Romania is one of the most religious countries in the European Union, with over 90% of the population identifying as Christian. The country is a secular state with no official religion, but it formally recognizes 18 denominations that receive state support.
Main Denominations
- Romanian Orthodox: The dominant faith, followed by approximately 73.4% to 81% of the population. It is the second-largest autocephalous Orthodox church in the world.
- Roman Catholic: Comprises about 3.9%, primarily among ethnic Hungarians, Germans, and some Romanians in Transylvania and Moldavia.
- Protestantism: Includes various groups like Reformed (Calvinist), Pentecostal, and Baptist, totaling roughly 6.2%.
- Greek Catholic (Uniate): A small but historically significant group (0.6%) that uses the Byzantine rite but recognizes the Pope’s authority.
Religious Significance & Infrastructure
- National Identity: Orthodoxy is deeply tied to Romanian national identity; St. Andrew is the patron saint, and his feast day (November 30) is a public holiday.
- The National Cathedral: Located in Bucharest, the People’s Salvation Cathedral is the tallest and largest Eastern Orthodox church in the world by volume.
- Monasticism: Romania has a vibrant monastic tradition with nearly 400 active monasteries housing thousands of monks and nuns.
- Church Numbers: There are over 18,000 churches in the country, many built or restored since the fall of Communism in 1989.
Historical Milestones
| Era | Key Event |
|---|---|
| Roman Times | Christianity took root via Roman colonists and soldiers; many core religious terms (e.g., biserică, Dumnezeu) are of Latin origin. |
| 1885 | The Romanian Orthodox Church gained autocephaly (independence) from the Patriarchate of Constantinople. |
| 1948–1989 | Under Communist rule, the state promoted atheism and tightly controlled the church; the Greek Catholic Church was officially abolished during this time. |
| Post-1989 | A major religious revival followed the revolution, with thousands of new churches built and the restoration of banned denominations. |
Regional Distribution
- Transylvania: Home to the highest concentration of Catholics and Protestants (Reformed, Lutheran, Unitarian).
- Moldavia & Wallachia: Strongholds of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
- Dobruja (Southeast): Known for its religious diversity, including a historic Muslim minority and Russian Old Believers (Lipovans).
Links for further overview of Romania:
Stichting HEALING THE NATIONS 