On May 24, 2024, Patriarch Daniel of Romania delivered a message at the inauguration of the events commemorating the Day of Romanians Everywhere, held in the Patriarch Teoctist Aula Magna of the Patriarchate Palace in Bucharest.
“The beneficial influence of the Church is received, lived, and transmitted to children, especially through families formed by believers attached to the values of Orthodoxy,” noted the Patriarch of Romania. “The family is the primary environment where faith is embraced, practiced, loved, and passed on to descendants.”
Law no. 101/2015 designates the last Sunday of May as the Day of Romanians Everywhere. This day holds significant national and spiritual importance, emphasizing the common values that unite us: the Romanian language, culture, and Christian traditions.
Romanians abroad have carried their ancestral faith with them, maintaining their connection to the church from home and upholding the Orthodox faith. The Romanian Orthodox Church has established numerous parishes and dioceses in the diaspora to serve the spiritual needs of Romanian Orthodox believers.
In addition to existing dioceses, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church approved the establishment of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, based in London, and the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Ireland and Iceland, based in Dublin.
Currently, there are 1,578 parishes, 74 monastic settlements, and 1,519 Romanian clerics serving in foreign dioceses of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The Church is dedicated to its pastoral and social mission towards Orthodox Romanians outside Romania.
The Church and the family play crucial roles in nurturing faith and passing on traditions to future generations. It is essential to educate young Romanians in love for God, the Church, and the nation, instilling virtues such as compassion, solidarity, friendship, courage, and hope.
The mission of the Romanian Orthodox Church in the diaspora is to cultivate the spiritual aspirations of Romanians abroad, uphold family unity, preserve the Romanian language, faith, and culture, and engage in dialogue with universal cultures.
The Church and the family aim to raise individuals with love for their nation and homeland, fostering a sense of belonging and generosity. Efforts by the Department for Romanians Everywhere in supporting Romanian communities abroad are commendable, and events dedicated to the Day of Romanians Everywhere are essential for maintaining connections.
With paternal blessing and fraternal greetings,
† Daniel
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Photography courtesy of the Basilica.ro Files / Mircea Florescu
Source: basilica.ro
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