Members of the Romanian Orthodox Parish of Tokyo have begun building a wooden church in Maramureș style in Minami-Alps, Yamanashi Prefecture, after purchasing land and establishing the first Orthodox cemetery in Japan at the site. The foundation stone was blessed at the end of last week.
The service was officiated by the parish priest, Daniel Corîu, with the blessing of Patriarch Daniel of Romania, Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and His Eminence Metropolitan Seraphim (Tsujinaga) of the Autonomous Orthodox Church in Japan. In a sign of respect, a Buddhist priest from a nearby temple also attended the ceremony.
Construction of the foundation will begin on 1 April and will be carried out by a local Japanese company. The wooden church structure has already been crafted in Romania by traditional builders, then dismantled and transported to Japan.
Installation and assembly of the Maramureș-style church will take place between 29 April and 19 May, when monks who helped build the structure will travel from Romania. During the same period, the church roof will be installed by another Japanese company.
Building in Japan Not Easy
“Our prayers have given us hope and courage so that the challenges ahead do not trouble or frighten us. Until this festive moment, when we finally saw the wooden church from Romania arrive at the site in Yamanashi, we went through many trials,” Fr Corîu said.
“We realised that building a church is not easy, especially in Japan. Above all, the power and providence of God proved victorious. The trials have not stopped, but after Saturday’s event, we have greater hope that the work will be completed successfully.”
A Team Effort
Work on building and installing the small church at the Orthodox cemetery in Japan has been underway for nearly two years.
“It is a team effort, an undertaking of communion,” Fr Corîu said.
“For this reason, to bring it to completion, we again appeal to solidarity and mutual support. The expenses ahead—including the foundation, the roof, labour, rented equipment and unforeseen costs—lead us once more to prayer and to ask for help: be part of this historic project and help us bring it to completion.”
All those who support the construction will be considered benefactors and commemorated at Divine Liturgies celebrated at the site.
Fr Corîu hopes to celebrate the first Divine Liturgy in the new church at the end of May 2026.
The Romanian Orthodox cemetery, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, will be open to Orthodox Christians of all nationalities who wish to ensure burial according to their faith. The church itself will be dedicated to St Demetrius the New, the protector of Bucharest, and to the feast of the Raising of Lazarus.
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Beneficiary: ROMANIAN PATRIARCHATE – TOKYO PARISH
IBAN: RO59RNCB0075004895030001
Tax ID (CUI): 4430779
Payment details: For Tokyo, Japan
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Bank: Mitsubishi UFJ
Branch: Kunitachi (243)
Account type: Regular
Account number: 1447599
Account name: Rumania Seikyokai Nihon Shibu (“Representative Office of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Japan”)
SWIFT code: BOTKJPJTXXX
Photo: Romanian Orthodox Parish in Tokyo
