The Legion Of Michael The Archangel
Corneliu Codreanu
Faced by the situation mentioned above, I decided to go with neither
side, not meaning to resign myself, but to organize theyouth, assuming
this responsibility according to my soul and brains and to
We decided to close our ranks and to pursue the fight under the
protection of the same sacred icon. With this in mind, we brought it to
our Home in Iasi from the altar of the St. Spiridon Church where it had
been placed three years previously.
The Vacaresti group agreed immediately to my plans. Several days later I
convoked in Iasi in my room on 20 Florilor St. for Friday, June 24,
1927, the Vacaresti group and the few students still with us.
Several minutes before the meeting was to
"Today, Friday, June 24th, 1927 (The feast of St. John the Baptist), at
10 o'clock in the evening, is founded under my leadership, 'Tbe Legion
of Micbael ttw Arcbangel.' Let anyone who believes without reservation,
join our ranks. Let him who has doubts remain on the sidelines. I hereby
nominate Radu Mironovici as leader of the guard of the icon." Corneliu
Zelea Codreanu
This first meeting lasted one minute, only long enough for me to read
the above order. After this, those present left in order to ponder
whether they felt sufficiently determined and courageous to join an
organization like this, without a program other than the example of my
life as a patriot up to then and that of my prison comrades.
Even to the Vacaresti group I had given time for reflection and search
of their conscience for them to be sure whether they had any doubts or
reservations, because once enrolled they had to unhesitatingly keep on
going for the rest of their lives.
Our intimate feelings from which the Legion was born were these: It did
not interest us whether we would triumph or be conquered, or whether we
would die. Our purpose was different: to advance united. Moving forward
in a united front, with the help of God and the Romanian people's
justice, no matter what destiny awaited us-that of being vanquished or
that of death-it would be a blessed one and it would bear fruit for our
people. Professor Nicolae Iorga once said: "There are defeats and deaths
which can awaken a nation to life, just as there are triumphs of the
kind which can put a nation to sleep."
During the same night, and entered into the same register, we edited a
letter to Professor Cuza and one to Professor Sumuleanu. At 10 o'clock
the next morning all the Vacarestians got together and went to the house
of Professor Cuza, 3 Codrescu St. After so many years of battles and
difficult trials we were now going to see him to take our farewell, and
to ask him to release us from the vows we took.
Professor Cuza received us in the same room in which he had stood for me
28 years earlier at my baptism. He was standing behind his desk; we in
front. I read him the following letter:
"Sir, we are coming to you for the last time to say goodbye and to ask
you to release us from all the vows we took. We can no longer follow you
on the road you have taken for we no longer believe in it. To march by
your side without faith is impossible, because it was faith that
nourished our enthusiasm in battle. Begging you to release us from our
vows we remain to fight alone in the best way our brains and hearts can
guide us."
Professor Cuza then spoke to us in the following manner:
"My dear friends, I release you from your vows and advise you that,
stepping into life on your own, do not make mistakes. Because,
particularly in politics, mistakes are very costly. You have as an
example the political errors of Petre Carp which had fatal consequences
for him. On my part I wish you the best in life."
Then he shook hands with all of us and we left. We thought that it was
correct on our part to proceed thus and that this was the honorable way
our dignity as fighters obliged us to take.
From there we went to Professor Sumuleanu on Saulescu St., reading to
him the other letter written approximately in the same terms, in which
we informed him and his "Statutories" that we could not go along with
them either and that we would carve for ourselves from now on our own
path.
Leaving him we felt in our hearts how very much alone we were, alone as
in a desert, and we were going to build our road in life through our own
powers.
We gathered even closer to the icon. The more difficulties that might
assail us and the more our compatriots' blows might be showered heavily
on our heads, the more we would seek the protection of St. Michael the
Archangel and the shadow of his sword. He was no longer for us an image
on an icon, but very much alive. There at the icon, we took turns
keeping watch, night and day, a candle burning.