The following is an open letter sent to the Lepanto Institute by Fr. Attila Bazsó-Dombi, a Hungarian Greek Catholic priest who was present on April 14 in Oradea at the eviction enforcement against Abbot Anzelm Fejes of the Norbertine Abbey of Oradea, also known as the Premonstratensian Provostry of Váradhegyfok. Fr. Attila prevented the gendarmes and police from attempting to take Abbot Anzelm from the altar during the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. READ: Romanian Gendarmes … [Read more...]
Romanian Police Enter Catholic Church During Mass to Enforce Eviction of Norbertine Abbot
Oradea, Romania // Armed Romanian gendarmes and police entered a Catholic church during the celebration of Mass on Tuesday morning, April 14, in Oradea, initiating an eviction enforcement against Abbot Anzelm Fejes, superior of the 900-year-old Norbertine Abbey of Oradea, and seizing parts of the monastic enclosure. The unconstitutional intrusion and criminal seizure of the monastery took place despite the fact that the case remains under judicial appeal and has generated statements of formal … [Read more...]
Romanian Government sides with Norbertine Abbot in eviction case, Abbey of Oradea is protected by law, cannot be seized by Mayor
In an ongoing property dispute over the 900-year-old Norbertine Abbey of Oradea, in Romania, the country’s highest authorities have sided with the Abbot against local authorities, who have been seeking the Abbot’s eviction in order to seize the abbey buildings. READ: Romania Tries to Evict Norbertine Abbey's Abbot In official letters, both the Prime Minister of Romania and the Romanian State Secretariat for Religious Affairs confirmed that the Norbertine Abbey of Oradea was protected by law … [Read more...]
A Norbertine Abbot, St. Ambrose, and the Defense of the Church
“For a long time, Rudolf Anzelm Fejes and his supporters stared down the bailiff; in the end the City Hall resolved the stalemate—temporarily.” “They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds” - (Mt 21:46), “In post-regime-change Romania, no ecclesiastical dignitary has yet been evicted live, under camera crossfire, from his own home and at the same time from his official, contractually recognized workplace.” – Account of an eyewitness to the events of Feb. 23, 2026, in Oradea, … [Read more...]
Norbertine Abbot of 900-year-old abbey calls for help from U.S. government after Romanian court orders unconstitutional eviction
UPDATE: Local authorities postponed the eviction of Norbertine Abbot Anzelm Fejes after crowds of Catholic faithful showed up at the Abbey Church to protect and support him, despite the rainy weather. At the previously scheduled time for the eviction the Abbot stood openly at the steps of the Church wearing the white habit of the Norbertine Order and his abbatial pectoral cross. Although police were present, they declined to arrest him. Videos and photos of the standoff circulated online. Abbot … [Read more...]
