Sandu Tudor

Sandu Tudor (Brother Agathon, Father Daniil Teodorescu)
Tudor's Securitate file photograph
Born	Alexandru Al. Teodorescu December 22/24, 1896 Bucharest, Kingdom of Romania
Died	November 17, 1962(1962-11-17) (aged 65) Aiud prison, Communist Romania
Occupation	poet, journalist, priest, soldier, sailor
Theological work
Language	Romanian
Tradition or movement	Orthodox theology (Romanian Orthodoxy), Esoteric Christianity, Creationism
Main interests	Hesychasm
Signature

Sandu Tudor (born Alexandru Al. Teodorescu, known in church records as Brother Agathon, later Daniil Teodorescu, Daniil Sandu Tudor, Daniil de la Rarău; December 22 or December 24, 1896 – November 17, 1962) was a Romanian poet, journalist, theologian and Orthodox monk. Having had an adventurous youth, he first became known in the late 1920s, when he contributed to the modern Orthodox revival, rallying with the journal Gândirea. Although a traditionalist and a critic of materialism, he was closely associated with the modernist scene, and generally supported left-wing causes. Tudor was also a scandal-prone journalist and newspaper owner, who faced accusations of slander and was avoided by his peers.

From 1927, when he wrote his first akathist, Tudor made overtures toward Orthodox monasticism. Demanding universal penance, seeking to revive medieval hesychasm, he joined other mystics and writers in creating the "Burning Bush" religious movement, and took orders in 1948. He was soon branded an enemy of the Romanian communist regime, and twice arrested for supposed political crimes. Tudor died at Aiud prison, a victim of torture and criminal neglect. His body was never recovered.

Sandu Tudor is generally considered an unaccomplished writer, although his fusion of modernism and traditionalism has drawn critical interest. He enjoys a sizable following in the field of Orthodox theology, and, after the fall of communism, has been considered for canonization.

The future Sandu Tudor was born Alexandru Teodorescu in the Romanian capital, Bucharest. His birthday, as recorded in reference works, is December 24, 1896, even though he himself gave it as December 22, 1896 (1886 in some sources). He had many siblings, including a brother who became a painter. Their father, also Alexandru, was a judge, who earned a modest income. Their mother was a Sofia Teodorescu.