Valeriu Traian Frențiu

Valeriu Traian Frentiu ( born August 25, 1875 in Resita, Austria - Hungary, † July 11, 1952 in Sighet, Romania) was Bishop of Oradea Mare ( Oradea ) of the Romanian Greek- Catholic Church.

Life

Valeriu Traian Frentiu, the son of the priest Joachim Frentiu and his wife Rozalia, attended elementary school in his hometown and high school. He studied theology in Budapest and was ordained a priest on September 28, 1898. He received his doctorate in 1902 as a doctor of theology. From 1904 to 1912 he was active in the community as pastor.

On 14 December 1912 he was appointed bishop of Lugoj, he was consecrated on 14 January 1913., He devoted himself to the training of priests and established a seminary in Lugoj. On February 25, 1922, he was appointed Bishop of Oradea Mare.

After the death of Archbishop Alexandru Nicolescu 1941, he was Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Fagaras and Alba Iulia. In 1947 he returned to his diocese of Oradea Mare.

On October 28, 1948 he was arrested and interned in the camp Dragoslavele, in February 1949, he was incommunicado in Caldarusani monastery. In 1950 he came to the Sighet Prison, where he died on July 11, 1952 from the effects of hunger and malnutrition. He was still buried in the night without a coffin in a mass grave in the cemetery of the poor.