Romanian Orthodox Church facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Romanian Orthodox Church
Biserica Ortodoxă Română
Coat of arms
Abbreviation	ROC BOR
Type	Eastern Christianity
Classification	Eastern Orthodox
Scripture	Septuagint, New Testament
Theology	Eastern Orthodox theology
Polity	Episcopal
Primate	Daniel, Patriarch of All Romania
Bishops	53
Priests	15,068
Distinct fellowships	Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate, Army of the Lord and Diocese of Gyula
Parishes	15,717
Monastics	2,810 men, and 4,795 women
Monasteries	359
Associations	Eastern Orthodox Church
Language	Romanian
Liturgy	Byzantine Rite
Headquarters	Dealul Mitropoliei, Bucharest
Territory	Romania Moldova
Possessions	Serbia Hungary Western and Southern Europe; Germany, Central and Northern Europe; Americas; Australia and New Zealand
Founder	(as Metropolis of Romania) Nifon Rusailă, Carol I (as Patriarchate of Romania) Miron Cristea, Ferdinand I
Independence	1865
Recognition	25 April 1885 (Autocephalous metropolis) 1925 (Autocephalous Patriarchate)
Absorbed	Romanian Greek Catholic Church (1948)
Separations	Old Calendarist Romanian Orthodox Church (1925) Evangelical Church of Romania (1927) Romanian Greek Catholic Church (1990)
Members	16,367,267 in Romania; 720,000 in Moldova 11,203 in United States
Publications	Ziarul Lumina

The Romanian Orthodox Church (ROC), also known as the Patriarchate of Romania, is a major Christian church. It is part of the Eastern Orthodox family of churches. This means it is in full agreement with other Eastern Orthodox Christian groups.

Since 1925, the leader of the church has been called the Patriarch. The church mainly serves people in Romania and Moldova. It also has churches for Romanians living in nearby Serbia and Hungary. Plus, it supports Romanian communities in Central and Western Europe, North America, and Oceania.

The Romanian Orthodox Church is special because it is the only Eastern Orthodox church that uses a Romance language (Romanian) for its church services. Most people in Romania (about 85.9%) belong to this church. Also, around 720,000 people in Moldova are members.

Members of the Romanian Orthodox Church sometimes call their beliefs Dreapta credință. This means "right belief" or "true faith."

History of the Romanian Orthodox Church

Orthodox believers in Transylvania in 1850

Orthodox believers in Romania in 1930

Orthodox believers in Romania in 2002

Becoming Independent: The Church's Journey

For a long time, the Orthodox churches in what is now Romania were under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. But in 1865, the churches in Moldavia and Wallachia started their journey to become independent. They chose Nifon Rusailă as their first Romanian leader.

In 1863, Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza took control of church lands. Then, in 1865, he passed a law that made the church in these areas fully independent from Constantinople.

In 1872, the churches in Moldavia and Wallachia joined together. They formed what is now known as the Romanian Orthodox Church. After Romania gained full independence in 1878, the church worked with the Ecumenical Patriarchate. In 1885, the Patriarch recognized the Romanian church as independent. It became a Patriarchate in 1925.

At the end of the 1800s, religious education in Romania was still developing. Schools focused on practical skills and general knowledge. After World War I, Romania grew much larger. The church had to reorganize to include new areas. This led to new rules and ways of working with the government.

The Church in the 1930s and 1940s

Patriarch Miron Cristea as Prime Minister in 1938

In the 1930s, the Romanian Orthodox Church became more involved in politics. Some church leaders and publications expressed strong nationalist ideas. In 1937, the head of the church, Patriarch Miron Cristea, became the Prime Minister. This was a unique situation where a church leader also led the government. During this time, the church supported policies that were not friendly towards Jewish people. For example, it banned the baptism of Jews who were not Romanian citizens.

During World War II, Romania joined the Axis powers. The church continued to adapt to the changing political situation. Some church publications spread ideas that linked Jewish people with communism. However, there were also church leaders who helped Jewish people. For example, Metropolitan Tit Simedrea and Metropolitan Nicolae Bălan are known to have helped Jewish communities. One priest, Gheorghe Petre, was recognized for saving Jews.

After Romania changed sides in 1944, the church quickly adjusted. It praised the new government and the Soviet armies. Church newspapers tried to show the Romanian Orthodox Church as a protector of Jewish people during the war.

Life Under Communism in Romania

Nicolae Ceaușescu and other Party officials visit Neamț Monastery in 1966.

In 1947, Romania became a communist state. The new government controlled the church very closely. Many church leaders who disagreed with the government were arrested or removed. The state took over church schools and closed many monasteries.

However, the church was also given control over buildings that belonged to another Christian group, the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church. The government also paid salaries for priests and helped publish religious books. This meant the church had to cooperate with the communist government to survive.

Patriarch Justinian Marina led the church during much of this period. He made sure the church's public statements supported the government. The church also backed Romania's foreign policy, especially against the Soviet Union and Hungary. Some church leaders even became members of the national assembly.

A few people spoke out against the government, like Gheorghe Calciu-Dumitreasa. He was imprisoned for criticizing human rights violations. But generally, the church leaders remained quiet when the government demolished historic churches in the 1980s.

After Communism: A New Era

After the Romanian Revolution in 1989, Romania became a democracy. The church gained much more freedom from state control. However, the government still helps fund the church. It pays salaries for priests and deacons. It also helps with building and repairing churches. This support is given to all recognized religions in Romania.

Since 1989, there have been some disagreements with the Greek-Catholic Church. Greek-Catholic leaders say their churches were taken over by the Orthodox Church with government support.

In 2018, the Romanian Orthodox Church openly supported a vote to ban same-sex marriage. The church teaches that homosexuality is a sin.

The Church in Moldova

The Romanian Orthodox Church also has followers in Moldova. They belong to the Metropolis of Bessarabia. Most Orthodox Christians in Moldova, however, are part of the Moscow Patriarchate. In 2001, the Romanian Orthodox Church won an important legal case against the Moldovan government. This ruling recognized the Metropolis of Bessarabia as the rightful church in the region.

How the Church is Organized

Romanian Orthodox Church organization (as established in 2011)

The Romanian Orthodox Church is set up as the Romanian Patriarchate. The highest authority in the church is the Holy Synod.

In Romania, there are six main church regions called Metropolitanates. There are also ten archbishoprics and fifteen bishoprics. More than twelve thousand priests and deacons serve in churches, monasteries, and social centers.

Inside Romania, there are almost 400 monasteries. These are home to about 3,500 monks and 5,000 nuns. Outside Romania, there are three Diasporan Metropolitanates and two Diasporan Bishoprics. These serve Romanians living abroad.

As of 2004, Romania has fifteen theological universities. Over ten thousand students study there to become priests or theologians. Many of these students come from areas like Bessarabia and Bukovina. There are more than 14,500 churches for Romanian Orthodox believers. In 2002, nearly 1,000 of these were being built or rebuilt.

Important Theologians

• Dumitru Stăniloae (1903–1993) is seen as one of the most important Orthodox theologians of the 20th century. He wrote many books on Eastern Christian theology. He also worked for 45 years on the Romanian Philokalia. This is a collection of important spiritual texts that he translated from Greek.
• Cleopa Ilie (1912–1998) was an elder at the Sihăstria Monastery. He is considered a key figure in modern Romanian Orthodox monastic spirituality.
• Metropolitan Bartolomeu Anania (1921-2011) was the Metropolitan of Cluj, Alba, Crișana, and Maramureș from 1993 until his death.

Leaders of the Church: Patriarchs

The leader of the Romanian Orthodox Church is called the Patriarch. Here is a list of the Patriarchs:

• Miron (1925–1939)
• Nicodim (1939–1948)
• Justinian (1948–1977)
• Iustin (1977–1986)
• Teoctist (1986–2007)
• Daniel (since 2007)

Special Years for the Church

Patriarch Daniel started a tradition of dedicating each year to a special theme. This helps the church focus on important topics and reach out to people. These years include special meetings, conferences, and church activities.

Here are some of the themes:

• 2008 – The Holy Scripture and the Holy Liturgy.
• 2009 – Saint Basil the Great.
• 2010 – The Orthodox Creed and Romanian Autocephaly (independence).
• 2011 – Holy Baptism and Holy Matrimony.
• 2012 – Holy Unction (anointing the sick) and care for the sick.
• 2013 – The Holy Emperors Constantine and Helena.
• 2014 – The Eucharist (Holy Communion) and the Martyr Saints of the Brancoveanu family.
• 2015 – The Mission of Parish and Monastery Today and Saint John Chrysostom.
• 2016 – Religious Education for Orthodox Youth and Saint Antim of Iveria.
• 2017 – Holy Icons and church painters, and Patriarch Justin.
• 2018 – Unity of Faith and Nation, and the 1918 Great Union Founders.
• 2019 – Church singers, Patriarch Nicodim, and translators of church books.
• 2020 – Ministry to Parents and Children and Romanian Orthodox Philanthropists.
• 2021 – Pastoral care of Romanians abroad and those who have passed away.
• 2022 – Prayer in the Church’s life and the Christian’s life, and Hesychast Saints.
• 2023 – Pastoral Care of the Elderly and Hymnographers and Church Chanters.
• 2024 – Pastoral care of the sick and all the holy unmercenary healers.
• 2025 – The Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate and Romanian Orthodox confessors of the twentieth century.

Current Church Leaders

The current head of the Romanian Orthodox Church is Patriarch Daniel I. He is also the Archbishop of Bucharest and Metropolitan of Muntenia and Dobrudja.

Other important leaders include:

• Teofan Savu, Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina
• Laurențiu Streza, Metropolitan of Transylvania
• Andrei Andreicuț, Metropolitan of Cluj, Maramureș and Sălaj
• Ioan Selejan, Metropolitan of Banat
• Irineu Popa, Metropolitan of Oltenia
• Petru Păduraru, Metropolitan of Bessarabia
• Iosif Pop, Metropolitan of Western and Southern Europe
• Serafim Joantă, Metropolitan of Germany and Central Europe
• Nicolae Condrea, Metropolitan of the Americas

See also