The 30th Eparchial Assembly of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Germany, Austria and Luxembourg took place last Friday, May 1, at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Nuremberg.
Administrative and pastoral proceedings began with a Te Deum service celebrated by His Grace Sofian of Brașov, assistant bishop of the Archdiocese.
His Eminence Metropolitan Serafim Joantă of Germany, Central and Northern Europe, opened the session of the Assembly, which includes clergy — hieromonks, priests and deacons — as well as lay representatives from each parish. This year, priests’ wives and members of the youth association A.T.O.R.G. were also invited.
Reports, Elections and Youth Participation
During the proceedings, diocesan counsellors presented activity reports covering pastoral-missionary, cultural-catechetical, financial and social-philanthropic sectors, alongside the report of the “Maria Stăniloae” Association of priests’ wives within the Archdiocese.
Young members of A.T.O.R.G. also contributed an artistic programme.
Following the re-election of diocesan deliberative bodies, the winning parishes at the archdiocesan level in the 18th edition of the National Catechetical Competition (2026) were announced. This year’s theme was: “The Family – God’s Blessing and a School of Humble and Generous Love.”
Conference on the Importance of the Divine Liturgy
At the annual clergy conference, Fr Daniel Benga, professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, and Fr Ciprian Negreanu of the University Campus Church in Cluj-Napoca delivered presentations.
The speakers addressed the importance of the Divine Liturgy from different perspectives — as an icon of the Holy Spirit in the Church and as a living experience of liturgical life.
Relics of Saint George the Pilgrim
At the conclusion of the programme, Metropolitan Serafim welcomed the reliquary containing the relics of Saint George the Pilgrim, brought from Văratec Monastery.
The relics were available for veneration at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Nuremberg until Sunday.
Photo: Facebook / Metropolis of Germany, Central and Northern Europe
