Ukrainian refugees

Romanian Patriarch Daniel meets U.S. Presidential Envoy Paolo Zampolli in Bucharest

Romanian Patriarch Daniel met on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, with Ambassador Paolo Zampolli, the U.S. President’s Special Envoy for Global Partnerships, during a visit to the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest. Patriarch Daniel welcomed Ambassador Zampolli to the Romanian Patriarchate and expressed appreciation for the fact that U.S. President Donald Trump is a protector and promoter…

Aug 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bilingual edition of Saint John the New’s Akathist bridges Romanian and Ukrainian communities

The Crimca Publishing House of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți has released a bilingual edition (Romanian-Ukrainian) of The Life and Akathist of Saint John the New of Suceava. Published at the end of last year, the book has been showcased at multiple cultural events in Romania and Ukraine’s Chernivtsi region. The 5,000-copy print run…

Jan 23, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Ukrainian Ambassador visits Orthodox Vicariate in Sighetu Marmației to discuss community needs and collaborative projects

Last Friday, His Excellency Ihor Prokopchuk, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Romania, visited the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate of the Romanian Patriarchate in Sighetu Marmației, Maramureș County. During the visit, the two institutions identified potential collaborative projects. Ambassador Prokopchuk also discussed with Vicar Nicolae Lauruc the needs of the Ukrainian community in Romania, the status of ethnic minorities…

Jan 14, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Diaconia Mission hosts summer camp for Ukrainian mother-child refugees

In July, the Diaconia Social Mission of the Metropolis of Bessarabia organized a summer camp for Ukrainian mother-child refugee pairs. The camp hosted 47 mothers and 62 children. According to a press release from the Diaconia Social Mission, the “Bridges of Solidarity” camp included activities to strengthen the bond between mothers and children, such as…

Aug 2, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church allocated 1 million euros to support Ukrainian refugees in 2023

The assistance extended by the Romanian Orthodox Church to Ukrainian refugees who sought refuge in Romania and the Republic of Moldova over the previous year exceeded one million euros and included a variety of services, products, and financial aid. Therefore, in 2023, the Filantropia Federation and the dioceses of the Romanian Orthodox Church provided measurable…

Mar 6, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Bucharest marks Russia-Ukraine war anniversary: We prayed to God to strengthen them!

On Saturday, “Parcul Domeniilor”-Cașin Church in Bucharest hosted a moment of remembrance for the second anniversary of the conflict in Ukraine. Ihor Prokopchuk, the Ukrainian ambassador to Romania, was in attendance. “We officiated a memorial service to honour the victims of this unjust conflict in Ukraine, which has caused and continues to cause tremendous suffering.…

Feb 26, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate: Prayer and support for Ukraine war victims

On Sunday, all churches affiliated with the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate organised memorial services for Ukraine conflict victims. The initiative belonged to Fr Nicolae Lauruc who leads the ecclesiastical structure of the Romanian Patriarchate dedicated to Ukrainian believers. The vicariate has assisted Ukrainians and refugees, totalling around 360,000 euros. Marking the 2nd anniversary of the war,…

Feb 26, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Escaping war but longingly looking back: Diaconia Mission offers Ukrainian refugee mothers a holiday with their children

Throughout July 2023, refugee mothers from Ukraine spend a free holiday with their children in the Republic of Moldova, in a programme entitled “Bridges of Solidarity” and implemented by the Diaconia Social Mission with the financial support of Caritas Ambrosiana. Women who fled the war are torn between homesickness and fear for their future. The…

Jul 17, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

We tried to respond to all needs: Filantropia Federation, a year of assistance for Ukrainian refugees

Friday marks one year since the start of the war in Ukraine and the beginning of the population exodus from Romania’s neighbouring country. Nevertheless, representatives of the Filantropia Federation of the Romanian Patriarchate continue to provide assistance. “We tried to respond to all the needs,” said Father Ciprian Ioniță, patriarchal adviser and president of the…

Feb 24, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Exemplary aid: Romanian Orthodox Church spends 8,7 mln euro to support Ukrainian refugees in 2022

The annual report summarising the activities of the Romanian Orthodox Church in 2022 presents figures regarding the support offered to Ukrainian refugees: its value is equivalent to 8.7 million euros. “It was an exemplary humanitarian aid,” declared the Patriarch of Romania during the meeting of the National Church Assembly this week. “Of course, it would…

Feb 10, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Religious leaders call for increased support for refugees and host communities

Religions for Peace and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have assembled their Multi-Religious Council of Leaders for a two-day field mission to Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, calling for people of all faiths, across the globe, to increase their support of Ukrainian refugees and host communities. The event was attended…

Feb 7, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu