On 2 June, the Feast of the Ascension and Heroes’ Day in Romania, the Sighet Memorial commemorated Remembrance Day.
On Remembrance Day – Open Day, former political prisoners, their families and descendants from all over the country pilgrimage to Sighet. This poignant day of commemoration is marked by engaging discussions, exhibition inaugurations, book launches, and a memorial service at Paupers’ Cemetery dedicated to those who perished in prisons, camps, and deportations.
The event was attended by nearly 200 people from Bucharest, Brașov, Constanța, Pitești, Cluj, Vaslui, Roman, Petroșani, Timișoara, Satu Mare, Miercurea Ciuc, Sfântu Gheorghe, Baia Mare, Reșița, Drobeta Turnu Severin, Sighet, Târgu Mureș, Sighișoara, Brăila, Slobozia, Oradea, Bistrița, Slatina, Deva, Stuttgart, Făgăraș, Victoria, Baia Sprie, Călinești, and Iași. In addition to the victims of the communist regime, young individuals keen on learning the recent history of their grandparents also took part in the commemorative events.
The subsequent round table centred around the theme Europe and Post-Communism, a highly relevant topic given the ongoing conflict near Romania. Its significance is amplified by Sighet’s proximity to the border with Ukraine.
Following the discussions and book launches, the attendees visited the Sighet Memorial. Subsequently, they made their way to Paupers’ Cemetery, an integral part of the Memorial to the Victims of Communism, which serves as the final resting place for those who were buried in unmarked graves. Here, a religious service was conducted by a group of Orthodox and Greek Catholic priests.
Concluding the day’s events, all participants were invited to a communal lunch.
