Romania
Romania FactBook
Political Crisis in Romania Threatens the
Catholic Minority
Friday, 09 October 2009 14:41

The current political crisis in Romania is amplified by the
Orthodox Church, the majority religious group in the
country, which lobbies for a law to keep properties taken
from Eastern Rite Catholics, who are a religious minority.
Los Angeles, CA/October 9, 2009 - Religious tensions
have amplified the current national political crisis in
Romania. With the collapse of the country's governing
coalition last week and the presidential election less
than two months away, the Orthodox Church is pushing
for members of the Romanian Parliament to pass a law
that would grant the Orthodox Church permanent
ownership of churches and other properties that were
seized from the Greek-Catholic Church by the
communist regime in 1948.
The Romanian Orthodox Church released a political
statement on September 29 proposing that the
Greek-Catholic properties should be split between the
two Churches "based on the current number of believers
that each Church has within the local community."

Read more at:
http://www.byzcath.org/index.php/news-mainmenu-49/279
1-political-crisis-in-romania-threatens-the-catholic-minorit
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    Pray for Romania
    (Listed June 21, 2010)

    When the Moldavian prince Stephen the Great won his
    first decisive victory against the Turks five and a
    quarter centuries ago, he decided to mark the
    occasion with a grand monastery and adorn its walls
    with the colorful work of artisans of the day. With his
    second victory came another monastery. With the third,
    yet another. Because of border changes these colorful
    monasteries are now in Northeast Romania.
    – Let us think about this; A king builds houses for
    prayer, meditation and study of the Word to
    commemorate his victories. Oh, that we could have
    leaders like that now days.  <Read More>

    1)      Lord we pray for the leaders of Romania and ask
    You to direct their decisions.  We look to these officials
    to maintain a civil atmosphere of peace so the Gospel
    can be freely preached.
    a.       Pray for President, Traian BASESCU
    b.      Pray for Prime Minister, Emil BOC
    c.       Pray for all members of Parliament
    d.      Especially pray for Min. of Culture & Religious
    Affairs, Kelemen HUNOR

    2)     Let us pray that government would not try to
    influence the churches but that the churches would
    fulfill their duty to raise up righteous leaders.

    3)      Let us pray for financial blessings for the people
    of Romania.
    a.       May their fields be abundant with produce this
    summer.
    b.      May their factories produce goods the world
    needs.
    c.       May they lend and not borrow.

    As we advance in Romanian history let us take an
    example from “The Lord‘s Army” (Oastea Domnului). In
    the 1920s there was a preist named Fr. Trifa. God
    began to move on his heart, and he began to see the
    need for spiritual awakening and repentance in
    Romania. He published a series of articles and books
    on this theme, and in January 1923 the foundations for
    the Lord’s Army were laid with an article he published
    in The Light of the Villages. The following years
    brought forth … remarkable transformation throughout
    the country: thousands of people, villagers and
    intellectuals alike, turned aside from worldly lives and
    turned to prayer and repentance. Taverns were
    converted into places of prayer, and entire villages
    were awakened to take their Orthodox faith seriously.
    In 1929 Fr. Trifa purchased a printing press, and for
    the next 15 years it turned out tracts, books, and
    calendars focused on prayer and repentance under
    the banner of the Lord’s Army. From most reports,
    during the communist years, although they had to go
    underground, they stayed true to the faith while other
    church organizations submitted to government control.
    <Read More>

    4)     Although the Lord’s Army has stayed within the
    Orthodox Church they have pointed many to the full-
    Gospel. Lord revive the Lord’s Army again. Every open
    door they have for the Gospel’s sake may they run
    through it.

    5)     There are many good things happening for the
    Gospel’s sake in Romania. Lord, we ask that every
    seed planted would yield a hundred-fold. Mark 4:8
    But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop
    that sprang up, increased and produced: some
    thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

    6)     Lord raise up a glorious church in Romania where
    all expressions of faith can show Jesus’ love.

    Back in May of 2009 we had prayed this prayer; “Let us
    pray about the diasporas of Romanians. This can be
    called a “brain drain”. Because of a lack of opportunity
    in Romania people left in search of  [a] better future.
    Let us pray for the Christians that have left Romania.
    Lord we pray they not forget Romania but be moved to
    pray and ask You how they can sow seeds back into
    Romania. Lord we pray for a movement of Christians
    going back to Romania, pastors, evangelist and
    business entrepreneurs.”  Last Sunday at church a
    former Romanian pastor, who had immigrated to the
    states a few years ago, told me his business was failing
    here and he was going back to Romania. I was so
    happy because when I first met Constantine years ago
    I just knew he and his family was to go back. (I wasn’t
    happy about his business failing)

    7)     Let us pray for Constantine Hateganu and his
    family as they return to Romania. May the Lord open
    doors of opportunity beyond his dreams. As he takes
    his entrepreneur spirit into his homeland, Lord just
    make a way for him to prosper and be at peace. Lord, I
    pray that you will give him the spiritual keys to the city
    he is going to.

    8)     Lord we pray for all the Pastors and Priest in
    Romania. Lord, supply them with their needs and those
    that “live to give” open the windows of heaven and
    pour out a blessing they can’t contain.  
    9)     The pastors have little theological training. Lord
    we ask that first of all these pastors be taught by the
    Holy Spirit and doors of Bible training be opened to
    them.
    10)  Let us pray for Apostles to be raised up in
    Romania. Apostles that will go throughout Romania
    establishing Churches that rest on sound Christian
    doctrine.
    11)   We pray for evangelism outreach to  the children
    in Romania. Lord, work through the Christian summer
    camps. Lord, release finances for these camps so
    even more children can participate. Prepare the
    workers and reward them for giving of their time.
    12)  Let us remember the Gypsies in Romania and
    pray the revival among them would continue.

    28 Roma (Gypsies) came to Salvation

    I just returned from 5 days of ministry in
    Romania with Pastor Eduard Rudoff, Gyuszi
    and the leaders at Church on a Hill in Apata.  
    Matt Lankenau, my European Initiative co-
    worker and a German friend joined me on the
    trip.  It was bitter cold in the Transylvanian
    mountains – temps in the morning were –10
    Fahrenheit!!!  We delivered hundreds of coats,
    sweaters, fleeces and sleeping bags to
    impoverished Gypsies who struggle to survive
    the brutal winter.  

    Before we even began distributing the clothing,
    we went house by house meeting Gypsies,
    praying for them and as God would give us the
    opportunity, sharing the Gospel.  By His great
    grace, 28 Gypsies came to salvation, and a
    few were healed physically.  May I ask that you
    pray for these new believers.  

    Warm blessings from Berlin,
    Jeff Serio