On Tuesday, the Sighet Memorial hosted the symposium celebrating 35 years of the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate in Romania.
The event was preceded by the Divine Liturgy, celebrated by Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, the delegate of the Patriarch of Romania, together with priests from the two deaneries of the vicariate.
At the end of the service, Bishop Varlaam presented the Centennial Diploma of the Romanian Patriarchate to the priests involved in organising the event, to the Ukrainian Ambassador to Romania, to county authorities’ representatives, and other individuals supporting the vicariate’s parishes.
The clergy expressed gratitude to His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel for his care toward Orthodox Ukrainians in Romania, offering a symbolic gift: a Maramureș-style icon of the Holy Trinity and a traditional woven towel. Bishop Varlaam was gifted an icon, an engolpion, and a traditional Maramureș sheepskin vest.
The symposium took place in the conference hall of the Sighet Memorial.
Symposium topics
Bishop Varlaam conveyed the congratulatory message of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on the occasion of the anniversary.
State Secretary for Religious Affairs, Ciprian Olinici, reiterated the institution’s continuous support for the vicariate, while His Excellency Ihor Prokoptchuk, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Romania, spoke about the historical and spiritual ties between the Ukrainian and Romanian peoples, especially in the current complex context for Ukraine.
Vasile Moldovan, Mayor of Sighetu Marmației, praised the harmonious coexistence of Ukrainians and Romanians in Sighet and the Maramureș region.
The academic session included presentations such as:
- Two Old Wooden Churches of the Maramureș Ukrainians – Teofil Ivanciuc, historian
- Liturgical Books with Historical Significance in Ukrainian Orthodox Parishes in Maramureș – Fr. PhD candidate Gheorghe Cinar
- The Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Câmpulung la Tisa – 225 Years Since Its Construction – Fr. Gheorghe Chascear
- Ukrainian Orthodox Christians in Romania During Communism – Fr. Marius N. Lauruc
- The Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate of Romania – 35 Years Since Its Reestablishment – Vicar Fr. Nicolae Lauruc
- The Ukrainian Orthodox Deanery of Lugoj – A Brief History – Dean Fr. Petru Rosoca
- The Importance of Religious Education in the Lives of Young Faithful in the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate – Dean Fr. Petru Rahovan
The event concluded with the awarding of honorary diplomas from the Ukrainian Vicariate to representatives of local governments in Ukrainian-populated areas, as well as to Ukrainian-language educational institutions and officials from the Ministry of Education, for their support of Ukrainian-language education.
The Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate of Romania was reestablished shortly after the 1989 Revolution, having been abolished by communist authorities in 1952.
Photo: Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate
