Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy

Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy signs cooperation protocol with Romanian Embassy to support Diaspora

The Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Italy and the Romanian Ambassador to Italy, Malta, and San Marino signed a cooperation protocol on July 3. His Grace Bishop Siluan and Her Excellency Gabriela Dancău signed the agreement as official representatives of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy and the Embassy of Romania to the Republic of Italy,…

Jul 9, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel meets Cardinal Ghirlanda to discuss Orthodox–Catholic cooperation

On Tuesday, the Patriarch of Romania received His Eminence Gianfranco Ghirlanda SJ, a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church from Italy, at the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest. During the meeting, various aspects of the positive cooperation between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church—both in Romania and Italy—were discussed. Romanians in Italy In…

May 14, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Siluan of Italy mourns Pope Francis, thanks him for support to Romanian Orthodox communities

A condolence message from Bishop Siluan of Italy was published in Italian on the official website of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy following the passing of Pope Francis, who reposed on Monday, April 21, at 07:35 (Rome time) in Vatican City after a period of illness. In his message, Bishop Siluan expressed both sorrow…

Apr 21, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Siluan of Italy turns 55

On Wednesday, His Grace Bishop Siluan of Italy marks his 55th birthday. Born on March 5, 1970, in Gura Râului, Sibiu County, he was the fourth of six children in a priest’s family. Theological Studies and Early Ministry Between 1989 and 1993, he studied at the Andrei Șaguna Faculty of Theology in Sibiu, followed by…

Mar 5, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

4,750 baptisms and expanding parishes: Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy thrives in 2024

The Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy concluded 2024 with an intensive pastoral effort, reflected in the remarkable number of religious services conducted across its 295 parishes. Over the year, the diocese recorded 4,750 baptisms, 167 conversions or re-conversions to Orthodoxy, 1,171 weddings, and 393 funerals. These figures underscore both the vibrancy of the Romanian Orthodox…

Feb 13, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

How the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy grew to nearly 500 communities in just 16 years

The Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, which is celebrating its sixteenth anniversary, consists of 478 pastoral-missionary units, 278 of which are parishes. These communities are served by 310 priests and 25 deacons, and 62 parishes own their places of worship. The establishment of the diocese was approved in the last synodal session presided over by…

May 15, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Exterior lighting of Romanian Church in Olbia fascinates Sardinia press: “a true fairytale marvel”

Last week, the local press wrote about the charming appearance of the new Romanian Orthodox Church in Olbia, a town on the Italian island of Sardinia. The newly installed exterior lighting highlights the holy place. “The original church in the San Nicola neighbourhood, already beautiful during the day, illuminated like this gives the whole neighbourhood…

Aug 17, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

President of Malta welcomes Romanian Bishop at San Anton Palace

His Excellency George Vella, President of Malta, welcomed His Grace Atanasie of Bogdania, Assistant Bishop to the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, at San Anton Palace on Monday, June 28. The meeting was attended by: H.E. Lino Bianco, Malta’s Ambassador to Romania, Fr. George Alexandru Popescu, parish priest of the Romanian community in Malta, and…

Jul 2, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian President to award National Order of Merit to Italy’s assistant bishop for philanthropic work during pandemic

His Grace Bishop Atanasie of Bogdania will receive the Romanian Knight’s National Order of Merit for the philanthropic work carried out by the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy during the pandemic. On Thursday, President Klaus Iohannis signed the decree for the decoration of His Grace Assistant Bishop Atanasie of Bogdania (Tudor Rusnac), but also of…

Aug 11, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Bishop visits Viterbo prison on Christmas, encourages inmates

The assistant bishop to the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy made a special effort to visit the Viterbo prison on Christmas Day. His Grace Bishop Atanasie of Bogdania was accompanied by Fr Walter Gabriel Andriuta and several volunteers from St Callinicus of Cernica Parish in Viterbo. The bishop officiated a trilingual service in Romanian, Italian…

Dec 31, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

President Klaus Iohannis visits headquarters of Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy for first time

On Sunday His Excellency the President of Romania, Klaus Werner Iohannis, visited for the first time the headquarters of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy. The Romanian president is currently on a state visit to Italy until October 17. It is the first state visit of a Romanian president in Italy in 45 years. The…

Oct 17, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu