The Crimca Publishing House of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți has released a bilingual edition (Romanian-Ukrainian) of The Life and Akathist of Saint John the New of Suceava. Published at the end of last year, the book has been showcased at multiple cultural events in Romania and Ukraine’s Chernivtsi region.
The 5,000-copy print run aims to support Ukrainian communities in Bukovina, refugees from Ukraine, and historic Romanian communities in Northern Bukovina.
“This initiative provides spiritual and cultural support to Ukrainian ethnic communities,” said Father Mihai Cobziuc, Advisor at the Archdiocese’s Minority Relations Office and the Ukrainian translator of the Akathist, in an interview with Basilica.ro.
Father Cobziuc expressed gratitude to the team at the Eparchial Center, including Father Ciprian Blaga (Cultural Sector), Father Alexandru Flavian Sava (Media and Public Relations), and Father Ștefănel Ciurciun (Director of Crimca Publishing House).
Cooperation Agreement and Financial Support
The project was made possible by financial assistance from the Union of Ukrainians in Romania, which was part of a formal cooperation protocol.
“The agreement ensures a transparent framework for projects that preserve the Ukrainian language, promote traditions and strengthen the spiritual identity of Ukrainian communities in Romania,” said Father Cobziuc.
The bilingual book was launched during key events, including the December 2024 meeting of the Union’s Suceava County Committee, the Gaudeamus Book Fair in Bucharest, the Ukrainian Carols and Traditions Festival in Siret, and celebrations organized by the Mihai Eminescu Society in Chernivtsi on January 15, 2025.

A Spiritual Bridge Between Romanians and Ukrainians
During the Chernivtsi events, local journalists described the bilingual publication as “a spiritual bridge,” according to Father Cobziuc.
Representing the Archdiocese, Father Cobziuc joined Romanian diplomats and regional officials in laying flowers at the bust of Romanian national poet Mihai Eminescu at Aron Pumnul’s house and his statue in central Chernivtsi.
At the same time, Father Cobziuc introduced another archdiocesan project, A Prayer Book as a Gift for Romanian Souls. In its second edition, the project, which has agreements with local Romanian organizations, has distributed 2,000 prayer books to Romanian communities in Northern Bukovina.
Photo: Facebook / Bucovina Librarians Society – Chernivtsi