Ordinariate for the Faithful of the Eastern Rite in Romania
Encyclopedia
The Ordinariate for the Faithful of the Eastern Rite in Romania , based in Gherla
, is a subdivision of the Armenian Catholic Church
, itself under the authority of the Pope
, and serves Catholic members of Romania
's Armenian community living in Transylvania
.
At the end of the 17th century, Transylvania's Armenians converted to Catholicism, with the town of Gherla becoming the seat of their bishop. Similarly to the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church
, the Armenians accepted basic Catholic principles while preserving their traditional rites and officiating liturgies in the Armenian language
. By the time of the Union of Transylvania with Romania
in 1918, many of the region's Armenians had undergone Magyarization
. According to the terms of the 1927 Concordat
between Romania and the Holy See
, the country's Armenian Catholics were recognised as a standalone diocese
, formally set up in 1930.
After 1948, with the onset of the Communist regime
, the ordinariate had an unclear status, as it was no longer recognised by the authorities. This changed in 1964, when a Papal decree transferred the ordinariate under the authority of the Alba Iulia Diocese
, the archbishop of which was given the title of "ordinary
" in 1991. The latter measure, taking place after the fall
of the Communist regime, was enacted without requesting the recognition of the Romanian Government. As of 2008, the ordinariate had one parish each in Gherla
, Gheorgheni
, Dumbrăveni
and Frumoasa
, with members living elsewhere in Transylvania as well. In 2004, there were 515 members served by two priests.
Gherla
Gherla is a city in Cluj County, Romania . It is located 45 km from Cluj-Napoca on the Someşul Mic River, and has a population of 24,083....
, is a subdivision of the Armenian Catholic Church
Armenian Catholic Church
|- |The Armenian Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church sui juris in union with the other Eastern Rite, Oriental Rite and Latin Rite Catholics who accept the Bishop of Rome as spiritual leader of the Church. It is regulated by Eastern canon law...
, itself under the authority of the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
, and serves Catholic members of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
's Armenian community living in Transylvania
Transylvania
Transylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term sometimes encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
.
At the end of the 17th century, Transylvania's Armenians converted to Catholicism, with the town of Gherla becoming the seat of their bishop. Similarly to the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church
Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic
The Romanian Church United with Rome, Greek-Catholic is an Eastern Catholic Church which is in full union with the Roman Catholic Church. It is ranked as a Major Archiepiscopal Church and uses the Byzantine liturgical rite in the Romanian language....
, the Armenians accepted basic Catholic principles while preserving their traditional rites and officiating liturgies in the Armenian language
Armenian language
The Armenian language is an Indo-European language spoken by the Armenian people. It is the official language of the Republic of Armenia as well as in the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The language is also widely spoken by Armenian communities in the Armenian diaspora...
. By the time of the Union of Transylvania with Romania
Union of Transylvania with Romania
Union of Transylvania with Romania was declared on by the assembly of the delegates of ethnic Romanians held in Alba Iulia.The national holiday of Romania, the Great Union Day occurring on December 1, commemorates this event...
in 1918, many of the region's Armenians had undergone Magyarization
Magyarization
Magyarization is a kind of assimilation or acculturation, a process by which non-Magyar elements came to adopt Magyar culture and language due to social pressure .Defiance or appeals to the Nationalities Law, met...
. According to the terms of the 1927 Concordat
Concordat
A concordat is an agreement between the Holy See of the Catholic Church and a sovereign state on religious matters. Legally, they are international treaties. They often includes both recognition and privileges for the Catholic Church in a particular country...
between Romania and the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
, the country's Armenian Catholics were recognised as a standalone diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
, formally set up in 1930.
After 1948, with the onset of the Communist regime
Communist Romania
Communist Romania was the period in Romanian history when that country was a Soviet-aligned communist state in the Eastern Bloc, with the dominant role of Romanian Communist Party enshrined in its successive constitutions...
, the ordinariate had an unclear status, as it was no longer recognised by the authorities. This changed in 1964, when a Papal decree transferred the ordinariate under the authority of the Alba Iulia Diocese
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Alba Iulia
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Alba Iulia is an archdiocese in Transylvania, Romania. It was established as the Diocese of Transylvania in 1009 by Stephen I of Hungary and was renamed as the Diocese of Alba Iulia on 22 March 1932...
, the archbishop of which was given the title of "ordinary
Ordinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
" in 1991. The latter measure, taking place after the fall
Romanian Revolution of 1989
The Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a series of riots and clashes in December 1989. These were part of the Revolutions of 1989 that occurred in several Warsaw Pact countries...
of the Communist regime, was enacted without requesting the recognition of the Romanian Government. As of 2008, the ordinariate had one parish each in Gherla
Gherla
Gherla is a city in Cluj County, Romania . It is located 45 km from Cluj-Napoca on the Someşul Mic River, and has a population of 24,083....
, Gheorgheni
Gheorgheni
Gheorgheni is a city in Harghita County, Romania.It lies in the Székely Land, an ethno-cultural region in eastern Transylvania. The city administers four villages:*Covacipeter / Kovácspéter*Lacu Roşu / Gyilkostó*Vargatac / Vargatag*Visafolio / Visszafolyó...
, Dumbrăveni
Dumbraveni
Dumbrăveni is a town in the north of Sibiu County, in the centre of Transylvania, central Romania...
and Frumoasa
Frumoasa, Harghita
Frumoasa is a commune in Harghita County, Romania. It lies in the Székely Land, an ethno-cultural region in eastern Transylvania.- Component villages :The commune is composed of four villages:- History :...
, with members living elsewhere in Transylvania as well. In 2004, there were 515 members served by two priests.