Akathist to Cornelius Codreanu, Confessor for the Orthodox Faith
Composed by a Spiritual Son of Father Justin Pârvu of Petru Voda Monastery
Note from the Author: When the Captain was assassinated, Carol II’s executioners poured acid and concrete on the grave in which he was buried. Why did they do this? It is because when the body was exhumed, traces of holiness would have been observed, uncorrupted relics, myrrh: all the things found in the tombs of saints. Recognizing the danger to themselves, they desecrated the Captain’s remains to keep the miracle secret. Nevertheless, the people know. They sense it. The Apostle, Confessor, and Captain of the Romanian Nation: Cornelius Codreanu
The Troparion of Blessed Cornelius Codreanu, 8th Tone:
Thy Cross, protecting him from birth, and the Archangel Michael hearing his cry, O Lord, the Apostle and Captain of the Nation Cornelius Codreanu appeared and delivered this land into Thy hands, which guard it by the prayers of the Birthgiver of God, O Thou Who lovest mankind, and art the help of the Romanians.
The Kontakion of Blessed Cornelius Codreanu, 3rd Tone:
Cornelius Codreanu and the legionaries testify, for they became a sacrifice for the Cross and the law of the fathers, with which sacrifice they put to shame the Pharisees, Bolsheviks, and pagans, and they emboldened the Christians who found victory under the Archangel’s sword and made themselves a model to be imitated by the nation.
The Unseated Hymn to Saint Cornelius Codreanu the Confessor
Priest: Blessed is our God, always now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen. Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee. O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things; Treasury of Blessings, and Giver of Life — come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Good One.
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us!
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us!
Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now
and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Master, pardon our transgressions. Holy One, look upon and heal our infirmities, for Thy name’s sake.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now
and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
Our Father, Who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Priest: For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power and the Glory, of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, now and ever and unto ages of ages.
Reader: Amen.
Lord, have mercy. (12 times)
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost, now
and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen.
O come, let us worship God, our King.
O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ, our King and our God.
O come, let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and our God.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned and done this evil before Thee, that Thou mightest be justified in Thy words, and prevail when Thou art judged.
For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, Thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom hast Thou made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice.
Turn Thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Ghost from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and with Thy governing Spirit establish me. I shall teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back unto Thee.
Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with wholeburnt offerings Thou shalt not be pleased. A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise.
Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Zion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar
1st Hymn on the Scroll (Kontakion):
God revealed thee as a great defender and Captain of the Romanian nation when, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, thou didst found the Legion of the Archangel Michael, through which the nation was enabled to hear the call and to fulfill the ultimate goal: Arise in the name of the Savior. For this, we offer praise with Romania in the name of the Holy Trinity: Rejoice, O Holy Cornelius: the Captain, Apostle, and Confessor of Romania!
1st Stanza (Ikos):
Joy thou broughtest when thou wast enlivened at the crossroads of two centuries, as a “sword between two worlds,” showing thyself as one enlightened and summoning the nation to revive the ancestral dignity. For this, thou ought to hear, with all the saints, these Christian hymns:
Rejoice, O son of Romania.
Rejoice, thou chosen to inspire thy countrymen with a heavenly goal.
Rejoice, thou servant of the land of the fathers.
Rejoice, its exaltation to the spiritual heights.
Rejoice that thou hast raised the nation to the feet of the Throne of God.
Rejoice that thou hast shown its need of sanctification.
Rejoice that thou art the Captain of the Legion and through it of the nation.
Rejoice that thou didst wish to set the earthly homeland on the Royal Path.
Rejoice, O Defender of the Cross.
Rejoice, thou who strikest fear to the enemy in battle.
Rejoice, O thou through whom the virtues of the nation are fulfilled.
Rejoice, for many souls cry out to thee with honor.
Rejoice, O Holy Cornelius: the Captain, Apostle, and Confessor of Romania!
2nd Hymn on the Scroll:
Thou wast named for the saint on whose day thou wast born, and like the celebrated Centurion Cornelius, thy calling as a soldier of Christ was made manifest; truly imitating his example, thine unfailing faith was found to be higher than the whole world, thou didst offer to God thy labor in exalting the worship of the Word, singing to Him: Hallelujah!
2nd Stanza:
Thine ancestors hailed from Bukovina, and their names were known in times of trouble as the people of the plains and mountains; for the sake of the Romanians didst thou strive with love to attain their eternal salvation. It is meet, therefore, in following such example that we offer to thee songs of grace:
Rejoice, O heart born from the heart of the land.
Rejoice that the heart of the land hath grown in thy heart.
Rejoice that in the school of Dealu Monastery, thou wast raised in the shadow of Michael the Brave.
Rejoice that virtue was poured in thy blood while there.
Rejoice that thou wast inflamed with zeal at thy father’s side in battle.
Rejoice, for thou hast learned determination and courage.
Rejoice, thou who from thy youth hast been valiant.
Rejoice, thou who shed not one tear in fear.
Rejoice, for thou hast not feared to face death.
Rejoice that thou hast fought with thy bare hands.
Rejoice that God set in thee a holy ordinance.
Rejoice that thou gavest the nation a new school for the Christian life.
Rejoice, O Holy Cornelius: the Captain, Apostle, and Confessor of Romania!
3rd Hymn on the Scroll:
The echo of time shouts thy name, Codreanu, from the Dobrina forest like a legend, for thou initiated the action and resistance of the Bolshevik danger to Romania, wishing in every way to oppose the satanic ordeal so that the Christian hymn may be heard sung in all the lands of the four corners of the earth: Hallelujah!
3rd Stanza:
The troubles of the times overtook the whole land, false prophets
and foreign nations lied to the Romanians as a rabble; you alone
stood up to them with courage, and then the red flag fell, and the
world, seeing your rising up, uttered a valiant shout:
Rejoice that thou hast reached Iași, the Christian city of the Romanian soul.
Rejoice that thou hast done well in the fight against Satan.
Rejoice that the spirit of thy fathers was embodied by thee.
Rejoice that thou lovest the soil of thy country.
Rejoice that thou wast not blinded by Bolshevik philosophy.
Rejoice, thou undaunted warrior for Christ against the Bolsheviks.
Rejoice that thou hast continued the tradition of thine ancestors.
Rejoice that thou hast stood guard over the homeland and are worthy to follow.
Rejoice that, for the Lord, thou hast raised the Romanian flag victoriously.
Rejoice, for thou hast inspired a nation with a will of justice.
Rejoice, defender of the national consciousness.
Rejoice, defender of the righteousness of the Orthodox faith.
Rejoice, O Holy Cornelius: the Captain, Apostle, and Confessor of Romania!
4th Hymn on the Scroll:
The Silent Generation spread light and witnessed holiness, battled poisonous and heretical teachings, and opposed the plots of the satanic assembly. As the battle became more fierce, the whole nation cried with a loud voice: Hallelujah!
4th Stanza:
Thou wast an obstacle to the oncoming destruction when thou becamest the head of those who possessed the love of learning, and although the devil and his angels sought to divert you from the road that leads on high, thy work as a leader compelled them to follow the truth of the Lord, and with them, we offer these true words to thee:
Rejoice, O youthful zeal of high sense and pure heart.
Rejoice that thou madest the university a city of faith.
Rejoice that thou wast a resistance to the communists.
Rejoice that the Christian ministry hath been thy shield.
Rejoice that thou was driven from the pagan schools.
Rejoice that the Romanians followed thee to Christ.
Rejoice that thou hast set the arguments against Christians to flight.
Rejoice that Freemasonry failed to destroy thee.
Rejoice that thou obeyedest the calling of the nation.
Rejoice that thou wast imprisoned with the worthy.
Rejoice that thou settest thyself at the service of the nation.
Rejoice that thou broughtest thy nation closer to God.
Rejoice, O Holy Cornelius: the Captain, Apostle, and Confessor of Romania!
5th Hymn on the Scroll:
The idea of the National-Christian defense of the country was borne by thee, and thou hast shown thyself as an opponent to the enemies of God’s commandments; thou wast imprisoned for fulfilling thy mission, such was the reward for a spirit of sacrifice in Romania, but to God didst thou a song of thanksgiving, and we, singing with thee, cry out: Hallelujah!
5th Stanza:
Thou wast made the bear sufferings for the sins of the nation, even unto death, in imitation of Christ Who suffered for the redemption of the whole world, but pain, wounds, and mockings strengthened thee, that thou oughtest come forth as pure as tears, as iron is purified in fire, we stand as torches without a lampstand singing of thy victory:
Rejoice, for thy body was beaten and afflicted.
Rejoice, thou hast not heaved a sigh.
Rejoice that thy hope was not broken.
Rejoice that thou hast fought against evil.
Rejoice, thou punishment for those guilty of betrayal.
Rejoice, thou who didst cut the chain of humiliation of so many brothers.
Rejoice, thou whose soul turmoiled to strengthen thy people.
Rejoice, thou deliverance from the snare of scorn.
Rejoice, thou whose mission was to strengthen Romania’s faith.
Rejoice, thou advancement of Christian thought and living.
Rejoice that thou didst make war with thine own sins first.
Rejoice that only then thou served as an example to all.
Rejoice, O Holy Cornelius: the Captain, Apostle, and Confessor of Romania!
6th Hymn on the Scroll:
The satanic assembly desired thy destruction, but when thou wast cornered, thou didst strike the executioner, deeply crushing him; then the occult wanted to destroy thee, but Heaven protected thee when the Romanian land raised a Christian song, singing to thee: Hallelujah!
6th Stanza:
The tongue cannot worthily tell how the multitude in one spirit was
transfigured — O unspeakable depth! For this, we praise in pure song:
Rejoice, O Passion-Bearing Romanian of Gherle and Jilave.
Rejoice that thou preparest the sacrifice of the Romanian people.
Rejoice for the good zeal thou laidest at the foundation of the nation.
Rejoice that the camps have restored the unity of the soul.
Rejoice, thou who inspirest the good fight.
Rejoice that thou art the leader of the Romanians both in heart and in mind.
Rejoice that thou turnest men into iron falcons.
Rejoice that thou directest thy country to heaven.
Rejoice that thou hast given a new movement to the Romanian
world.
Rejoice that thou hast placed it under the patronage of Archangel
Michael and the heavenly hosts.
Rejoice that thou hast founded a legion as in heaven on earth.
Rejoice, O Captain, that thy deputies hath called upon thee.
Rejoice, O Holy Cornelius: the Captain, Apostle, and Confessor of Romania!
7th Hymn on the Scroll:
The Legionary Movement was made up of those who held an unshaken belief, and they were bound to stand guard at the Icon, but those who doubted remained outside, for they could not boldly sing: Hallelujah!
7th Stanza:
Thou hast made straight the way for the Nation, and under the shield of the Archangel, they proceeded to the pure life, subduing the matter to the spirit and overthrowing the slavery to vain reasonings, to serve always as God hath ordained:
Rejoice, for thou hast overcome all kinds of want.
Rejoice that in one mind, thou hast gathered them all.
Rejoice, who had the Holy Ghost dwelling in thee.
Rejoice that thou receivedest protection from Christ.
Rejoice that thou wast rewarded with mockery and blows.
Rejoice that thou hast cherished virtue and kindness.
Rejoice that thou dost ask for faith in the God who strengthens His servant.
Rejoice that thou hast put thy trust in the eternal destiny.
Rejoice that thou cultivatedest love of thy fellow man.
Rejoice, for the inner state springs forth through song.
Rejoice that the four opening lines guide the legionary spirit.
Rejoice that in life and death, thou art our guide.
Rejoice, O Holy Cornelius: the Captain, Apostle, and Confessor of Romania!
8th Hymn on the Scroll:
Christ the God-Man is the cornerstone on which the Legion is established, and the renewal of man — not the political program — will overcome darkness. And the Legionary Movement — which defends the altars of the Church — through its school will help the common man to overcome the evil within him, the adversaries of the nation, and all the unseen powers of the devil, so that he may chant to God: Hallelujah!
8th Stanza:
The ancestral land is our silent calling, for in it our forefathers sleep, and we have it under our feet, and we have in heaven our place of rest, manifestly so, from which place hath holiness in the nation hath sprung forth:
Rejoice, for the new man rises with the dawn.
Rejoice that thou hast taught a school that breaks forth through history.
Rejoice that the patience of the nation hath been rewarded.
Rejoice, thou nobility of a fruitful soul.
Rejoice that thou raisest the highest spiritual fortifications.
Rejoice that thou helpest to keep us from the sins of the world.
Rejoice, thou living Legionary spirit.
Rejoice, thou embodiment of struggles, prayers, and offerings.
Rejoice in thy labors to exalt the spirit of the nation
Rejoice that suffering is the wages of forgiveness.
Rejoice, thou sacrifice for the nation in the name of Christ.
Rejoice, O warrior, thou who wieldest the sword of the Archangel.
Rejoice, O Holy Cornelius: the Captain, Apostle, and Confessor of Romania!
9th Hymn on the Scroll:
The retreat to the mountains is the way of escape when some other challenge will come to us; and the last speech will shake us, and the whole world with Romania will be resurrected by death, singing to thee: Hallelujah!
9th Stanza:
Risen to new life, the Romanians have followed thee, have joined themselves in the Guard as brothers in the Holy Ghost, having taken the blessing at the instigation of the ancestors, being likened to the Saints in all things Christian:
Rejoice that thou hast climbed the mountain of suffering.
Rejoice that the forest of wild beasts did not srike thee with fear.
Rejoice that the swamp of despair hath not swallowed thy soul.
Rejoice that thou hast built the foundation of a new nation in Christ.
Rejoice that the steps of virtue are climbed in obedience.
Rejoice that in all things thou art a model of patience.
Rejoice, for thou hast aspired to do all in love.
Rejoice that in unity thou ever seest victory.
Rejoice that repentance hath wiped away many sins.
Rejoice that prayer hath overcome them all.
Rejoice, that thou doest with little idle talk.
Rejoice, for the new country grows in resurrection.
Rejoice, O Holy Cornelius: the Captain, Apostle, and Confessor of Romania!
10th Hymn on the Scroll:
The legionary school gave a perfect teaching to the Romanians and
the spirit of the faithful hath sprouted from the village of the plains
to the Carpathian peaks; and the whole world watched in
amazement when they saw how Moța and Marin — transfigured for
Christ — fell in Spain; having faith in the Cross, they fought with fervor so that all nations to hear and sing to thee: Hallelujah!
10th Stanza:
Thou, Codreanu, standest in the lead and the people follow thee, as a Legion doth the country laugh and the enemies are sorrowed, for the assembly, the march, the song, the camp, and the prison strengthen the young soul that in sacrifice gives its valor:
Rejoice, thou holy legionary youth.
Rejoice, thou that settest the country aflame.
Rejoice, thou departure from earthly joys.
Rejoice, thou arising from love of man.
Rejoice, thou promise of life in poverty.
Rejoice, for the ascetic life is our obligation.
Rejoice, thou freedom from bondage and vice.
Rejoice, for holy sacrifice is followed by fulfillment.
Rejoice, that thou aimest for the heights of the Church.
Rejoice, that thou hast been raised to same.
Rejoice, that Christ strengtheneth the nation against sin.
Rejoice, that the Resurrection will be her reward.
Rejoice, O Holy Cornelius: the Captain, Apostle, and Confessor of Romania!
11th Hymn on the Scroll:
The land saw thee as an archangel basking in the light of the Sun, from the Apuseni Mountains to the Dniester and from Pind to the Tisa; but with their hatred, the internationalists and occultists encircled thee, with persecutions, camps, and imprisonment, the assembly led the nation into darkness. Yet, from the depths of history, the century heard thy legionary call, and we join the nation in praying to thee: Hallelujah!
11th Stanza:
Trouble befell thy life because Satan could not bear that thou gavest the country strength, good counsel, and high purpose, and in the world’s carelessness he hath struck thee down, but he did not know that under the stone slab thy body hath become thy relics:
Rejoice, Cornelius Zelea Codreanu, that thou art present to hear our call.
Rejoice, O Captain, that thou guardest us from Heaven.
Rejoice that they students hath sacrificed themselves.
Rejoice, for in persecution more lives hath been sanctified.
Rejoice, for all the martyrs have tasted life in death.
Rejoice that thou findest in the fields a good gift of pure wheat.
Rejoice that a new, life-giving wine flows from the vine.
Rejoice that the land awaits thine appearance in another age.
Rejoice that the desires of the past hath been fulfilled.
Rejoice that the present hath borne fruit through thy confession.
Rejoice that the legionary future is sealed.
Rejoice that the eternity of the nation hath been chiseled in stone.
Rejoice, O Holy Cornelius: the Captain, Apostle, and Confessor of Romania!
12th Hymn on the Scroll:
Thine enemies did not want us to know of thy tomb, but thou growest to an even greater extent, thou art in the temple beneath the Cross and from heaven dost thou look upon thy progeny; and from on high we have power — as thy successor had power to proclaim the creeds thou didst deliver to the world as it thunders through history — over space, over time, we hear thee as we deliver that praise which arisest from our hearts, singing to thee: Hallelujah!
12th Stanza:
The skies are dark, for new torments are in preparation, but heaven will always be with those who long for salvation. The servant of God desiring the past and the present to be fulfilled in the future will learn from the Captain as he leads us to Christ on the road to salvation:
Rejoice, for the students and teachers accompany thee,
Rejoice, for the peasants and laborers followed thee with great faith.
Rejoice, for the elders hath welcomed thee with open arms.
Rejoice, for the children counted admired thee in simplicity.
Rejoice, for mothers and daughters hath woven thy burial clothes.
Rejoice, for the strength with which thou didst accept thy fate.
Rejoice, for from the tombs thou goest forth to the resurrection.
Rejoice, for comfort hath thou become for the servants of the Lord
Rejoice, for thou strengthenest the faithful in every city and town.
Rejoice, for thou dost enliven many generations.
Rejoice, that thy suffering gathers high in heaven.
Rejoice, for the country hath gathered behind thine Iron Guard.
Rejoice, O Holy Cornelius: the Captain, Apostle, and Confessor of Romania!
13th Hymn on the Scroll:
O Captain Codreanu, when the oppressors fall and the enemies pay their dues, then shall the decree be fulfilled, “we shall soon triumph!” And the Lord will receive this dear victory in the altar, for it is the sacrifice of the Legion for the Romanian land, and when the Archangel trumpets, thou shalt hear with the saints how the nation raises to heaven the song of victory, singing with joy: Hallelujah!
O Captain Codreanu, when the oppressors fall and the enemies pay their dues, then shall the decree be fulfilled, “we shall soon triumph!” And the Lord will receive this dear victory in the altar, for it is the sacrifice of the Legion for the Romanian land, and when the Archangel trumpets, thou shalt hear with the saints how the nation raises to heaven the song of victory, singing with joy: Hallelujah!
O Captain Codreanu, when the oppressors fall and the enemies pay their dues, then shall the decree be fulfilled, “we shall soon triumph!” And the Lord will receive this dear victory in the altar, for it is the sacrifice of the Legion for the Romanian land, and when the Archangel trumpets, thou shalt hear with the saints how the nation raises to heaven the song of victory, singing with joy: Hallelujah!
1st Stanza:
Joy thou broughtest when thou wast enlivened at the crossroads of two centuries, as a “sword between two worlds,” showing thyself as one enlightened and summoning the nation to revive the ancestral dignity. For this, thou ought to hear, with all the saints, these Christian hymns:
Rejoice, O son of Romania.
Rejoice, thou chosen to inspire thy countrymen with a heavenly goal.
Rejoice, thou servant of the land of the fathers.
Rejoice, its exaltation to the spiritual heights.
Rejoice that thou hast raised the nation to the feet of the Throne of God.
Rejoice that thou hast shown its need of sanctification.
Rejoice that thou art the Captain of the Legion and through it of the nation.
Rejoice that thou didst wish to set the earthly homeland on the Royal Path.
Rejoice, O Defender of the Cross.
Rejoice, thou who strikest fear to the enemy in battle.
Rejoice, O thou through whom the virtues of the nation are fulfilled.
Rejoice, for many souls cry out to thee with honor.
Rejoice, O Holy Cornelius: the Captain, Apostle, and Confessor of Romania!
1st Hymn on the Scroll:
God revealed thee as a great defender and Captain of the Romanian nation when, by the inspiration of the Holy Ghost, thou didst found the Legion of the Archangel Michael, through which the nation was enabled to hear the call and to fulfill the ultimate goal: Arise in the name of the Savior. For this, we offer praise with Romania in the name of the Holy Trinity: Rejoice, O Holy Cornelius: the Captain, Apostle, and Confessor of Romania!
++++Here endeth the hymn.++++
Prayer of the Legionaries:
Thou didst appear as first among the angels and a second light from the Holy Trinity, O Michael the Wondrous Archangel, and accompanied by the angels faithful to God, thou didst wage war against the great dragon and his angels, the adversarial one called Satan. Thou hast cast down from heaven to Earth him that mocked God day and night, and hast defended the righteous day and night, and hast removed his wickedness from the Heavenly Kingdom, bringing peach and tranquility unto the ages of ages.
We, the unworthy servants of God and believers in the Savior Jesus Christ, enrolled in the Legion of Cornelius Zelea Codreanu, for the salvation of our Romanian Nation, pray to thee, Holy Archangel Michael, the prince of the heavenly hosts and most holy servant of the great God, be the protector and defender of our Legion, strengthen us in the true faith and help us to overcome by thy power all the devil’s devices, which are set to destroy a Christian and God-loving nation, our [Romanian] people. We implore thee, Holy Archangel Michael, who hast great power from God the Heavenly Father, to be present with our Legion, and with thy support may our Nation be saved, and we will humbly and with all our gratitude and humility glorify and bless thee unto the ages of ages. Amen.
Prayer of the Captain, Codreanu:
Take care, Lord, of all my people. Receive them under Thy shield. Forgive them. Give them rest. Give strength to the living over the adversaries, for the victory of Christian-Legionary [Romania] and the closeness to Thee, Lord, of my [Romanian] nation, in the hope of its resurrection. Amen.
Final Note
Vasile Posteucă (10 Sept 1912 - 21 Nov 1972) was a Romanian legionary and poet who worked mostly in exile (1941–1972).
He wrote in 1944 the following about the exhumation of Codreanu’s body in 1940:
“We recognize the Captain in the middle. He’s stronger than all of them. Upright as a Sessile Oak, crashed by the storm, with his forehead on Niki Constantinescu’s shoulder. (…) On the bank, the women of the dead weep sobbing. Mrs. Lilica’s face is all tears, in which the sun itself weeps. Moș Zelea groans like a wounded beast and his eyes, dry with weeping, pierce the sky to ask, so it seems, for a release, an understanding. (…) The striped, hollowed clothes of the dead are cleaned of the last threads of clay. Their faces and hands are black, attacked by acid. Someone bends down and cuts the noose from the Captain’s throat. In their haste, the murderers have forgotten to cut it off, though they have taken care to unload more bullets into the corpses, to give the impression that the 14 were shot at Tâncăbești. But the crimes of darkness always come to light and are accused. (…) Mrs. Lilica pulls out of the Captain’s coat pocket the little prayer book: the prayers of St. Anthony. Then she cuts the coat across his chest. Around his neck are still intact: the sack with the dirt and a few small crosses with the faces of the Savior and the Virgin Mary. All intact, untouched by dampness. The captain’s body itself seems to have passed from life. His chest is bulging, as if he wanted to get out of his coat, and beneath the white skin you can just make out the pink-blooded veins. It is indeed a marvel. The captain did not rot. While the other bodies are crumpled, his is whole, undecomposed. The half of the face that has not been touched by the soil is white and bright. (…) Mrs. Lilica gathers up the things she found with him, kisses them tearfully, then breaks down with a painful cry: ‘Cornelius! Cornelius! Cornelius!’ And the world begins to weep again. Under the shiver of a wind’s wing, the willows weep too, with big, yellow, dry leaf tears.”
So, as we can see, the body of Codreanu was found to be incorrupt even after it was buried under the soil for two years. This can well attest to his holiness and confirm the fact that, indeed, his remains showed signs of being holy relics.
May God preserve us by his Holy Prayers!
Amen!
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Notes on the Hymn and Translation from Kaleb:
- Cornelius Codreanu is not canonized as a Saint. This hymn exists out of the belief that he is a saint before God even if he is not canonized.
- All the above is the text of the Unseated Hymn as localized in translation.
- This is the link to the Romanian text of the Akathist.
- The Judgement of the Church is the highest on matters of religious life. If the Romanian Orthodox Church condemns Codreanu, or I receive instruction from my bishop to delete this hymn, then I will delete it.
- This hymn concerns a man involved in politics, but it does not exalt his political activity as the object of his veneration. Rather, it is the spiritual aspect of the Legionary Movement which is exalted, as clearly expressed in the 8th Hymn on the Scroll. This is why certain statements are made which are foolish from a political perspective but reasonable from a spiritual perspective, such as the line in the 1st Stanza, “Rejoice that thou art the Captain of the Legion and through it of the nation.” It is obvious that Cornelius never occupied a position as head of state or head of government in Romania, and so could not be called “Captain of Romania” from a political perspective. The phrase instead means that he became an example and motivating figure in the spiritual revival of the country.
- The text is thought to be written Brother Gabriel of Petru Vodă Monastery based on his personal testimony to receiving a blessing from Elder Justin Pârvu to compose an Unseated Hymn to Cornelius Codreanu:
“While I was involved in the editorial activity at the Petru Vodă Monastery, I went to Father Justin to get a blessing for a “Bouquet of Unseated Hymns of the New Romanian Saints.” I should mention that at that time (2012) I had a habitual devotion to Father Arsenius Boca, always promoting his opposition to ecumenism (a text disputed as not belonging to him), and being impressed by the multitude of people who confessed him as a saint and miracle worker. I told myself that not all that multitude of people could be deceived. I told Father Justin what I wanted to edit and I read to him the names of the saints whose unseated hymns I wanted to publish. Among them were: Father Elijah Lăcătușu, Father George Calciu, Captain Cornelius Zelea Codreanu, Father Hilarion Felea, Martyr Valeriu Gafencu (a new unseated hymn) and Father Arsenius Boca.”
This testimony is recorded here: https://apologeticum.ro/2017/03/marturia-mea-cu-parintele-justin-parvu-despre-parintele-arsenie-boca/ - This hymn was translated to English entirely by myself, Kaleb, on the entreaty of a Romanian Orthodox Christian who desired that the veneration of the Prison Saints of Romania be spread.
- The translation provided here is not word for word, but rather it is thought for thought. There are some intentional inconsistencies in the translation to fit the structure of the hymn, grammatical form, or English speaking custom. For example, the word “ţării” is translated to “earthly homeland” in Stanza 1, “land” in Stanza 2, “country” in Stanza 3, and “nation” in Stanza 8.
- Greater religious emphasis is placed on certain lines to eliminate confusion about what it is that Cornelius is being praised for. In Stanza 4, the native text says, “Rejoice, for the Romanians followed thee more vigorously,” but has been changed to “Rejoice that the Romanians followed thee to Christ.” And in Stanza 5, the line in the native text “Rejoice, strong faith in your Romanian mission” has been changed to “Rejoice, thou whose mission was to strengthen Romania’s faith.”
- The Kontakion to Cornelius has been slightly altered out of condescension to the common reader. The native text says, “they sacrifice themselves, with which they shame the Jews, Bolsheviks, and pagans,” but it has been changed to says, “with which sacrifice they put to shame the Pharisees, Bolsheviks, and pagans.” The use of the word “pharisee” encompasses the entire rabbinic tradition from which modern Judaism derives while also making use of a word that clearly identifies a Biblical concept that could not be mistaken for an incitement to ethnic disdain.
- Many statements are made about Romanians which have been changed to include all mankind. This is seen, for example, in the 8th Hymn on the Scroll where it says in the native text, “through its school will help the Romanian to overcome the evil within him.” In this line, “Romanian” is replaced with “common man.” This is not an inaccurate change, but it is a change nonetheless. Furthermore, it generalizes the entreaty to Cornelius that he may be a patron assisting all who want to enliven the faith of their nation, and not exclusively a patron to one nation. As it is written, “No prophet is accepted in his own country.” And in Stanza 8, “Rejoice, that the new Romanian rises with the dawn” becomes “Rejoice, for the new man rises with the dawn.”
Another example is found in the 1st Hymn on the Scroll, which says in the native text “we bring Romanian praise in the name of the Holy Trinity:,” which has been changed to “For this, we offer praise with Romania in the name of the Holy Trinity:.” This was done out of necessity, given that not all who sing this hymn will be Romanians, and anyone who sings it in English will not be capable of offering “Romanian praise.” So it has been generalized. - Philosophical ideologies that the English speaking world are unfamiliar with have been generalized. In Stanza 3, the line “the Christian city of the Romanian soul” says in the native text, “the Christian city of Romanianism.” Rather than include a complex and nuanced idea that would be subject to inquiry out of potential confusion, the word was generalized.
- Idioms that would be readily understood in the native language have been altered in translation to refer to what they mean rather than what they say. In the native text, a line in Stanza 3 says, “Rejoice, for the ‘light from the east’ hath not blinded thee.” This is a sarcastic reference to the Marxist-Communistic thought that institutionally arose, for the first time, in Eastern Europe: Russia. Obviously, we Orthodox Christians know that there is no light coming from this vain and materialist rationalism, but in order that such an idea might not accidentally be communicated to readers or listeners, the line was changed to say, “Rejoice that thou wast not blinded by Bolshevik philosophy.”
- Individual names have been almost entirely removed in translation.
- All mention of the “satanic assembly” is a reference to Revelation 2:9:
“I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.”
The reason for this is because the original Romanian text makes explicit mention of the Jews as being enemies of the Blessed Cornelius. This change is an attempt to maintain fidelity to the intention of the text itself without invoking scandal in those who read, sing, or hear the hymn. The goal was not to incite ethnic violence, just as it was not the goal to incite ethnic hatred of Cretans when Saint Paul said, “The Cretians are alway liars” (Titus 1:12).
