Romanian Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop, Albanian ambassador discuss closer cooperation

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești met on Tuesday with Albania’s Ambassador to Romania, Enkeleda Mërkuri, at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest. During the meeting, the two sides discussed opportunities for academic and spiritual cooperation between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Albanian Orthodox Church.

The Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop recalled Romania’s significant contribution to the development of both the Albanian Church and the modern Albanian state, emphasising that this shared heritage can serve as the foundation for new joint initiatives.

“Considering the important role played by the Romanian people and the Romanian Orthodox Church in Albania’s attainment of independence and in the organisation of the new Albanian state and its Church, there is a strong desire to deepen these ties, particularly in the academic sphere,” he said.

Academic and spiritual cooperation Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, secretary of the Holy Synod, and archim. Augustin Coman, patriarchal counsellor and coordinator of the Department for External Church Relations. 28.07.2026. Photo credit: Basilica.ro / Raluca-Emanuela Ene Bishop Varlaam noted that…