Cremation in Romania

Aside from the Soviet Union, Romania was the only nation in Eastern Europe to have an operational crematorium before World War II; although one was built in Debrecen, Hungary in 1932, it was not opened until 1951.

It faced opposition from the dominant Romanian Orthodox Church, which still prohibits cremation, and suffered from financial shortfalls.

In 1934 it had begun an eight-page monthly journal, Flacăra Sacră (The Sacred Flame), focusing on domestic and international developments in the field.

The contact established between the ICF and Cenușa in late 1946 was the last to occur for decades, as the Communist regime was installed soon after.

During the Communist period, many prominent regime figures, including Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej, Chivu Stoica, and Teohari Georgescu, were cremated and had their ashes placed in the Monument of the Heroes for the Freedom of the People and of the Motherland, for Socialism in Bucharest's Carol Park, whence they were removed after the Romanian Revolution of 1989.