Orthodoxy and the Cold War

Winner of the George Blazyca Prize 2008

' This superbly researched, important book looks at how the Romanian Orthodox Church accommodated itself to atheistic communist rule. Combining an ancient tradition of working with state power with the more recent one of promoting ultra-nationalism, the Church survived the early years of communism by collaborating when necessary. Then, as Romania' s communists became increasingly nationalistic, the Church joined them in the common goal of furthering nationalistic causes. Thus, like other Eastern Orthodox churches, it was neither totally craven and submissive, nor all that courageously resistant, but something in between that turned out to serve both its own interests and those of the Party-State. How this worked is a lesson for all those interested in trying to understand how religious and lay power can learn to work together in dictatorships despite having what at first seem to be harshly incompatible ideologies, but also why ultimately Orthodoxy failed to produce strong dissent. ' - Daniel Chirot, University of Washington, Seattle, USA

' An important contribution to the discussion on religion during the Cold War and the inner dynamics of communist states. Leustean argues convincingly that the period under discussion provides one of the most controversial examples of the dynamics between religion and politics in communist East-Central Europe. In addressing issues of significance to historians, social scientists, andtheologians, the book will provide a valuable case-study for students of the region. ' - Dennis Deletant, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London, UK

' This beautifully clear and carefully researched study, taking into account much new material, focuses on the fraught, complicated and ambiguous church-state relations in Romania, particularly in the period of ' national communism' . It tells us much about the use made of the Church by the regime, to buttress centralised power at home and to serve foreign policy objectives abroad, and is as fascinating in its way as the better-known case of Poland. This is essential reading for those interested in the survival of religion under communism. ' - David Martin, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK

' . . . this book is highly commended. ' - Mainstream: Christian Understanding Across Europe

' . . . a well-documented, well-written, insightful reader on the Church-State relations in Communist Romania until 1965. . . Its sober perspective and use of previously unexplored archives also make it an excellent addition to Romanian scholarship. . . ' - Romanian Political Science Review

' New ground is broken by Lucian Leustean in understanding the role played by the Orthodox Church in communist power politics during the Cold War. . . [an] impressive study. . . ' - European History Quarterly

' . . . [an] excellent study. . . The work is intensively documented. . . It is also well written, rationally organized, and easy to follow; I recommend it. ' - Paul. E. Michelson, Slavic Review

' . . . a valuable work, well documented and well written. It provides an important contribution to the study of the contemporary history of Romania as well as of religious life under Communism. ' - Totalitarian Movements and Political Religions