Romanian immigration over the last 14 years has been a driving force in the growth of Orthodoxy in France. This is the conclusion of a study conducted by Father Jivko Panev and recently published on the website Orthodoxie.com.
Between 2010 and 2024, the number of places of worship owned by Romanian Orthodox parishes in France almost doubled (a 94% increase), reaching just under 38% of all Orthodox churches in the country.
Similarly, more than a third (35%) of Orthodox clergy in France belong to the Romanian Orthodox Church.
“This rapid demographic growth is due to the increasing number of Romanian and Moldovan immigrants after Romania’s accession to the European Union in 2007. This geographical dispersion reflects the multiplication of Romanian parishes across France, especially in rural areas where labour is needed in agriculture and construction,” writes Father Jivko Panev.
The canonical jurisdiction of the Romanian Orthodox Church in France is also characterised by the development of monastic life: 12 of the 28 Orthodox monasteries in France are Romanian (43% of the total), reflecting the spiritual vitality and monastic tradition of Romanian Orthodoxy, the study’s author concludes.
Another notable trend in the evolution of Orthodoxy in France over this period is the more than 50% increase in the number of Orthodox parishes using French in worship — a development attributed to several factors, including the integration of descendants of early immigrant generations, mixed marriages, and a growing number of French converts.
The quantitative analysis was based on data from the annual directories of the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of France (AEOF), published by the Romanian Orthodox Monastery of Cantauque, France.
Photo: Trinitas TV (Consecration of Romanian church at Auvers-sur-Oise, France)
