Romanian Orthodox Church

The Romanian Orthodox Church (ROC; Romanian: Biserica Ortodoxă Română, BOR), or Romanian Patriarchate, is an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church in full communion with other Eastern Orthodox Christian churches, and is one of the nine patriarchates in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Since 1925, the church's primate has borne the title of patriarch. Its jurisdiction covers the territories of Romania and Moldova, with additional dioceses for Romanians living in nearby Ukraine, Serbia and Hungary, as well as for diaspora communities in Central and Western Europe, North America and Oceania. It is the only autocephalous church within Eastern Orthodoxy to have a Romance language for liturgical use.

According to the 2021 Romanian census, 14,025,064 people (73.42% of the population) declared themselves members of the church, and the ROC cites this number as their membership in Romania. Additionally, four million Romanian Orthodox believers live abroad, particularly in Western Europe. In 2020, the World Christian Database, the online version of the World Christian Encyclopedia, published by Edinburgh University Press, reported 16 million members of the church.

Members of the ROC sometimes refer to Orthodox Christian doctrine as Dreapta credință ("right/correct belief" or "true faith"; compare to Greek ὀρθὴ δόξα, "straight/correct belief").

History

The Romanian Orthodox Church has a long history. It began under the leadership of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople until 1865, when churches in Wallachia and Moldavia sought independence. In 1872, these churches merged to form the Romanian Orthodox Church.

After Romania gained international recognition in 1878, the church was recognized as independent in 1885 and became a patriarchate in 1925. During the early 20th century, theological education improved, and the church expanded after Romania’s territory grew following World War I.

During World War II, the church’s role was complex. Some leaders supported the government’s policies, while others tried to help Jewish families. After the war, Romania became a communist state in 1947. The church faced control and restrictions but survived by adapting to the government’s demands.

Since the fall of communism in 1989, the church has regained much of its independence. It continues to play an important role in Romanian society and supports traditional values, including opposing same-sex marriage. The church also has a presence in Moldova, where it has faced changes in affiliation due to recent political events.

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 in total. Four metropolitans and nine bishops help serve Romanian communities living far from Romania, in Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Oceania. There are over twelve thousand people who help in churches, monasteries, and social centers. Almost 400 monasteries in Romania are home to around 3,500 monks and 5,000 nuns. As of 2004, fifteen theological universities in Romania had more than ten thousand students studying to become church leaders. More than 14,500 churches serve the faithful in Romania. As of 2002, nearly 1,000 of these churches were being built or rebuilt.

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 a very important teacher of Orthodox beliefs in the 20th century. He wrote a lot about Orthodox teachings and worked for many years on a special collection of spiritual writings called the Romanian Philokalia.

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

Metropolitan Bartolomeu Anania (1921–2011) was a leader in a part of Romania called 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 include special events, talks, and activities for everyone to join.

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