Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church noted that “prayer, love for parents, homeland, and God know no borders,” in a message marking Romanian Migrants’ Sunday, observed on the first Sunday after the Dormition of the Theotokos.
The patriarch expressed gratitude to the clergy and faithful in the diaspora, praising their steadfast love for Romania and the “Mother Church” despite living abroad. He emphasised that the Church remains a spiritual anchor for migrant communities, preserving language, faith, and national identity.
The message coincides with the centennial year of the Romanian Patriarchate, which the Holy Synod has also dedicated to honouring 20th-century Romanian confessors of faith who endured persecution under communism.
Patriarch Daniel called on Romanian Orthodox abroad to remain united in prayer and tradition with those at home, noting that “home is not only a place, but a spiritual state of communion with roots, inherited values, and loved ones.”
Please find below Patriarch Daniel’s message on Romanian Migrants’ Sunday
The Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate – A time of great joy and gratitude for all Romanian Orthodox believers
The year 2025, proclaimed by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church as the Solemn Year of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate and the Commemorative Year of Romanian Orthodox Spiritual Fathers and Confessors of the 20th century, represents a unique moment in the history of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
The Centennial of the establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate is an occasion to deepen our knowledge of the history of our Church, which has been closely tied to the destiny of the Romanian people and its aspirations for unity and freedom. At the same time, it is a time of remembrance for those who, through their sacrifice, defended and confessed the Orthodox faith even in the most difficult times.
This anniversary is not only a celebration of the past, but also a call to gratitude for our forebears and a reflection on the role of our Church in the life of the Romanian people. The Romanian Patriarchate has been, throughout its 100 years of existence, an undying flame of faith and national unity, while the Romanian Orthodox spiritual fathers and confessors of the 20th century were true defenders of Orthodoxy in the face of trials and persecutions.
The establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate was internationally recognised, especially through the Tomos of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. The official recognition of the Romanian Patriarchate by the other autocephalous Orthodox Churches strengthened the prestige of the Romanian Orthodox Church and consolidated its role in the symphony of universal Orthodoxy.
Beyond the elevation of the Romanian Orthodox Church to Patriarchal rank in 1925, another significant chapter of the 20th century is the sacrificial faith and courage of Romanian Orthodox spiritual fathers and confessors during the communist regime (1945–1989), which unleashed unprecedented persecution against the Romanian Orthodox Church. In that period of harsh trial, many clergy, monastics, and lay people bore witness to the Orthodox faith, even at the cost of their freedom or life.
On the occasion of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate, the Holy Synod decided to officially proclaim 16 Romanian Orthodox spiritual fathers and confessors from the communist era. These saints were canonised for their steadfastness in preserving the Orthodox faith and Christian dignity in the face of persecution. They are living icons of our Church, teaching us that sacrificial love for Christ is the highest calling of every Christian.
The Church honours them because they endured persecution with dignity and bore witness to the truth of Christ, even under torture and unto death, thus offering a living example of holy Christian life. Their canonisation is an act of recognising the sanctification of their life and sacrifice, which transcends any political context, emphasising that true Christian witness does not serve passing worldly ideologies but the eternal values of faith and love for God (John 11:25).
The Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate is, at the same time, a moment of great joy and gratitude for all Romanian Orthodox believers. This century of existence and rich activity of the Romanian Patriarchate has been marked by many blessings, but also by difficult trials, which the Romanian Orthodox Church, with God’s help, has overcome with patience, wisdom, and hope.
As the guardian of the faith of the Romanian soul and witness to the history of our nation, the Romanian Orthodox Church is called to be not only a place of worship but also a source of light and sanctification for the community.
In the life of Romanian society, the Church has played and continues to play an essential role in shaping character, promoting Christian education, and preserving national identity, especially among Romanians living abroad. Through faith, traditions, and culture, the Church offers bridges between generations and among Romanians everywhere, supporting them in preserving the unity of faith and awareness of belonging to the same people.
Looking back on these 100 years, we see both a rich history and a beautiful spiritual legacy left by our forebears — whether patriarchs who wisely shepherded the Church, or bishops, priests, deacons, monastics, and lay faithful who defended and transmitted the Orthodox faith in particularly difficult times.
Now, at the celebration of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate and on this Sunday dedicated to Romanian migrants, we extend a word of gratitude and appreciation to all servants of the Holy Altars in the diaspora — hierarchs, priests, and deacons — for their rich pastoral, missionary, and social activity in these times of instability faced by today’s society, as well as to all Romanian Orthodox faithful abroad for their steadfast love toward their homeland and Mother Church.
Romanian Migrants’ Sunday reminds us that, although physically far from home, Romanians are united in spirit with their loved ones through the services of the Church and cultural traditions. In their hearts, “home” is not only a place, but also a spiritual state of communion with their roots, inherited values, and those who always await them with longing.
The Romanian Orthodox Church stands beside Romanians abroad through prayer and pastoral work, through its parishes and missions, being a source of support, light, comfort, and a living bridge between generations.
We urge you to keep sacredly our language, faith, and Romanian identity. Do not forget that prayer, love for parents, for our nation, and for God know no borders. Wherever you may be, remain children of the same Church and of the same blessed people.
We pray to the Most Holy Trinity that this day, Romanian Migrants’ Sunday, may be for us a moment of joy in reuniting with our loved ones at home, a strengthening in faith, and a remembrance of those who have departed to the Kingdom of Heaven.
With deep appreciation and fatherly blessing,
† DANIEL
Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church
Photo: Basilica.ro / Raluca-Emanuela Ene
