The Romanian Orthodox Deanery of Eastern Germany has been reorganised into two new ecclesiastical districts: the Saxony-Thuringia Deanery, headed by Fr Cezar Burlacu, and the Berlin-Brandenburg Deanery, headed by Fr Ioan-Dragoș Manu.
The reorganisation was announced to clergy on Saturday during the autumn meeting of the Eastern Germany Deanery, held at the Romanian Orthodox parish in Dresden.
Dean Ioan Forga presented the decisions adopted by the Standing Committee of the Diocesan Council on 15 October 2026, which provided the basis for establishing the two new deaneries.
On this occasion, the priests and deacons thanked Fr Ioan Forga for his service as head of the former deanery and for the support he had given Romanian Orthodox parishes during the early years of the Church’s missionary development in eastern Germany.
Spiritual life in the diaspora
The autumn meeting was preceded by a lecture delivered by Rev. Professor Daniel Benga, entitled “The Divine Liturgy – An Exchange of Lives between God and Humanity”.
The gathering highlighted the importance of participating in the Church’s Eucharistic life and the spiritual transformation of the faithful through receiving the Body and Blood of the Saviour.
Participants also discussed the particular challenges of life in the diaspora and the need to cultivate joy and a sense of belonging within the Church community.
Fr Daniel Benga emphasised the importance of avoiding formalism and routine in liturgical ministry, encouraging priests and deacons to cultivate a continuous life of prayer and remain conscious of the responsibility entrusted to them in their mission.
On Sunday, the priest also delivered a spiritual lecture following the celebration of the Divine Liturgy at the Romanian Orthodox parish in Leipzig.
The parish priest, Fr Ioan Forga, thanked him for his contribution to the spiritual gatherings organised in the two Saxon communities.
