even as prominent advocates of European ideologies note in their own writings, and the end result of actual radical application firmly proves. Thus, Marxism is not some terrible, radical, and isolated idea and structure stemming from the minds of Marx and Engels, rather it is in its own manifestation a very “logical” application and progression of existing European anti-Christian philosophies. Lenin, Stalin, Mao, and many others are but the incarnation of anti-Christian (anti-traditional) European ideologies as applied to societies. The horrible and inhuman brutalities are but the logical result of ideas applied. At the center of these philosophies stands the abolition of mankind, the grinding of his soul down into a sterile cog who has no true meaning or purpose in life other than possibly being a slave to the system, and most importantly of all, there is no true God. (I unpack some of these points more in my article, “The New-Martyrs of Russia, an All-American Feast Day.”)

Thus, I have spent a fair amount of time researching these things and writing numerous articles. I have done so because I believe it is important to be informed on some level. We should never be consumed or obsessed, but we are certainly called to be discerning and wise. I am convinced that the prevailing spirit in the world is but a more advanced manifestation and application of the systems that were applied and tested in the Twentieth Century. On a certain level, the spirit of the times seems to be a hybridization of the various manifestations that simply appeared distinct in the past. I guess, in the long run, one could say – “There is nothing new under the sun.” Yet, the enemy’s tactic of amalgamating, of convergence, and repackaging should not be underestimated. It is amazing what people will buy under new packaging, even when the asking price is – your soul.

So what do we do? It is, indeed, not enough to expose the machinations, although it plays an important part. Of course, as Christians, we must be looking and hoping on the Lord Jesus, eyes on His Kingdom. But what are examples of praxis in our times? Ven. Fr. Seraphim (Rose) rightly instructed that we should take lessons from the New Martyrs of Rus’, who suffered under Sovietism in what is modern-day Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. I’m sure we have begun only to scratch the surface of the lessons that the deep wells of their lives offer to us today. I believe that we could also expand Fr. Seraphim’s advice and include all those Orthodox Christians who suffered in Eastern Europe under the Western structure and ideology of Communism. Particularly, in two past articles I touched upon the New Martyrs and Confessors in Romania and some of the psychological tactics used by the Communists against them, “The Goals of Secular Re-Education and the Heart of Man” and “Sinister Psychosis and the Remembrance of God.” In my article “Escape from Materialism,” I write about the beautiful martyr Valeriu Gafencu of Romania.

In this article, I am again turning to the experience of Orthodox Christians in Romania. In particular, I will focus on a gathering of Orthodox Christians known as the “Burning Bush.” For the name of their fellowship, they took the imagery of the burning bush that was not consumed, the Old Testament account of which is one of the most profound encounters with the Lord. In Orthodox teaching, the Mother of God is understood to be the fulfillment of the burning bush that was not consumed because she bore the second Person of the Holy Trinity, the Only Begotten Son, and was not consumed. The Virgin Mary was also a practitioner of unceasing prayer for she was ablaze with prayer in the Holy Spirit. In Romanian, Burning Bush is “Rugul Aprins.”

The founding of the Burning Bush

A few of the men who were part of the Burning Bush fellowship are in the process of being officially canonized, such as Fr. Sofian Boghiu and Fr. Dimitru Staniloae. Fr. Roman Braga and Elder Arsenie Papacioc were also part of the fellowship. I believe that the “Burning Bush” fellowship offers a model for us as Christians today on both the practical and mystical means by which to guard ourselves from the spirit of the times. The saintly men who participated in the fellowship offer to us spiritual weapons with which to array ourselves, that having done all that we can to stand, we may stand in the Lord (cf. Eph 6:13).

The Burning Bush was established in 1945 (some sources trace it to 1943) and was visibly active until 1948, after which it continued in a more subtle expression until 1958. Romania was consolidated under Soviet power in December of 1947. 1945 marks the year when the fellowship began to officially gather at Antim monastery in Bucharest; in 1948 the group was actively dispersed from its center at Antim. It was eventually repressed through brutal means. In 1958, most of those who participated in it were arrested and sent to concentration camps and death.

Two figures were notable in its formation, Fr. Ioann Kulighin and Hieromonk Daniel Tudor. Fr. Ioann was a Russian priest who had lived at Optina Monastery in Russia. He fled from the Soviet terror in Russia and eventually came to Romania. He brought with himself the deep stream of hesychasm that flowed in Optina. The Optina Elders are renowned for having a major role in the revival of the practice of the Jesus Prayer in Russia during the Nineteenth Century. Interestingly enough, the hesychastic life was reignited in Russia through the disciples of St. Paisius Velichkovsky (1722-1794), who was born in Poltava (modern-day Ukraine) and passed away in Neamt, Romania. Optina was one of the center points that kept alive the patristic teachings of St. Paisius’ disciples. St. Paisius is one of the primary sources for the revival of the practice of the Jesus Prayer in Romania and subsequently Russia.

The holy Elder Sofian, a participant in the Burning Bush gives this testimony regarding Fr. Ioann, “This Father Ioann, from when he was little, from a very young age, had mastered the Jesus Prayer. Father Ioann prayed unceasingly. Optina, where he was raised, was a very spiritual place with elders who practiced this prayer of the heart. And I tell you that until I met Father Ioann, I had not met a priest or a Christian who truly had unceasing prayer. For example, Father was asked about different things about his country, about communist Russia, about his life (he had suffered greatly in the communist prisons). And while he was engaged in these responses, I put my hand on his shoulder and asked him: “Father Ioann, are you praying now?” “Yes, Father, I am praying,” he responded to me. Even though he was speaking with others, in the midst of an explanation, his heart was praying. And this did not only occur during the day, but also at night, all the time. His heart prayed with this short prayer. For many years, Father Ioann’s calling on the Lord had descended from the mind into the heart. He prayed when he talked, when he ate, and when he walked. Prayer was like breathing for him. He prayed in his sleep too.”² In 1947, Fr. Ioann was arrested by the Communists who had taken over Romania. He was deported back to Russia where he died as a confessor for the Lord.

Fr. Daniel, in the world known as Sandu, was a Romanian intellectual, journalist, poet, and philosopher who, when he visited Mt. Athos out of curiosity, had a profound conversion to Jesus Christ. An account of his conversion says, “His total conversion to the spiritual life occurred, however, as a result of a trip he made to the Holy Mountain. At that time, there was a woman journalist in France who wrote defamatory articles about the monks of Athos, claiming that she had visited the Mountain disguised as a man. Intrigued, and at the same time curious and hungering for any novelty, as would any journalist, Sandu Tudor came to the monastic port of Daphne and stepped off the boat dressed in summer clothes with shorts, a sport shirt, and a rucksack on his back. God, Who is a hunter of rebellious souls– those who have something of the Holy Apostle Paul’s zeal– caused Sandu Tudor to come upon a wandering Romanian monk from the category of ‘beggars’, who wander from monastery to monastery, working for food and clothing. This monk said to Sandu Tudor: ‘If you want to know the mystery of the Holy Mountain, put on long pants, let your beard grow, and come with me; but you must do everything that I do. Many like you see the libraries, treasures, or holy relics and return home knowing nothing. Monks do not reveal the secrets of the monastic life to tourists; these leave in the same way they came.’ This proposal seemed logical to Sandu Tudor, and from that moment he began to do what the monk Averky did.”³ As he followed the Monk Averky around Athos, his heart underwent a true conversion and he left Athos a new man in Christ Jesus. Upon returning to Romania, Sandu eventually abandoned his former way of life and entered the path of monasticism. These two men, Fr. Ioann and Fr. Daniel, set afire by deep encounter and love for our Lord Jesus and prayer of the heart, were pivotal in forming the Burning Bush.

A World on Fire

The world of the 1940s had been scorched by the fires of hell. From Russia the lava-like vomit of Satan was spewing forth from the Bolsheviks, and Europe was smoldering in Hades like ashes of two wars, the likes of which the world had never seen, the fires of which had ravaged through Africa, the Middle East, even to the Far East. Like the Three Holy Youths, Christians found themselves cast into another fiery furnace constructed by the Nebuchadnezzars of the age. The holy Fathers in Romania at this time understood that the only way to turn back the fires of hell was through the Divine fire that burns and yet does not consume, it is a life-giving flame that preserves a person from the fires of hell that endlessly consume and destroy and ultimately end in darkness. The Divine fire purifies, soothes, and nourishes a person, guiding him to eternal life in the light of Truth. Therefore, they lit the fire of prayer and life in the Holy Spirit.

Fr. Roman Braga, thus, describes the Burning Bush as “a mystical volcano.” A holy fire was erupting on the world one that would counteract the demonic inferno.

He further paints this picture of the spiritual struggle of the time, “We suddenly found ourselves in the presence of Communism, this Soviet beast with an apocalyptic stench, with an odor of vodka and military sweat, which filled the country with posters, carnivals, gatherings, dirty media, political prostitution, and an overturning of values. We were overwhelmed with horror that this juggernaut would transform us into an anonymous, formless mass without personal conscience or responsibility. Where could you flee, except into the depths of your being? Where could you hide, if not in the chambers of your soul?”⁴ My dear reader, with very little alteration this paragraph could easily be applied to our day. The gears attempting to grind humanity into the formless mass man have, it seems, cranked up. The modern tools for the task have become more sophisticated.

Having a deep Orthodox consciousness, the fellowship understood that behind the crass material manifestations, behind the base politics, was a spirit, and for certain a demonic one. Thus, it could not be ultimately overcome by any weapons of man. As the Lord spoke to Zerubbabel of old through the Prophet Zechariah when Jerusalem and the Temple were is ruins and the Hebrews were subject to captivity, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord” (cf. Zech. 4:6).

One author states, “Between 1944 and 1964, Romanian Orthodox Christians were imprisoned in large numbers, for political reasons. They have been regarded not as individual victims, nor just as members of a particularly vulnerable group targetted in a political climate of ‘scientific atheism’, but in a theological and eschatological light, as part of a cosmic conflict between good and evil. Within the overall context of imprisonment … the USSR-inspired ‘re-education’ programme, carried out primarily on Orthodox students in Piteşti prison, 1949–1951, to produce the New Man for the new communist era … the Orthodox group, Rugul Aprins [The Burning Bush] … was deeply rooted in the monastic life, first at Antim Monastery, Bucharest, then more widespread, involving Orthodox monastics, theologians, intellectuals from many walks of life and students from a variety of disciplines, many of whom were imprisoned, some to the point of death. The communist New Man emerges as a walking parody of the Christian vision of the human person; in both the above groups, martyrdom appears as enigma, for extant evidence attests to holiness and maximal human freedom attained by many, in the most extreme suffering.”⁵

The Burning Bush group intuitively knew that the battle was first and foremost spiritual and cosmic. The demonic spirit of Communism sought to completely obliterate Christianity. That spiritual goal of darkness has not changed in our day. One modern Romanian figure, Mr. Neamtu, makes this interesting observation, “Leon Trosky believed that a complete abolition of religion will be attained only when there’s a fully developed socialist structure free from mystery. On the contrary, the members of the Burning Bush group dedicated their lives to an ongoing exploration of the mystery of existence, of the mystery of the human consciousness, and the the mystery of Christ.”⁶

Spiritual Resistance

The Burning Bush group was not a narrow political movement. It did not seek to oppose the evil politics of its time through a counter-acting political structure. It sought to do spiritual warfare on a deeper level, through living in the ever-Conquering Mystery of Christ Jesus it opposed the mystery of lawlessness. The focal point of the Burning Bush was the freedom of man in Christ Jesus, this freedom stood in stark contrast to the “freedom” that Communism was forcing on all. Let us not forget that anti-Christian ideologies love to loudly proclaim on the street corners “the freedom and rights of men,” while in fact, they produce systems that obliterate all true freedom.

Thus, Fr. Roman observes, “It (the Communist government, my note) was more afraid of the Burning Bush than of all the centers of resistance in the Carpathian Mountains. For the revolutionaries it had prisons and capital punishment. But what could be done about this “center” in man that could not be controlled, and about which Lunaciarski wrote in one of his letters to Lenin: ‘If you want to dominate people, kill their intimacy;”.⁷ Modern systems hate true Christianity because it liberates the hearts of men and unites them in a authentic community of persons through the Church, while the goal of most modern systems is to enslave and control men through any possible means and fragment them into isolated individuals. The Burning Bush opposed the new spiritual Pharaoh that sought to enslave not only the people of God but all people.

Authentic fellowship, community, and intimacy, are vital to substantial living. Thus, a major target of secular ideologies has been the community of the family, expressed in Christianity in both God-ordained marriage and monasticism. It is superfluous to recount the most evident results of the focused attack on family in the surrounding society. Thus, the cultivation of a family, most of all united in Jesus Christ, is of the utmost importance in our days. The Body of Christ unites all in divine fellowship, here all the families and persons unite in the one Family, the one Body, of Christ. Here authentic human community can flourish. Yet, if the members of the true Church can scarcely get along, what does that bode for the world?

Fr. Sofian provides more details for the mosaic of our understanding, “At Antim Monastery in Bucharest, not during the time of the Babylonian or the Egyptian captivity, but during the time of the Communist captivity, a spiritual life was preserved without interruption with the help of God … As you know, the communists came to power in 1945 and installed themselves with great boldness. They changed all of the ordinances that had existed up until then through a kind of societal “renewal,” which in fact would go on to pervert our Romanian and Orthodox Christian identity, it would go on to change it into hatred toward God and into unbelief. Moses once wanted to free his people from captivity in Egypt and for them to all go pray in the wilderness. But Pharaoh did not give them permission. (Exodus 5:1-5) Once the communists came to power, prayer was not really allowed here either. Many monasteries were greatly oppressed, at the same time as great disturbances and changes to the country’s ordinances took place.”

He then elucidates what became the vital center, the spiritual tools, that were indispensable in the spiritual struggle into which they entered, “An invisible flame burned, being lit on the Holy Altar table, from the heart of the Divine Liturgy, and it encompassed all the speakers with its light, as well as the listeners who gathered in the monastery library. This group of preachers took the name “Burning Bush.” The principal problem which we discussed—from the practical, historical, and mystical point of view—was the Divine Liturgy in the Holy Altar, as well as the Jesus Prayer. Thus, from the Holy Altar to the altar of the heart; because the heart is the true liturgical celebrant! That is, an inner liturgy exists within each of us and it is continually served. This is the ideal; an ideal that is easy to fulfill if there is a desire for the Jesus Prayer in the heart … Thus, this movement, like Moses’ movement in Egypt, truly was against the spirit of Pharaoh. We, however, were against the spiritual works of the communists who sought the de-Christianization of souls.”⁸

I believe that the perceptive reader will see the direct correlations to the continued spiritual struggles of our own times. Although not extremely large in number, the Burning Bush group became a towering adversary to the wicked spiritual Pharaoh of their day. As Fr. Braga noted above, the Communist leaders feared these men more than the large armed resistance groups that opposed them.

This is part one and I will continue to explore, examine, and extract conclusions from the spiritual furnace of the Burning Bush in a subsequent article. Until then, please stay tuned.

1I am speaking of specifically the very evident anti-Christian ideologies that were originally formulated in Western Europe, this is not a wholesale characterization of all Western thought.

2 https://romelders.substack.com/p/elder-sofian-may-the-whole-world

3 https://www.candelarugulaprins.ro/en/the-burning-bush-archimandrite-roman-braga-%E2%80%A02015/#:~:text=The%20Burning%20Bush%20Movement%20was%20a%20mystical%20volcano%20in%20Romania,experiencing%20a%20loss%20of%20values.

4Ibid.

5Hall, Christine. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261885133_Human_freedom_and_the_enigma_of_martyrdom_in_the_Romanian_Orthodox_Church_1944-1964

6 Eastern Orthodoxy in Communist Romania: the Burning Bush Movement (youtube.com) cf. Minute marker 9:30.

7 https://www.candelarugulaprins.ro/en/the-burning-bush-archimandrite-roman-braga-%E2%80%A02015/#:~:text=The%20Burning%20Bush%20Movement%20was%20a%20mystical%20volcano%20in%20Romania,experiencing%20a%20loss%20of%20values.

8 https://romelders.substack.com/p/elder-sofian-may-the-whole-world