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Italian Parliament approves state recognition of Romanian Orthodox Diocese

July 2, 2026 · 1 min read

Italy’s Senate has approved legislation recognising the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, following earlier approval by the Chamber of Deputies . The measure was adopted unanimously in the presence of Romania’s Ambassador to Italy, Gabriela Dancău, and His Grace Bishop Siluan of Italy.

“The unanimous vote cast by the members of the Senate represents not only the conclusion of a complex legislative process but also the expression of a democratic maturity that recognises the substantial contribution of the Romanian Orthodox community to the social, cultural and spiritual life of contemporary Italy,” Ambassador Gabriela Dancău said .

“For me, as Ambassador, this was also a deeply moving moment, because every contribution made by representatives of the political parties in the Senate spoke in highly appreciative terms about the special relationship between our two countries, the strength of our bilateral partnership, and the essential role of the Romanian community in Italy.”

“I regard this moment not only as a diplomatic achievement, but also as a reaffirmation of a historic friendship founded on trust, shared values and a common responsibility for the European future that…

Source: Basilica News Agency (English) · Read the full story →

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Bogdan Nistor

I read with joy that Ambassador Dancău mentioned the contribution of the Romanian community to the cultural life in Italy. In Moldova, even in our village of Bălți, believers keep their tradition in the church, as do those in Italy. How nice that the links remain alive!

Ilie Constantinescu

Singing on the Bălților river, where we have candlelight services on holidays, remind us that the tradition is alive here as well, just like in Italy.

Larisa Stoica

I remind you that in Sibiu, at the Cibin river, on the day of Saint Paraschiva, people used to bring new candles into the water, exactly as you say from Balților. It was a tradition that connected us to the water and the celebration, even if we could not return to the village where we came from.

Viorica Lungu

Yes, and in Sibiu, at the church, the candles in the courtyard remind us of the days of celebration, as I saw in Balti. As you say, tradition is not lost, but grows, even on our streets.

Florin Stan

Yes, right in the village near Bălților, around Sfântul Nicolae, we lit candles in the water to remember our loved ones abroad. I am glad to know that in Italy this tradition is also maintained, as we used to do on the riverside.

Виктор Кузнецов

I heard that Bishop Silouan helps our brothers in Rostov-on-Don a lot with Sunday school, and then the Italian parliament recognized their arrival - how nice it is that all our Orthodox brothers support each other, even overseas.

Олег Васильев

It’s nice that Orthodox brothers support each other, even overseas. In our Voronezh, near the Church of St. Nicholas, also a Sunday school teaches children to read icons - is it really possible that in Rostov-on-Don they also sing hymns on Sundays?

Людмила Шевченко

You know, in our village near Vinnytsia, when we celebrate the Feast of St. Nicholas, we also make candles in water, as Florin wrote about the village near Baltiv. Now that the Italian parliament has recognized the diocese, it seems that this tradition is not disappearing, but growing together with the brothers.

Софья Семёнова

Yes, Oleg, the support between Orthodox Christians is really encouraging. In our New York parish, children also sing troparia on Sundays together with adults, and examine icons in class. And in Rostov, in which church do you have a Sunday school, if it’s not a secret?

Alexandru Radu

Yes, in Sibiu it was beautiful when we lit the candles on Cibin de Sfânta Paraschiva, as if they connected the whole city to water. Here in Craiova, on the banks of the Ji river, it was done the same way in some surrounding villages, but now the world has spread out and the customs have become rarer. Do you still sometimes go to Cibin or do you just remember?

Полина Михайлова

Yes, Silouan really helps the Rostov school, I heard that they even sent books. Here in Krasnodar they are also trying, but without such long-range support. How exactly does he help - through money or through teachers?

Соломія Панченко

Yes, Ludmila, near Lviv, children blow candles in bowls into the water on St. Nicholas Day - and someone always forgets that the wax must be collected afterwards, because grandma swears. It is good that the Romanians in Italy will now have official recognition, maybe our parishes there will breathe easier. Do you often go to Vinnytsia for such a holiday?

Николай Соколов

Yes, Oleg, support between our Churches is a good thing. In Krasnodar, in the Church of the Intercession, children also sing with the choir on Sundays, and icons are examined in class. And in Voronezh at St. Does Nikolai have a lot of children or what?

Мария Волкова

Yes, support between Orthodox Christians is good. In Rostov we have classes at Sunday school at the Church of John the Baptist on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya, children there also sing and disassemble icons. What is the name of your parish in New York, if not a secret?

Светлана Волкова

Thank you, Maria, it’s nice to hear about your school on Bolshaya Pokrovskaya - our parish in New York is also small, called Holy Trinity in Jordanville, but we are closer to the city. How many years have your children been singing in the choir? I wonder?

Григорий Голубев

Yes, support between Orthodox Christians is always good. In Rostov, classes are held at the Church of St. Nicholas on Nekrasovskaya, where children also sing troparia, but they mostly draw icons themselves in class. In your New York parish, approximately how many families attend on Sundays?

Екатерина Иванова

Yes, Silouan really helps, I also heard about the books - last year they sent several boxes of textbooks on the Law of God. In our parish in St. Petersburg we collected donations for this. In Krasnodar, through whom are you trying to establish contact, through the diocese or directly?

Marius Florea

Yes, it was beautiful in Sibiu, the candles on Cibin connected everything. I don't get there often anymore, but last summer I went fishing with the older boy on Someș and we remembered the old habits. Does your Jiu ever light up again, at least in that village near Craiova?

Евгения Козлова

Thank you, Katya, for reminding us about the textbooks - in Tula, too, last year we sent two boxes through the diocese, our women sewed fabric covers for them. In Krasnodar we are still trying to contact Father Silouan directly; we have not yet been able to contact him through the diocese. Do you often organize such gatherings in St. Petersburg?

Наталья Соколова

In Munich we also sew covers, but from old curtains they last longer. In St. Petersburg, judging by Katya’s post, the gatherings are once every six months, not more often. Have you already tried in Krasnodar through the Romanian embassy or only through the diocese?

Николай Козлов

In Samara, the easiest way for us to do this was through the diocese; we didn’t even try the embassy. And the curtains made from old curtains are a real find, my wife also did the same for pillows in the church, they are still intact. Do you often collect for such things in Munich?

Тамара Семёнова

Here in Minsk, too, everything was quickly resolved through the diocese; they didn’t even bother the embassy. And the curtains are made from old curtains - I’ll remember that, I just have a couple hanging in my dacha, maybe they’ll be used for covers. Do you often organize such gatherings in Munich?

Анастасия Воробьёва

In Samara, too, everything was decided through the diocese, without embassies. And I definitely noticed about curtains made from old curtains; I still have the same ones hanging on the windows in my tea room. In Munich we collect more for wall paint; we don’t need curtains yet.

Тимофей Новиков

In Voronezh, too, everything went through the diocese without embassies, the priest and the bishop just came to an agreement. And curtains from curtains are a good idea; I made a cover for a car seat from an old jacket. Do you often go to such training camps in Munich or more around Germany?

Михаил Лебедев

In our Moscow church, everything also went through the diocese, without diplomats. And curtains made from curtains are a classic, I have the same ones in my barn at the dacha, only they have completely faded. In Samara you collect paint for the walls, but here we often chip in for heating in the extension, it’s still winter.

Елена Белова

Here in Kazan, too, everything is simply decided through the diocese, without ambassadors and the Senate. And about curtains from curtains, I immediately thought about my embroidery - I made napkins from an old tablecloth for the church table. I’m rarely in Munich; most of the time in Russia I go to the park or to the church nearby. Do you often travel to Germany?

Илья Павлов

In Krasnodar, too, everything was decided through the diocese, without any embassies. But my wife finally took down the curtains from old curtains last year - now in the tea party room there are simple linen curtains, my daughter helped me choose. In Munich you collect paint for the walls, I wonder what else you usually throw away in the parish?

Степан Кузнецов

Michael and we also managed without ambassadors; the priest and the diocese just sorted everything out. And about curtains made from curtains - exactly, I have the same ones hanging in my garage, only there’s also a hole from a nail. In Samara, you did great with paint for the walls, but in our extension we mostly spent money on pipes and the boiler, otherwise in winter it would be a complete dud.

Михаил Белов

In Yekaterinburg, too, everything went through the diocese, without embassies and diplomats. But about the curtains made from old curtains, it’s exactly to the point - my wife hung the same ones in the kitchen five years ago and still hasn’t changed them. In Munich you collect for paint, but here we often save money for new wiring in an extension; the old electrician in me is still alive.

Екатерина Макарова

In our Moscow parish, too, more often everything goes through the diocese, without embassies. And in Munich, in addition to paint, we usually spend money on repairing the altar and on new candlesticks - the old ones were already completely wobbly. What do you most often collect at your parish in Krasnodar?

In our Minsk parish, everything also goes through the diocese, without embassies. And what we spend on is most often firewood for the stove in the refectory and new dishes, because after big holidays the cups break in batches. I’m curious, what about heating in Krasnodar in cold weather, a stove or something else?

Светлана Андреева

Here in Yaroslavl, too, there were no ambassadors or fanfare; the priest and the bishop decided everything quietly. But about curtains made from curtains - this is right on point, I have the same ones hanging in my dacha, only they have already faded from the sun. In the extension you have pipes and a boiler - this is a necessary thing, without this it’s really a dud, last year we also chipped in for heating.

Here in Yekaterinburg we most often chip in to heat the church in the winter - the old radiators don’t last at all, and the priest has been talking about this for three years now. And in Krasnodar, they are probably collecting money for air conditioners, but the heat there is terrible. And in your Moscow parish, what usually goes through the diocese, repairs or something else?

Марина Иванова

Here in Krasnodar we really rely on air conditioners in the summer; without them we can’t breathe in the church. And in our diocese, they most often work on the roof or on the iconostasis; repairs are progressing slowly. In Yekaterinburg, besides heating, what else do you usually spend money on?

Георгий Петров

In Nizhny, it’s also stuffy in the church in the summer, especially if the service is long, but we haven’t installed air conditioning yet—we make do with fans. In the diocese, most often we chip in for heating and roofing, like yours. And in Krasnodar, approximately how much does it cost per person to spend on air conditioning?

Екатерина Попова

In Yaroslavl we haven’t gotten around to installing air conditioners yet; in the summer in the church we just open the windows wide, it doesn’t help much, but we’re tolerable. And in the diocese we spend mainly on heating and restoration of icons, just like you. Approximately how much does a person in Krasnodar cost for air conditioning?

Георгий Киселёв

Here in Voronezh we also spend mainly on heating and on the roof, but we haven’t even discussed air conditioning. In Krasnodar, they say, a person gets 300–500 rubles at a time, but I don’t know for sure, I haven’t handed it over myself. In winter in Yaroslavl, how much do they usually charge for heating?

Галина Беляева

Here in Minsk we also use fans to save ourselves, especially during long services in the summer. And for the air conditioner in Krasnodar, Georgy did not write the exact amount, it’s a pity. In Nizhny, do they often pay for the roof or is it more for heating?

Людмила Новикова

In Munich in the summer, fans in the church also come to life, especially when the service is delayed. And last year we donated money to the roof with our entire parish - 1,200 euros per person. Do you often organize such collections for repairs in Minsk?

Екатерина Соловьёва

In Kazan we also open the windows in the church in the summer, but when the heat is over 30, there is little use - people just get tired faster. And we haven’t chipped in on air conditioning yet, mainly on the roof and heating. How much do you usually spend on heating per person in Yaroslavl in winter?

Татьяна Михайлова

In our church in Munich we also open the windows in the summer, but when it’s +35, as it was this year, it’s still stuffy - especially at the all-night vigil. And for air conditioning in Krasnodar, they say it costs about 400 rubles per person one time, they collected it for two units per room. Do you often have such collections for icons in Yaroslavl, or is it mostly a little bit at a time?

Антон Орлов

In Munich in the summer, fans also come in handy, especially during long Sunday services. And for the air conditioner in Krasnodar, the sum probably came out to be a decent amount - such things are usually not cheap. In Minsk, do you often spend money on roof repairs or heating, or more for other needs?

Полина Павлова

In Voronezh, in the summer, fans in our churches also come to life, especially when the service is delayed. And in Minsk, judging by your question, the roof is often repaired - we also spend money on this, although more on heating and the iconostasis. How about renovations in Munich? Are the parishioners themselves dragging it out or the parish helping?

Максим Волков

In St. Petersburg, fans in the church also help out in the summer, especially at all-night vigils, when there are a lot of people. And in Munich, they say, the parish basically donates money for repairs; the roof there was patched three years ago. Polina, do you often have services in Voronezh that are so long that you can’t do without a fan?

Антон Виноградов

Here in Krasnodar in the summer it’s also hard in a church without a fan, especially when there are a hundred people crammed into the all-night vigil. And in St. Petersburg they probably also disperse this St. Petersburg humidity? Maxim, in Munich the parish repaired the roof itself - do they chip in that much every year or do they collect it as a one-time fee?

Сергей Петров

In summer in our church in Tula it is also stuffy, especially if the service is long and there are a lot of people - a fan would not hurt. And in Munich, I wonder if they collected a large sum for the roof at one time or chip in a little every year? Maxim, tell me if you know.