In the Middle Ages Romania consisted of three principalities, namely Wallachia, Moldavia and Transylvania. All three struggled to keep independent from the Ottoman Empire.

Stephen the Great, who was a successful military leader, ruling in Moldavia between 1457 and 1504, celebrated each of his victories by building churches and monasteries (48 althogether). For his victory over the Ottoman Empire in 1475, Pope Sixtus IV considered him the “true Champion of Christian Faith”.

The Wallachian ruler of the time, Vlad III, was considered a defender of Wallachia and European Christianity against Ottoman expansionism.

The great achievement of Michael the Brave consists in uniting all three principalies under a single rule in 1600.

Nonetheless, in the 18^th century all three principalities lost their independence to either the Ottoman Empire or Austria-Hungary.

In 1866 Romania was re-united and monarchy was established.

In 1881 Romania became a kingdom and was by then considered independent.

Romania tried to keep a neutral position in both World Wars, though was forced to participate.

In 1947 the Communist Party became the major power and Romania became a Republic.

Between 1980 and 1989 there was an economic crisis in Romania which lead to great injustice towards all sorts of people, who were imprisoned and killed for political, economic or unknown reasons. The 1989 Revolution against the communist regime was sucessfull and so in 1990 democracy began to find its way into the country.

Romania became a member of the EU in 2007.

II. Social Facts

About 86.8 % of the population belongs to the Romanian Orthodox Church. Other denominations include Roman Catholicism (4.7 %), Protestantism (3.7 %), Pentecostal denominations (1.5 %) and the Romanian Greek-Catholic (0.9 %). There is also a small number of Muslims (0.31 %).[1]

Since Romania is a secular state, there is no national religion or state church. All religious communities are equal before the law.[2]

The election and appointment of bishops requires state approval.

During the communist period (1948 -1989), the Romanian Orthodox Church and other religious groups, were not able to fulfil their role in society. Since 1990 the church has been actively involved in many different areas of social work, such as the revival of military chaplaincies and military chapels, the reintroduction of religious education in schools and several programmes, offering help to poor or underprivileged families, unemployed, disabled or homeless people and needy students. There are numerous projects which offer social aid. The other religions and churches are socially active, too.

V. Legal foundations

Freedom of thought and religious beliefs is guaranteed by Article 29 of the Constitution.