The “protosinghel” Irineu Ioan Felea
Autor: Mircea Păcurariu
The “protosinghel” Irineu Ioan Felea was born on the 13th of January 1885 in Ciuruleasa, near Abrud. He followed the primary school in Valea Bradului, and the high school in Brad, Blaj, Beiuş and Năsăud.
In 1903 he applied to the Theological Institute from Sibiu, completing his studies in Cernăuţi, receiving his doctorate in theology. In 1913 he is appointed priest in the parish of Pecica. During the war he is mobilized as military priest. On the 13th of July 1919 is sent to Italy to work on the repatriation of the Romanian soldiers. Is named representative of the Romanian Red Cross, appointed for finding of the remains of the Romanian soldiers from Transylvania, dead in the war.
On the 25th of July 1941 he asked to be mobilized as father confessor in the army. He dies during the Anglo-American air raid of the Gara de Nord, from the 4th of April 1944.