Romania-Israel relations

Romanian lower house speaker meets Jerusalem Patriarch during official Israel visit

Sorin Grindeanu, Speaker of Romania’s Chamber of Deputies, met last Wednesday with His Beatitude Theophilos III of Jerusalem, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The meeting took place during an official visit to Israel by the Romanian parliamentary delegation, which also included Romania’s health minister and several members of parliament. “The first visit was to His Beatitude Patriarch…

Feb 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarch meets Israeli Ambassador, highlights pilgrimages and bilateral ties

On Tuesday, 20 January 2026, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania received Israel’s Ambassador to Bucharest, Lior Ben Dor, at the Patriarchal Residence. The ambassador was accompanied by Erez Golan, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of Israel in Bucharest. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel expressed his joy at meeting the ambassador again and praised…

Jan 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Israeli Ambassador visits Bucharest Orthodox Seminary, praises students’ training

Israeli Ambassador to Romania Lior Ben Dor visited the “Metropolitan Nifon” Theological Seminary in Bucharest on Tuesday, expressing appreciation for the students’ solid theological education and for the institution’s broader formation in both the humanities and sciences. During the visit, the ambassador met Archimandrite Nectarie Șofelea, the seminary’s director, abbot of Radu Vodă Monastery, and…

Jan 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Israeli ambassador visits Cluj for first time, discusses pilgrimage ties and shared heritage with local assistant bishop

On Thursday, Assistant Bishop Samuel of Bistrița from the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj received His Excellency Lior Ben Dor, Ambassador of the State of Israel to Romania, who paid his first official visit to Cluj-Napoca. The Israeli ambassador expressed his appreciation for the city’s beauty and the openness of its community. Born into…

Nov 22, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Teofan meets Israeli Deputy Ambassador in Iași

His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina met last week in Iași with His Excellency Rami Teplitskiy, Deputy Ambassador of Israel to Romania. The discussions emphasized the importance of cooperation between Romania and Israel, highlighting the historical and cultural ties that unite the two nations. Topics of mutual interest were explored, particularly the role…

Dec 5, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarch receives Israel’s Ambassador for courtesy visit

On Monday, November 25, 2024, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania welcomed His Excellency Mr. Lior Ben Dor, the Ambassador of Israel to Romania, for a courtesy visit at the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest. Patriarch Daniel praised Ambassador Ben Dor’s extensive diplomatic experience and highlighted the excellent relations between Romania and Israel. A pertinent example…

Nov 26, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop meets with Deputy Ambassador of Israel to strengthen bilateral ties

On Monday, November 4, 2024, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, Secretary of the Holy Synod, welcomed His Excellency Mr. Rami Teplitskiy, Deputy Ambassador of the State of Israel to Bucharest, at the Patriarchal Palace. Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești extended a warm welcome to the Israeli Deputy Ambassador at the Romanian Patriarchate, noting…

Nov 4, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Press release regarding the situation of Romanian pilgrims in Israel after outbreak of war

In the dramatic context generated by the beginning of the war in Israel a few days ago, in which nearly 800 Romanian citizens were on pilgrimage to the Holy Places, the Romanian Patriarchate provides the following clarifications regarding the evolution of their situation: Since the outbreak of the conflict through the terrorist attacks on Israel,…

Oct 9, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate expresses deep concern over recrudescence of war in Israel

The Romanian Patriarchate expresses its deep concern over the recrudescence of war in Israel following the terrorist attack launched at dawn on Saturday, October 7, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of people injured. War always represents a social catastrophe with incalculable consequences in terms of human suffering and the loss of life…

Oct 9, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu