Abstract
In this paper, we examine the biography and pastorate of Visarion Puiu, Bishop of Argeș (1921–1923), Bishop of Khotyn (1923–1935), Metropolitan of Bukovina (1935–1940) and Head of the Church Mission in Transnistria (1942–1943). In particular, we analyze the People’s Court Decision No. 11/1946, by which Visarion Puiu was sentenced to death in absentia for alleged war crimes. From the sources it emerges that the Metropolitan was accused of having been part of Horia Sima’s government, which proved false, and of patronizing a regime of terror in Transnistria, which was also false and refuted by historical documents. Thus, People’s Court Decision No. 11/1946 appears as an act of political revenge by the subservient USSR government, unrecognised by international fora and it does not stand up to the principles of international law today.
Keywords
1946, Bucovina, Metropolitan, People’s Court, Visarion Puiu
