This text evokes the cozy and auspicious atmosphere of the spiritual life, more than 30 years ago, in some monasteries of Valcea. Religious life of the time held its natural course, although, for those less familiar with it, initiation into its world and theology was generally quite difficult. Unlike present days, there were few theological books in Romanian, few books of the great exiled Russian theologians circulating as samizdats. Some monasticism personalities of those times in Valcea are also evoked.

Keywords: Bishop Gerasimos Cristea, Valcea, monasteries, hesychia, samizdat

DAN CIACHIR