The Very Rev. Archimandrite Ioan Meiu, Representative of the Romanian Patriarchate in the Holy Land and Superior of the Romanian Settlements at the Holy Places, has announced the establishment of an organisation and a dedicated website that will facilitate support for ongoing works at the Romanian settlements in these lands blessed by the footsteps of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Association Founders of the Holy Places is a non-governmental, non-profit and non-political organisation established and operating in accordance with Romanian law. It is registered in Romania’s Register of Religious Entities, making corporate sponsorships eligible for tax deductions.
All funds collected through the association will be used exclusively for projects approved and overseen by the Superior of the Romanian Settlements in the Holy Land.
To support fundraising efforts, the website ctitorilalocurilesfinte.ro has been launched. The platform presents the history of the Romanian settlements, outlines current projects and provides detailed information about the newly established organisation.
Ongoing Works in the Holy Land
The projects currently underway include:
- Reconstruction of the Romanian Skete at the Jordan River;
- Interior renovation of the church at the Romanian Settlement in Jerusalem, including a new floor, upgraded utilities and the restoration of the narthex and iconographic decoration;
- Structural reinforcement of the Romanian Settlement in Jericho, including foundation strengthening and measures to halt structural movement.
“Today, each of us has the opportunity to become a founder and benefactor of these blessed places, contributing to their preservation and support for generations to come. To be a founder is not merely to make a material donation, but to bear witness to our love for Christ and for the places where the greatest miracles of our salvation took place,” Archimandrite Ioan Meiu wrote on social media.
The Romanian Patriarchate’s representative at the Holy Places recalled that Romanian rulers, together with ordinary pilgrims, have supported the settlements in the Holy Land for centuries. He also noted that Romanian saints, including St John Jacobof Neamț, the New Chozebite, undertook their ascetic struggles in these sacred lands.
“Let us not forget that the Holy Places belong not only to the past. They are a living call for the present and a sacred inheritance for the future. Let us preserve them together, with faith, gratitude and love,” Archimandrite Ioan Meiu urges on the association’s website.
How to Donate
The website uses the Stripe online payment platform, enabling visitors to make donations by card and to set up recurring monthly contributions. Donors may also obtain banking details and submit prayer name lists when making donations via bank transfer.
Information about all available donation methods can be found on the website.
Photo: Facebook / Romanian Orthodox Church in Ierusalim
