Ioana Irina Bota

Ioana Irina Bota is a sister of the Order of St. Basil The Great, Immaculate Heart of Mary Province in Romania. She was a civil engineer and teacher and served as provincial superior in hiding for many years. Later, she was president of the Federation Conference of Major Superiors of Romania and an auditor at the 1999 Vatican Synod of Bishops. She was general councilor and general treasurer for her congregation in Rome. She lives in Cluj, Romania.

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Basilian sisters held a three-day underground spiritual retreat in a two-room Romanian apartment in May 1988, a year before the communist regime was overthrown. Sr. Ioana Bota, center, was provincial superior.

Raised in 'love for God and neighbor' in Romania's underground church

Memories of growing up in Romania's underground church: no Bible, priests harassed, prayers in secret, knots on apron strings or beans in pockets instead of rosaries.