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– Emerged 1885 As Distinct from the Eastern Orthodox Denomination.
Although some claim that the Romanian Orthodox church traces back to Apostolic times i.e. the work of the Apostle Andrew in Scythia Minor (Romania) and other very early missionaries, the history of this branch of the Orthodox faith is a bit obscure for nearly 1200 years following the Roman departure in 271 AD.
Historical sources show that as soon as the Edict from Mediolanum was promulgated in the year 313, about 15 episcopal sees were mentioned in very early documents, as forming in various towns on the right bank of the Danube, in the provinces of Pannonia Inferior, Dacia Ripensis and Moesia Inferior (today in Serbia and, especially, in Bulgaria)
In the 6th century, Scythia Minor was a “metropolitan province” with 14 dioceses in the main towns of the province all directly related to the Patriarchate of Constantinople, Although Romania could identify and relate to Rome (Western Church) through language, its church authority was historically fell under Constantinople (Eastern Church).
Wallachia and Moldavia would emerge as political entities in the 14th century but were were clearly and historically Eastern Orthodox, and not Roman Catholic in their liturgy and ecclesiology. Its safe to say that over the course of those “somewhat foggy” 800 years, the Romanian church was built up under Byzantine and later Constantinople influence and support. However, the Orthodox Romanian church would not receive an “autocephalous” (self-governing) church status from Constantinople until 1885.
In the mid 20th century, a number of Romanian Churches primarily led from Transylvania, left the Orthodox authority and came under the Papal authority of the Roman Catholic Church and thus became “Eastern Rite Catholics” essentially, the liturgy remained the same but the authority of those churches were transferred to the Pope. A number of these returned in 1950 to the Orthodox fold after suffering at the hands of the Communist government. After the fall of communism in the 20th century, The Romanian Orthodox church saw a bit of openness and a “revival” of sorts in numbers, growing from 16 million to 19 million church members in the short span of about 50 years.
Thanks to the official Historical Page of the Romanian Patriarchate for much of the information provided above.
For an idea of the Roman Orthodox beliefs and church doctrine – see the list below:
Eastern Orthodox – Eastern Byzantine empire – began forming alongside the “Roman Church” with the division of the Roman empire into east and west. The Eastern church – primarily Greek and North African, spoke a different language, enjoyed a different culture, and eventually held to a different governance ecclesiology over time. The emphasis of the primacy of see of Rome and its Bishop as possessing chief papal authority (Pope) the Eastern Orthodox church had already begun to operate independently of Rome. The final spark occurred with the addition of the filioque (from the Son) to the Nicene creed which led to sharp criticism of the Roman Church with Patriarch Michael Cerularius accusing Pope Leo IX of overstepping his authority. The Pope was incensed and sent Cardinal Humbert to deliver a Papal Bull excommunicating Cerularius. Cerularius in turn, excommunicated Cardinal Humbert, AND Pope Leo IX who sent him. Both East and West churches emerged separate and distinct and have not rejoined since. This has come to be known as the “Great Schism” of 1054 AD. However it should be called the Great Schism of the 3rd – 11th centuries!
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