The Romanian Orthodox Church says the origin of Romanian christianity has been since the begining eastern and orthodox, and rejects its latin influence.
They say that if they've been evangelized by latin people they would have words like "virgina", "ecclesia", "resurrectie", "ascentie" instead of "fecioara", "biserica", "inviare" and "inaltat". The orthodox hierarchs after the schism changed the Romanian words "catolica" and "spiritul" to the Slavic (orthodox) "soborniceasca" and "duhul".
They also have a lot of latin terms like: "doamne", "laudat", "sfant", "parinte", etc.

What do you think about this? Do you have some info?

As a Greek-American with roots in Peleponnese, somewhat south of the Romanian Oblast, my only response is: let the Romanian brethren figure it out on their own. And for heaven's sake: go to their festivals and spend money. (Their 'mititei' sausage with allspice now constitute a permanent part of my Pascha celebration, much to the delight of my guests. Dipped in hard-mustard and finely diced onion, it's a wonderful gift to the culinary world.) I live within 100 yards of a Romanian Orthodox Church (a former RC parish church); they share their building with a tiny Ethiopian Orthodox community; and I'm always humbled by the folks who enter there. Leave 'em alone. Let 'em prosper. And don't ask too many questions. They don't. And for heaven's sake: Eat their food and dance with them. They're wonderful folks!

Blessings!

(And GO to their Festivals and SPEND MONEY!)

(OK,Father Giorghe! I've done my part!!)

Dear JC,

I'm certainly no expert on Romania or the Romanian Orthodox Church, but I'll offer my simple perspective.

I think the main reason there would be Latin terms used by the Romanians is for the simple reason that Romanian is a romance language, in the same family as Italian, French and so on.

Though I don't know much about the arrival of Christianty in Romania, or Dacia as it would have been in the Empire (I think?), I'm not sure that simply having a language in the Latin family is enough to prove that Romania was not indeed fully Eastern.

Simply put, Latin influence could very well be confined to language, and not necessarily theology, liturgy and what have you.

Just my thoughts on this.

In Christ,
Mike(poor sinner)

"Another Orthodox nation in the Balkans, Romania, has a more complex history. The Romanians, though influenced their Slav neighbors, are primarily Latin in language and ethnic character. Dacia, corresponding to part of modern Romania, was a Roman province during 106-271; but the Christian communities founded there in this period seem to have disappeared after the Romans withdrew. Part of the Romanian people was apparently converted to Christianity by the Bulgarians in the late ninth or early tenth century, but the full conversion of the two Romanian principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia did not occur until the fourteenth century. Those who think of Orthodoxy as being exclusively 'eastern', as Greek and Slav in character, should not overlook the fact that the Church of Romania, the second largest Orthodox Church today, is predominantly Latin in its national identity."---The Orthodox Church by Bishop Kallistos.

I just came across this, and thought it might be of some interest.

25-May-2001 -- Vatican Information Service
CARDINAL DAOUD TO PRESENT BIBLE OF "BAJ" AT
MAY 29 CONFERENCE

VATICAN CITY, MAY 25, 2001 (VIS) - On Tuesday, May 29, at 11:30 a.m. in the Holy See Press Office, His Beatitude Cardinal Ignace Moussa I Daoud, prefect of the Congregation for Oriental Churches, will present the anastatic reprint of the Bible of "Baj" (1975), "monument of the Romanian language," which was edited by the Vatican Printing Office.

Scheduled to join the cardinal are: Archbishop Metropolitan Lucian Muresan of
Alba Julia and Fagaras of the Church United with Rome; Eugen Simion, president of the Romanian Academy; Camil Murasanu of the Romanian Academy and Cesare Alzati of the University of Pisa.

I thought this was a nice little story.

In Christ,
Mike (poor sinner)

Dear jc Lev,

I am of Roumanian background and I agree with what our friend, Vasili, (isn't he great?) has said.

In actual fact, the name "Romania" is the former name of the Roman Empire itself. Romanians have always believed themselves to be descendants of the Romans who settled there and the name "Rhum" is the Byzantine form as is "Romaios" etc.

The point is that Roumania is its own religious-cultural person. During the Pope's visit there, His Holiness was warmly welcomed. The Roumanian people know they have more in common culturally with Rome and its cultural patrimony than with anyone else in the East with whom they share space with.

In a sense, Roumania is like Ukraine in that it will use symbolism and traditions to protect its own unique identity and spiritual sovereignty.

God bless,

Alex

>>>As a Greek-American with roots in Peleponnese, somewhat south of the Romanian Oblast, my only response is: let the Romanian brethren figure it out on their own. And for heaven's sake: go to their festivals and spend money.

Jeeeeez, this and the response on the other thread about the prayer of Manasses.... :-)

If the guy is curious, why can't he ask? I'm sure he'd enjoy going to a Romanian festival, too, but partying at festivals is not always the best thing--I like partying too, but a Romanian in the midst of festivities might not want to take the time out to talk about Latin roots of his language! :-) I'd suggest he do an internet search on Romanian Courses taught at major universities, and then email the professors with the question.

anastasios


[This message has been edited by anastasios (edited 05-29-2001).]

My dearest Brother in Christ, Anastasios,

Might I make a suggestion?

I think it is an inopportune time for us to be going after each other, especially since we are at present under attack by the "Roman Armies."

We need to hold our ranks together for their name is "Legion."

Salve Magister, nos morituri te salutamus!

Alex(ius)

Oh, I'm not "attacking" Dr. John, hence my prefix of "Jeeeeez" which to me indicates a not so serious point. But let me add a smilie to the original!

anastasios