The Curious Case of Mr. Oliver Jens Schmitt or about the Falsification of the Romanian Orthodox Church History

Abstract

Abstract In this chapter, the book titled „The State Church or The In-State Church? A history of the Romanian Orthodox Church 1918-2023“ (Biserica de stat sau Biserica în stat? O istorie a Bisericii Ortodoxe Române 1918-2023) is analyzed. The book appeared in 2023, at the Humanitas Publishing House in Bucharest, signed by Professor Oliver Jens Schmitt from the University of Vienna. At the beginning of the text, after a review of the most important authors, who wrote both about the appearance of the book and about its launch, basic volume issues are addressed. It is an analysis of the preface as well as other aspects. Particular attention is paid to the fourth chapter which dealt with the relationship between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the communist dictatorship between 1944 and 1989.