Archbishop Valerian (Trifa)

Archbishop Valerian (Trifa) (1914-1987)

Early life of Viorel D Trifa

Viorel D Trifa was born on 24 June, 1914, in Campeni, Transylvania, Romania, which was at that time a part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. His father was Dionisie Trifa, a school-teacher. Viorel was raised in the bosom of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

His education began in his native village and continued at the Horia "Gymnasium" of Campeni, and then at the Gheorghe High School ("gymnasium") in Sibiu. He graduated in 1931.

Higher education

Viorel continued his education in the Theological School of the University of Iaşi (Jassy), where he studied theology. He graduated "cum laude" in 1935.

After graduation, he studied theology, letters, and philosophy at the University of Bucharest.

He also received a Bachelor in Theology from the University in Chișinău in Moldova.

He found employment as an administrator for "Oastea Domnuli" Publishing House which printed and distributed religious publications and books.

Viorel furthered his education by enrollment in a PhD program at the School of Theology in Bucharest. In 1939, he studied history and journalism at the University of Berlin in Germany, after which he returned to Romania.

It was as a student that he had associations with the legionnaire movement of the "Iron Guard" (a far-right movement and political party in Romania in the period from 1927 into the early part of World War II, which was ultra-nationalist, anti-communist, and which promoted the Orthodox Christian Faith). This association created events that would follow him throughout the rest of his life. He was a contributor to and editor of the "Libertatea" religious newspaper of Orastie, a city in Hunedoara County, south-western Transylvania.

In 1940, he was president of the National Union of Romanian Christian Students.

In January, 1941, Viorel became involved in the confrontation between the new leader of the Iron Guard, Horia Sima, and Ion Antonescu (a Romanian military officer and marshal who presided over 2 successive wartime dictatorships as Prime Minister and "Conducător" during most of World War II). This confrontation resulted in a failed rebellion, and in Viorel's fleeing to Germany. In contrast to his flight to Germany, hearsay and a supposed witness afterwards placed him as head of the Romanian Iron Guard in Bucharest in 1941 with Secret Service (SS) links to the Gestapo. The Iron Guard unit went on a rampage as it sought out Jews for execution.

Exile ; political prisoner, 1941-1945

In Nazi Germany, he was interned for 4 years as a political prisoner in the camps of Sachsenhausen, Buchenwald, and Dachau.

Freed at the end of World War II, and as a “displaced person”, Viorel served briefly as secretary to Metropolitan Visarion (Puiu) in Vienna and Paris before he was engaged as a professor of ancient history and French language at a Roman Catholic college in Italy.

Emigration to the USA, 1950

On 17 July, 1950, Viorel entered the USA under the “Displaced Persons Immigration Act”, and he became a writer for the Romanian language newspaper “Solia” in Cleveland, Ohio.

As Romania came under communist control, the government (through the Romanian Synod of Bishops) attempted to control the émigré Orthodox diocese in the USA (which included parishes in Canada) that had originally been organised by Bishop Polycarp (Moruşca). The vast majority of parishes resisted. They called for a council to establish self-government and to elect a Vicar-Bishop pending Bishop Polycarp’s return from Romania.

Monastic tonsure, 1951

On 2 July, 1951, Viorel was chosen to be the Vicar-Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America (ROEA).

He was tonsured to be a monk, and he was given the name “Valerian”.

Episcopal ordination, 1952

On 27 April, 1952, Archimandrite Valerian (Trifa) was ordained to the Holy Episcopate as the Bishop of Detroit.

Archbishop Valerian (Trifa)

Episcopal service

Upon ordination as a bishop, Bishop Valerian (Triva) served at first as Vicar-Bishop of Detroit, since there yet remained hope for the return of Bishop Polycarp (Moruşca).

As the leader of the Romanian Episcopate, Bishop Valerian (Trifa) provided the leadership that rallied a Romanian Episcopate which was at that time in disarray and on the verge of becoming extinct.

Under his direction, the number of priests and parishes grew dramatically, and religious education flourished. A rundown farm near Jackson, Michigan became known as the "Vatra Romanies" (Romanian Hearth). It was expanded and developed, and became the Diocesan Centre of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, the site of religious summer camps for youth, a training centre for various church lay persons, as well as a meeting-place for Orthodox conferences consisting of priests and lay people.

Vatra buildings, Bishop's Residence

Vatra building

The seat of the Romanian Episcopate is located at Saint George Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in Southfield, Michigan. Its construction was directed by Bishop Valerian. He laid the corner stone in 1959, and then he officiated at its sanctification in 1961.

In 1957, Bishop Valerian (Trifa) became a naturalised citizen of the USA. During the years that followed, he became an influential and popular bishop. During these years, he became a governing board member of the National Council of Churches. He became friends with both J. Edgar Hoover and then Vice President Richard Nixon. Later, after his election, President Nixon had asked him to give the opening prayer in the US Senate in 1955.

Ruling Bishop of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate, 1958

After Bishop Polycarp’s repose in Romania on 26 October, 1958, Bishop Valerian became the diocesan bishop of the Romanian Episcopate in North America (ROEA).

In 1960, the Romanian Episcopate was received into the Russian Orthodox Greek Catholic Church in North America (ROGCCNA), also known as the “Metropolia”, as a separate diocese. He thus became a member of the Holy Synod of Bishops of the “Metropolia”.

Bishop Valerian (Trifa) was elevated to the dignity of archbishop.

In 1960, the archbishop united various groups of Romanian Churches which had broken from the Episcopate. This laid the foundations for a united multi-ethnic Orthodox Church in America.

In 1968, Archbishop Valerian (Trifa) took part along with others in the World Council of Churches Assembly in Uppsala, Sweden.

Archbishop Valerian (Trifa) and Archbishop John (Shahovskoy) of San Francisco at the World Council of Churches General Assembly in Uppsala, Sweden, 1968

Also in 1968, Archbishop Valerian (Trifa) with the episcopate council received into the Orthodox Christian Faith the Priest William Popp. Archbishop Valerian tonsured him to be a monk, and gave him the name Nathaniel. Hieromonk Nathaniel (Popp) lived in a monastic community for several years until in 1975, when he was assigned to serve as the pastor of a parish in Pennsylvania.

Archbishop Valerian's very public activities brought him to the attention of Jewish activist groups who accused him of being the man who in pre-World War II Romania incited anti-Semitic activities. There were many pressures brought against him, and he went into hiding after repeated threats on his life. He then was branded in the American press as the "Nazi Archbishop."

In 1975, the United States Department of Justice alleged that Archbishop Valerian had entered the USA under false pretenses, and he was accused of having hidden his membership in the Iron Guard. The accusation had to do with alleged anti-Semitism in particular. The evidence for the allegations had been provided by the communist government of Romania of that time.

In 1980, the Hieromonk Nathaniel (Popp) was elected and then ordained to the Holy Episcopate, and he began to serve as the Bishop of Dearborn Heights, and Vicar-Bishop to Archbishop Valerian.

Metropolitan Theodosius, Archbishop Valerian

Ordination of Bishop Nathaniel (Popp) (wearing the mantiya), 15 November, 1980

Retirement 1980 ; exile, 1984

Later in 1980, as the accusations about his past increased, Archbishop Valerian chose, for the peace of his diocese, to retire as the diocesan bishop of the Romanian Episcopate.

In 1983, after having endured years of fruitless court battles that sought to remove his American citizenship and to have him deported, Archbishop Valerian on his own renounced his American citizenship in order to spare the episcopate further financial and public difficulty.

In 1984, Archbishop Valerian voluntarily departed from the USA, and he was granted a temporary residential status in Portugal upon his arrival in Lisbon. He lived quietly in Estoril, a seaside resort town, while he awaited a hoped-for permanent resident status. He then established his residence in Lisbon. Nevertheless, pressures were exerted on the Portuguese government in order to deny him permanent residency.

In 1984, Archbishop Valerian was succeeded by Bishop Nathaniel (Popp) as the diocesan bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America in the OCA.

Archbishop Valerian

Repose, 1987

Archbishop Valerian (Trifa) reposed in Christ as a result of a heart-attack in Lisbon, Portugal, on 28 January, 1987.

In early February, his body was transported by air to the USA, and the interment was in the city of Detroit. Upon his death, his body had been taken to a local funeral agency for disposition. Officials from the Romanian Church in Detroit managed his arrangements, and the burial place was kept secret at that time for fear of desecration by detractors.

The interment of Archbishop Valerian (Trifa) took place in Saint Marys Romanian Orthodox Cemetery (Vatra Romaneasca Cemetery) at Grass Lake, Michigan.

— Bishop of Detroit (ROEA) 1952-1958. Preceded by : See was created. Succeeded by : Bishop Nathaniel (Popp).

— Vicar-Bishop of the Romanian Episcopate 1952-1958.

— Bishop of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate (ROEA) 1958-1960.

— Archbishop of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate (ROEA-OCA) 1960-1980. Preceded by : Bishop Polycarp (Moruşca). Succeeded by : Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp).

— Former Archbishop of Detroit and the Romanian Episcopate 1980-1987.

Reflections

Following is a memorial comment by Alexandru Nemoianu :

Archbishop Valerian was a personality of numerous talents and a born leader. He had the capacity to
understand the problems of his people, the wisdom to resolve them, and the power to sacrifice himself
for the good of his flock. It was given to him to have an eventful life and to spend long periods of
time in different parts of the world in diverse nations and cultures. However, he fulfilled the mission
of his life among his own people in the New World. [...]

For the Romanian-American community and Romanian-American heritage, such an exceptional personality was
Archbishop Valerian D Trifa.

Archbishop Valerian D Trifa will be remembered for the many material things achieved during his long
pastorate, as well as for his outstanding qualities of leader. But if the material things are destined
to last only for a limited period of time, his achievements in the spiritual arena will last
indefinitely.

Archbishop Valerian was instrumental in putting the Romanian-American community on very firm ground by
answering and clarifying two main issues that were somehow 'floating' in the air but which were not,
until his time, properly addressed.

These two issues were : what the Romanian-American community was, and what should be its relation with
the rest of the country. These two issues were of extreme importance, and they needed to be explained
in order to resolve conflicts resulting from the fact that the Romanian-American community was changing
in nature and character. When Archbishop Valerian became the spiritual leader of the Romanian-American
Orthodox community, this community already ceased to be an 'outsider', or marginal group, and was part
of America. However, not all members of the community fully realized this fact, and certain conflicts
still lingered between the partisans of the 'old' ways and those who rightly wanted changes. It was due
to the wisdom, patience and special charisma of Archbishop Valerian that the changes were accepted
gradually by all and that a new, common self-understanding emerged. [...]

For his activity, Archbishop Valerian was rewarded with the respect and the unconditional love of his
people. In the meantime, he was the victim of a vicious and disgraceful campaign of slanders and false
accusations. These actions were propagated by the Godless communist regime of Romania, by an
unscrupulous segment of the media and by irresponsible adepts of political expediency. He was
persecuted and had to end his life in exile, but he proved his moral superiority by refusing to deal in
hate and by forgiving all his detractors. Above all, he proved what was said in John 12:20-27 : '[...]
unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone ; but if it dies, it bears much
fruit'.

As was reported in the "Orthodoxwiki" biography,

 Beginning in the late 1980s, Ion Mihai Pacepa, a former general in the communist secret police (the 'Securitate') 
 who defected to the United States, claimed that Trifa had been the victim of a frameup engineered by his former 
 colleagues.  Pacepa linked this to an alleged trip by Romanian Bishop Bartolomeu Anania to the United States, 
 of which he claimed was a common attempt of the regime and the main Orthodox Church to quell the dissidence 
 of Romanian-American Orthodox believers.

In the Winter, 2022, issue of "Solia", the monthly journal of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, several articles were printed with regard to the memory of Archbishop Valerian (Trifa). On the 70th anniversary of his ordination, and the 35th anniversary of his repose, Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp) re-published the following article (pp. 3-6) :

ARCHBISHOP VALERIAN D TRIFA
In Commemoration of the 70th Anniversary of his Ordination into the Episcopacy and the
35th Anniversary of his Falling Asleep in the Lord
From the Introduction to the book, 'Dearly Beloved … An Anthology of Archbishop Valerian D Trifa’s Writings',
published by the Valerian D Trifa Romanian-American Heritage Center, 1995.

Among the people of every nation, there are leaders who, by the sheer power of their innate gifts,
rise to positions of authority and power. By their actions, they shape life and lives around them.
History is made up of the stuff of leaders and followers, those who have vision and those who accept
to acknowledge and embrace them.

Among the Romanian people, one such individual is Valerian Viorel Trifa. Although born in Transylvania,
Romania, and educated there, Viorel Trifa was brought to the shores of the New World by a destiny shaped
by the hand of God. Like his predecessor, the first bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate,
Policarp Pompei Morusca, and like most 'Ardeleni' (Transylvanians), Viorel Trifa was a stalwart patriot,
remaining so all of his life. This is very important to know, because his life and writings show
that he chose to balance this spirit of ethnic self-preservation, which could degenerate to an
aggressive attitude toward others, with the universal acceptance of all peoples of the Gospel on
which he based his life and actions.

Whether he would have lived in Romania or, as he did, among Romanians outside her borders, Valerian Trifa
valued his origins without belittling others theirs. He sought the self-determination of his people
in Romania and the right to self-identity in the New World and struggled to share with the New
World lessons and values of the Old. With the qualities he possessed, he led without suppressing ;
he spoke with authority but without animosity ; he shepherded his people with total dedication and
with great personal sacrifice but did not isolate himself from the new society in which he lived out
his life. In the end, one can determine that his death 'in exile' was due to the heavy burden of
caring for his flock which had lain on his heart.

Within the collection of some of the writings of Archbishop Valerian Dionisie Trifa, we can perceive
a rapid-stroke but still accurate portrait of the complex personality who led the Romanian American
Orthodox Community for thirty-two years. By complex, I mean to say that he possessed a variety of gifts and talents,
none of which he left unproductive. He had a literary interest and style which shaped the Romanian American
press ; he was a professor of history who drew from its lessons, knowing to be patient before taking a
decision ; he was a builder and a preserver, a combination not often found in one and the same person ;
he was a teacher who instructed his flock through formal and informal education, by courses, writing,
preaching and listening.

Archbishop Valerian was pragmatic and frugal, possessing a frugality which did not result from an
internal miserliness but from concern for the material goods and meager wealth of the Church which
was entrusted to him through his office. He was almost preoccupied with the intention that the
faithful should not perceive the Church, and in this case, the Episcopate, as being greedy for the
hard-earned wealth of the people.

Among his gifts, however, the arts cannot be numbered. He was not a musician, although he was
concerned about the responses for liturgical services ; he was not an artist and often let his
preference for 'ethnic' artists rise above the traditional art of the Church ; he was not a
liturgist, nor did he enjoy the ritual of the Church. This is not to say that he was impious ;
it merely points out the reality that in some areas of Church life, even those which are very public,
he was not gifted, and yet his words were powerful enough and his concern authentic enough that one
balanced the other.

As a Churchman, Valerian Trifa did not accept stipends nor visitation fees ; he accepted the salary
given him (he managed to see that it remained meager) and set an example which was on the one hand
admirable but on the other unrealistic concerning the needs of the priest in a parish.

In his acceptance speech, 'Let Us Go Ahead As Before', in 1952, Valerian stated that he was convinced
that Romanian Orthodoxy in the New World must not perish, that the churches built and which are the
unifying element in the Romanian Orthodox Community must not have been built in, vain and that the
times demand the religious ideals which lift humanity. Of note is that, from the time of his first
public address as bishop, Valerian Trifa expressed his intention to work for a unity of all American Orthodox.

When he wrote 'Liberty, Religion, and Truth', the Archbishop showed that early on he had learned the
lesson of America : that freedom of religion meant the freedom of choice, and that choice might also
mean that some might stray from the Orthodox Church. He, however, kindly and properly reaffirmed
that 'Christ did create a hierarchy while in this world ; and as the Son of God, He instituted certain
Mysteries and established the living Church which has come down to us through His apostles, the
Church Synods and the continuous practice of the liturgical cult'. He was, after all, an Orthodox
Hierarch.

In the areas of pastoral life, Valerian had made good progress by 1954, at which time he addressed
the issue of 'A New Man in a New World'. To the priest newly-arrived from Europe, he stated :
'America, as seen from here, is far from America as seen in Europe. You will find it better or worse,
depending on how you will look at it. The advice we give you is this : be wary of the mistake of
judging it before you know it [...] you will be living in this new world'.

Valerian the Archpastor to his clergy, however, was categoric : 'If God has given you character,
intelligence and love for the Church, you will find the true way. If you do not have these qualities
naturally, all our advice would be in vain'. He did not give awards nor honours, always stating that,
'If someone is doing what he is supposed to, what need is there for special recognition ?'

Reviewing the attitude of the Church in Romania vis-a-vis that of the American Church concerning
the Holy Mysteries, in particular the frequent reception of Confession and Communion, Valerian took
the path of liturgical renewal. In this way, while being true to his Romanian origins, he adapted
himself to the spiritual needs of his flock in the Americas. It is amazing that, in 1954, he had to write
an article concerning the obligation of parish members to receive Holy Communion at least once a year !
The article, 'The Measure of a Christian', could have been addressed to us at the recent Congress on the
By-Laws. 'It is necessary that the Church have a measure of judgement over its members '...' one's
attitude toward Communion is the most important. The Orthodox Church teaches us that anyone who does not
feel the need, at least once a year, (to partake of Communion) [...] is spiritually sick'.

The concern of the Archbishop for young people was evident to all from the beginning of his pastorate.
In 1955, he wrote in behalf of 'Sunday Schools', that 'Of the greatest importance is the religious
education that begins at home [...[ But it is also true that there are some areas with which parents
may not be familiar and thus, Church Schools must be established'. Nevertheless, the onus is on the
parents to bring the child to the lessons. In 'Concerns for the Young', the tone set is one of admonition
and chiding to those parents who have become 'too enamored of their darling offspring who have surpassed
them in education, in dress, and in social standing, and did not dare deprive them of their "liberty"
in order to take them to church each Sunday'.

'Who Should Sing in Church ?', written in 1957, addressed the problem of the lack of singers for the
services. 'Even when there is a choir and there are cantors, and especially when there is no choir,
if you wish the Church to maintain the Church tradition and to avoid ever letting the Holy Liturgy
be without songs, we suggest the following plan : have congregational singing. [...] Nothing is
more beautiful, more uplifting, than to hear the entire congregation, men, women and children and
elderly, giving the responses with one voice'.

Valerian the Romanian patriot and Valerian the Churchman are one and the same, but it was the mind
and heart of the pastor which shaped the uniqueness of the ethnic community. He was ever attentive
to present the truth of the suffering of the Romanian Nation and to keep burning bright the beacon
of resistance to the devastating propaganda of the atheistic communist government in Romania and elsewhere.

When reflecting on the role of Orthodoxy and why Communism exists in many Orthodox nations, he replied :
'Just as Orthodoxy will not be extinguished in spite of all that, we are sure that it will not be
compromised through acts of man. It is not man who is the leader of Orthodoxy ; it is the Father
in heaven, Who can never be compromised'. Archbishop Valerian’s writings show that in the image of
his heavenly Father so, too, as shepherd of his flock, he never compromised.

One of the last letters, written in 1983 to a newly-arrived priest from Romania and maintained today
in the Episcopate Archives, contains a line which we believe sums up the life of Viorel Valerian
Dionisie Trifa :
Here, in America, the only power which guides is that which comes from within a man's heart'.

+ NATHANIEL
Archbishop of Detroit
Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America

Complaint about the present article

In late 2024, a complaint was sent to the editors of this present article with regard to its content, as follows :

"Archbishop Valerian Trifa was proven a Nazi War Criminal. He was never interned. He was a member, a leader even, of the Romanian Iron Guard. They were far-far right and were as Nazi as you get.

Your website described him as a victim. I first learned about him in a documentary that featured how there were able to prove where he was in 1942 among other things.

I implore you to update your account of this man's life or at least stop celebrating it.

Sincerely, S G"

The complaint seemed to refer in part to information in the Wikipedia article about the archbishop. In this matter, the complainer refers to evidence beyond and in contrast with that of the Wikipedia article, and that of the Orthodoxwiki article.

The biographical articles in this series are not intended to "celebrate", nor to condemn anyone, but rather to attempt to provide a balanced (it is hoped) view of each person. These articles are not of a political nature. There is always more than one view of a person or a situation.

In this particular situation, it is kept in mind the fact that although there may be substance to the accusations regarding activities during Word War II, such sources are not available to the writer of this article. Others who have competence may prove something, but the proofs have not appeared in the sources readily available to the writer.

What is available to the writer is the fact that whatever the past may have been, there is historical evidence of the archbishop's activity for the good of Romanian Orthodox Christians in North America. This evidence suggests a life of repentance appropriate for any Orthodox Christian leader. During his nearly 30 years of service as a bishop, he renewed and developed the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate in a stable environment. There is historical evidence for his presence and activity in this regard. This is reported without ignoring the fact that there are concerns about previous activities abroad. It is for others to write what they may prove about this.

References

Bugea, Eleanor, “Romanians in Canada” (Michigan : Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, 2009). ISBN : 978-1-929200-14-6.

Tarasar, Constance J, ed., “Orthodox America 1794-1976 : Development of The Orthodox Church in America” (Syosset, NY : The Orthodox Church in America Department of History and Archives, 1975). ASIN : B000ZLZAUE

Orthodoxwiki biography

Wikipedia biography

Romanian Wikipedia biography

“Solia” biography, 1987, and Letter of Archbishop Valerian to the Faithful

Additional information :

Findagrave memorial

The Orthodox Church in America web-site

Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America

Metropolitan Leonty (Turkevich)

Metropolitan Ireney (Bekish)

Metropolitan Theodosius (Lazor)

Archbishop Nathaniel (Popp)