Last Thursday, the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Germany, Central and Northern Europe held an anniversary symposium marking 30 years since its founding. Titled “From Aspiration to Reality,” the event took place at the Metropolis’ headquarters in Nuremberg, emphasizing the contribution of Romanian Orthodoxy to European spirituality.
Organized in collaboration with the German-Romanian Institute “Ex Fide Lux,” the symposium was moderated by Metropolitan Serafim of Germany, Central, and Northern Europe.
Bishop Sofian of Brașov, Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg, also participated in the event.
Esteemed Guests and Reflections
Notable attendees included:
– Dr. Hermann Schoenauer, President of “Ex Fide Lux” Institute,
– Dr. Herwig Gössl, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Bamberg,
– Joachim Herrmann, Bavaria’s Minister of the Interior,
– Petra Guttenberger, Member of the Bavarian Parliament,
– Representatives of the Evangelical Church and academia.
Other dignitaries who could not attend sent messages of greeting and appreciation. Assistant Bishop Sofian of Brașov shared on social media that the Metropolis has grown impressively from just over 10 parishes in six countries at its inception to nearly 300 parishes today. Of these, 212 are within the Archdiocese of Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg, while the rest are part of the Diocese of Northern Europe.
Highlights of the Symposium
The first address was given by Metropolitan Serafim, who spoke about the impact of Romanian Orthodoxy on European spirituality. Honorary patriarchal counselor Fr. Michael Tița highlighted the historical evolution of the Romanian diaspora and the remarkable achievements of Romanians in Western Europe.
Dr. Jürgen Henkel, a close collaborator of the Metropolis, provided an external perspective on its development over the past three decades.
In his closing remarks, Assistant Bishop Sofian of Brașov expressed gratitude to God for the blessings bestowed upon the Metropolis over the past 30 years, calling the anniversary a time of reflection and thanksgiving.
Photo: Metropolis of Germany
