Page "Romanian Orthodox Church" Paragraph 11

As a result of measures passed in 1947-48, the 2300 elementary schools operated by the church were closed, as were its 24 high schools, its academy of sacred music, three divinity schools, and 13 of its 15 theological seminaries.

A new campaign struck the church in 1958-62 when more than half its remaining monasteries were closed, more than 2000 monks forced to take secular jobs, and about 1500 clergy and lay activists arrested ( out of a total of up to 6000 in the 1946-64 period ).

Throughout this period Patriarch Justinian was careful to say the right things and avoid giving offence to the government ; indeed the hierarchy claimed the arrests were not due religious persecution.