On the ecclesial history of the Catholic Church of Romania. An overview
EMIL DUMEAABSTRACT. The history of Christianity on the current territory of Romania began in the South, in the Roman province of Scythia Minor, nowadays Dobruja (Dobrogea). In such precincts, the Christian historical records began with the fourth century and continued until the end of the sixth century. Christianity in Scythia mainly originated in Greece, to be followed shortly by Rome. There was also an ecclesial organization, with bishops in the main town of Tomis (Constanța). From the seventh century, Christianity declined strongly, because of the invasions of migratory peoples. A new burst of Christianity on what is now the territory of Romania occurred in the ninth century, conducted by the Bulgarians south of the Danube, who were under the political and religious influence of Constantinople – which accounts for the placement of the people north of the Danube under Byzantine religious jurisdiction. Romanian medieval Christianity was strongly influenced by Constantinople and by the Slavs, while it preserved a Latin and Greek basis. On the current territory of Transylvania, the beginnings of Catholic ecclesial organization occurred with the Hungarians in the forefront. Simultaneously, on this territory, there was also a social and religious involvement of the local inhabitants, the Romanians. As regards Moldavia, Catholic episcopacies were founded, in early fourteenth century, by the Hungarians and the Poles, already Catholic. The modern and contemporary Catholic Church of Romania now has a bi-ritual ecclesial organization, Latin and Greek-Catholic. pp. 23–32
Keywords: Christianity; Romania; Catholicism; history; Hungarians; Bulgarians; Catholic Church