The Romanian Orthodox Parish of the Descent of the Holy Spirit – Milan I celebrated its 50th anniversary on Sunday. It was a moment of joy and emotion for the Orthodox community in northern Italy, the Diocese of Italy announced.
The festivity included the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Bishop Siluan of Italy, together with an assembly of priests and deacons. Among the concelebrants were Father Traian Valdman, the first parish priest and honorary vicar of the Diocese of Italy, and Father Teodor Hamdan, the current parish priest.
Prayers of thanksgiving were offered for the blessings received throughout the five decades of the parish’s existence.
A beacon of faith and community
The event was attended by George Bologan, Romania’s Ambassador to the Holy See. He highlighted the parish’s vital role in fostering both individual and collective well-being.
“In a dehumanizing context, disoriented people seek to live in communion with others, and the parish becomes a point of reference,” Ambassador Bologan said.
“It is in the parish that children can learn discernment inspired by Christian values. The world suffers from deep imbalances rooted in the human heart. That is why we need priests who guide, teach, and bring light into souls.”
A brief history
The story of the Descent of the Holy Spirit Parish began on February 9, 1975. On this date, a group of Romanian faithful, led by Father Traian Valdman, decided to establish a parish under the jurisdiction of the Romanian Patriarchate.
The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church officially recognized the parish on March 11, 1975. They approved the community’s decision and appointed Father Valdman as parish priest, effective October 1, 1975.
Initially, the parish operated in a Catholic church on Via Giorgio Giulini. Since 1996, services have been held in the Church of Santa Maria della Vittoria. This location has been graciously made available by Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini.
In 2002, a Romanian-style iconostasis was installed and blessed by Patriarch Teoctist, a deeply symbolic moment for the Romanian Orthodox community in Milan.
In 2019, Father Valdman retired from his position as parish priest. However, he continues to serve alongside Father Teodor Hamdan.
A bridge between Romanian and Italian cultures
Over the decades, the parish has become a vibrant spiritual, cultural, and missionary centre. It hosts catechetical programs for children, supports the “Orthodoxia” choir, and stands as a landmark of Romanian Orthodoxy in Italy — a space of communion and identity for the Romanian diaspora, as well as a living bridge between Romanian and Italian culture.
Photo: Diocese of Italy
