Romanians in Ukraine

Ukraine establishes Romanian Language Day on Aug. 31 by presidential decree

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially established Romanian Language Day in Ukraine, to be celebrated annually on 31 August, according to a presidential decree. The decision was taken during the Ukrainian president’s visit to Romania on 12 March. The decree states that the holiday was introduced “to promote mutual understanding, mutual respect and cooperation in Ukrainian-Romanian…

Mar 18, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Southern Bessarabia diocese donates mobile hospital to Ukraine’s Odesa region

The Diocese of Southern Bessarabia donated a mobile hospital to Ukraine’s Odesa region, with the official handover ceremony taking place on Saturday, when Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia presented the vehicle to the regional administration. During the visit, the bishop was accompanied by Claudiu Tătaru, Romania’s Consul General in Odesa; Alexandrin Moiseev, a member of…

Jan 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Southern Bessarabia Diocese sends 44 tonnes of aid to war-hit Ukrainians, 2025 report says

The Diocese of Southern Bessarabia supported Romanians in Ukraine affected by the war by delivering dozens of tonnes of humanitarian aid as part of a wide-ranging social and charitable campaign, according to its 2025 activity report. With the direct involvement of priests from the Ismail Deanery, humanitarian assistance was provided to the two Romanian parishes…

Jan 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Putna Monastery prays for Romanians killed in Ukraine war as numbers double in 2025

The Very Rev. Archimandrite Melchisedec Velnic, abbot of Putna Monastery, led a memorial service on Sunday together with his monastic community in remembrance of ethnic Romanians who have lost their lives in the war in Ukraine. While last year’s memorial listed 130 ethnic Romanians killed in the conflict, this year the number has risen significantly,…

Dec 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod approves canonizations, episcopal elections, and new liturgical feast

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church held its working session in the “Patriarch Teoctist” Aula Magna of the Patriarchal Palace on Tuesday and Wednesday, July 1–2, 2025, under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. The Holy Synod adopted several decisions related to pastoral and missionary activity, including: The canonization of 16 women…

Jul 2, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian historical communities begin Nativity Fast according to Old Calendar

The Nativity Fast begins on Thursday in most Romanian historical communities following the unrevised calendar. While Romanians in Romania commemorate St. Stephen the Younger and St. Irinarch on this day, most Romanians beyond the borders honour St. Paisius Velichkovsky of Neamț and Saints Gurias, Samonas and Habibus. Key feast days differ for those observing the old calendar.…

Nov 28, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanians still await official recognition of Romanian Language Day in Ukraine

The Romanian community in Ukraine is still awaiting the establishment of a Romanian Language Day in Ukraine, which would be comparable to the acknowledgement of Ukrainian Language Day in Romania on November 9, as enshrined by Romania’s Law 213/2018. The initiative for a Romanian Language Day in Ukraine came from the “Bessarabia” National-Cultural Association of…

Oct 30, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod announces 2026 focus on family pastoral care and commemoration of Holy Women, sets plans for Centennial events

The working session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church was conducted on Friday, October 25, 2024, in the Aula Magna “Patriarch Teoctist” of the Patriarchal Palace, under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. Following the elections for the Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Romanian Orthodox…

Oct 26, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Ambassador Ihor Prokopchuk visits Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate in Sighetu Marmației

His Excellency Ihor Prokopchuk, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to Romania, made another visit to the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate in Romania on Friday, October 4. Vicar Nicolae Lauruc welcomed the Ambassador at the Vicariate headquarters in Sighetu Marmației. The Vicariate reported that the discussions focused on protecting the rights and freedoms of the Ukrainian…

Oct 9, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate supports the plea of Romanians in Chernivtsi to reopen the Bukovina Metropolitans’ Chapel

The Romanian Patriarchate, noting with regret and sadness that services in the Romanian language can no longer be held in Chernivtsi’s Chapel of the Bukovina Metropolitans, who spoke and officiated religious services in Romanian, stands in solidarity with the Orthodox Romanians of Chernivtsi, who call for the reopening of the historic chapel for religious services…

Sep 4, 2024Ștefana Totorcea

Romanian Orthodox Church Holy Synod meets for first time this year: main decisions

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church met for a working session at Patriarch Teoctist Aula of the Patriarchal Palace on Thursday, February 29, 2024. The meeting was chaired by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. The Holy Synod resolved the following: To declare 2025 as a Solemn Year of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate…

Mar 4, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu