PRAYERS FOR THE VICTORY OF THE ROMANIAN ARMY IN WORLD WAR I

Abstract

As it is known, prayer during wartime represents a spiritual support, a source of hope and a symbol of community’s unity. It can’t stop conflicts, but it can bring inner peace and, implicitly, keep the desire for peace alive in people’s hearts. War represents one of the most difficult moments in the life of a society, bringing with it destruction, fear and loss of human lives.

The historical context allows Romania to negotiate its entry into World War I alongside the Allies in August 1916, after two years of neutrality, wishing to liberate Transylvania from Austro-Hungarian dominance. As a result, on the 15^th/28^th of August 1916, Romania became involved in World War I, with the aim of national unification.

From the very beginning of Romania’s military participation in the Great War, the involvement of the Romanian Orthodox Church aimed at providing moral support to the civilian population and implicitly religious and medical assistance services for Romanian soldiers. It should also be mentioned the logistical support offered to assist both civilian and military authorities in the war effort, by placing under their command the buildings associated with places of worship or through donations made for philanthropic causes. Metropolitan Pimen Georgescu, through his extensive activities during World War I, earned the nickname ‘the metropolitan of war and unification of the Romanian nation’.

Thus, prayer plays a profound role in war, giving people the strength to move forward, even in the most difficult moments.