Romanian Orthodox Church

The Romanian Orthodox Church (ROC; Romanian: Biserica Ortodoxă Română, BOR), or Romanian Patriarchate, is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church. It works closely with other Eastern Orthodox Christian churches and is one of the nine patriarchates in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Since 1925, the leader of the church has been called a patriarch.

The church serves people in Romania and Moldova, and also has groups for Romanians living in nearby Ukraine, Serbia and Hungary. There are also communities in Central and Western Europe, North America and Oceania. It is the only autocephalous church in Eastern Orthodoxy that uses a Romance language in its services.

According to the 2021 Romanian census, many people in Romania are members of the church. The church also has believers living abroad, especially in Western Europe. Reports suggest there are many members of the church around the world.

Members of the ROC sometimes call Orthodox Christian doctrine Dreapta credință, meaning "right belief" or "true faith."

History

The Romanian Orthodox Church has a long history. It started under the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople until 1865. Then, churches in Wallachia and Moldavia wanted to be independent. In 1872, these churches joined together to form the Romanian Orthodox Church.

After Romania was recognized in 1878, the church became independent in 1885 and a patriarchate in 1925. In the early 1900s, the church grew as Romania’s land grew after World War I.

During World War II, the church’s role was complicated. Some leaders agreed with the government, while others tried to help Jewish families. After the war, Romania became a communist state in 1947. The church had to follow government rules but managed to survive.

Since communism ended in 1989, the church has regained its independence. It still plays an important role in Romanian society and supports traditional values. The church is also in Moldova, where its status has changed because of recent politics.

Organization and leadership

See also: List of hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church

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

There are ten Orthodox Metropolitanates, twenty archbishoprics, and twenty-three bishoprics. Four metropolitans and nine bishops help serve Romanian communities living far from Romania, in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. Many people work in churches, monasteries, and social centers. Almost 400 monasteries in Romania are home to monks and nuns. Fifteen theological universities in Romania have students studying to become church leaders. Many churches serve the faithful in Romania.

Current leadership

The leader of the church is His Beatitude Daniel, Archbishop of Bucharest, Metropolitan of Muntenia and Dobrudja, and Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

Other leaders include:

• Teofan, Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina
• Laurențiu, Metropolitan of Transylvania
• Andrei, Metropolitan of Cluj, Maramureș and Sălaj
• Irineu, Metropolitan of Oltenia
• Ioan, Metropolitan of Banat
• Petru, Metropolitan of Bessarabia
• Iosif, Metropolitan of Western and Southern Europe
• Serafim, Metropolitan of Germany and Central Europe
• Nicolae, Metropolitan of the Americas

Notable theologians

Dumitru Stăniloae (1903–1993) was an important teacher of Orthodox beliefs in the 20th century. He wrote about Orthodox teachings and worked on a special collection of spiritual writings called the Romanian Philokalia.

Archimandrite Cleopa Ilie (1912–1998) was a leader in a monastery and helped many people with their spiritual lives.

Metropolitan Bartolomeu Anania (1921–2011) was a leader in Cluj, Alba, Crișana and Maramureș from 1993 until he passed away.

List of patriarchs

Main article: Patriarch of All Romania

Jubilee and commemorative years

The Romanian Orthodox Church has special years to celebrate important parts of its faith and history. These years have special events, talks, and activities for everyone.

Some of these special years include:

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