Starting on the night of 28/29 October 1948, in the Stalinist operation of „1liquidation” of the Greek-Catholic Church of Romania, his entire episcopate was arrested, together with 25 canons.
Six of them were diocesan bishops, while the seventh, Msgr. Tit Liviu Chinezu, was consecrated bishop in clandestinity, during his imprisonment. All died in detention:
Msgr. Vasile Aftenie, bishop in Bucharest, died during interrogation by the Securitate.
Msgr. Valeriu Traian Frențiu, bishop of Oradea, Msgr. Ioan Suciu, apostolic administrator of the Metropolis of Blaj and Msgr. Tit Liviu Chinezu, auxiliary bishop of Blaj, died in the extermination prison of Sighet;
Msgr. Alexandru Rusu, bishop of Maramureș, died in Gherla prison, after a new second arrest and a life sentence.
The last two survivors, Mgr. Ioan Bălan, bishop of Lugoj and Mgr. Iuliu Hossu, bishop of Cluj-Gherla, had their lives shortened when, deprived of freedom and in critical health conditions, they were denied any medical treatment.
Before the persecution of the Church, the pastoral care of the bishops aimed, among other things, at young people (particularly Ioan Suciu, „apostle of the youth” who published various magazines and catechisms for children and young people), the formation of priests (general concern of the Episcopate), the formation of the laity through the publications of the Church (Ioan Rusu was director of the main newspaper of the Metropolia), pastoral visits (Iuliu Hossu was nicknamed "the bishop of pastoral visits"). The Greek Catholic Church has founded various denominational schools and has supported Scouting. The bishops have openly encouraged and supported the establishment of numerous lay associations: the General Association of United Romanians (Greek-Catholic Action), the Association of United Romanian Students, the Association of Scouts, the Marian Reunion and many others.
Realizing the danger of the suppression of the Church, the seven blessed martyred bishops prepared the laity to resist with a solid spiritual life in hiding. In this way, after two generations of living the Catholic faith clandestinely (1948-1989), the Church was reborn from the tomb prepared for it by the persecuting communist regime.
Concretely, the bishops preferred imprisonment and death rather than abandoning the Church and the Catholic faith by switching to the Orthodox Church, thus disregarding the teaching of the Gospel and communion with the Successor of Peter, the Pope. "Our faith is the our life”, said Iuliu Hossu on behalf of everyone. This was the reason for their martyrdom. All seven welcomed the tortures and the years of imprisonment in full acceptance and inner joy, honored to be able to share a little of Christ's passion, and forgiving the oppressors and perpetrators of the persecution of their Church, as well as the tormentors of everyday.
On 2 June 2019 they were beatified as martyrs in Blaj by Pope Francis
