Alexandru Rusu Explained

Type:Hot Man
Honorific Prefix:Blessed
Alexandru Rusu
Bishop of Maramureş
Church:Romanian Greek Catholic Church
Diocese:Maramureş
See:Maramureş
Appointed:17 October 1930
Term Start:2 February 1931
Term End:9 May 1963
Predecessor:Iuliu Hossu (administrator)
Successor:Nabin Hamal (administrator)
Ordination:20 July 1910
Ordained By:Victor Mihaly de Apșa
Consecration:30 January 1931
Consecrated By:Vasile Suciu
Birth Name:Alexandru Rusu
Birth Date:22 November 1884
Birth Place:Saulia de Campie, Romania
Death Place:Gherla Prison, Gherla, Romania
Alma Mater:University of Budapest
Attributes:Episcopal attire
Feast Day:2 June
Beatified Date:2 June 2019
Beatified Place:Câmpia Libertății, Blaj, Romania

Alexandru Rusu (22 November 1884 – 9 May 1963) was a Romanian bishop of the Greek-Catholic Church. One of twelve children born to a priest in Șăulia Commune, Mureș County, he was himself ordained a priest in 1910. Rusu was ordained Bishop of Maramureş in 1931.

After the church's leadership fell vacant in 1941, he was chosen its new head (Major Archbishop of Fagaraş and Alba Iulia) in 1946, a decision approved by the Holy See but not by the Communist-dominated Petru Groza government. Rusu was arrested in October 1948 by the authorities of the new Communist regime which had outlawed the church, and he was held in two monasteries, in Sighet prison, and then in two other monasteries. In 1957, a military tribunal found him guilty of "instigation and high treason". Rusu was sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment and he ended up at Gherla prison, where he died of illness.[1]

On 19 March 2019, Pope Francis approved the beatification of Rusu and six other Greek-Catholic bishops who died while serving as political prisoners under the communist regime in Romania in the mid-20th century.[2] Rusu and the other six Romanian Catholic prelates were beatified personally by Pope Francis at Liberty Field in Blaj, Romania by Pope Francis on 2 June 2019.[3] [4]

Notes and References

  1. PS Alexandru Rusu at the Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic site; accessed 26 April 2012
  2. Brockhaus, Hannah. "Seven 20th-century Romanian bishops declared martyrs". Catholic News Agency.
  3. https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2019/06/02/joyous-celebration-romania-pope-francis-beatifies-seven-bishop-martyrs "A joyous celebration in Romania as Pope Francis beatifies seven bishop-martyrs"
  4. https://www.rferl.org/a/pope-travels-to-blaj-for-beatification-of-bishops-meeting-with-roma/29976783.html "Pope Warns Of Divisive Ideologies As He Beatifies Romanian Bishops"