Abstract

Even if they are far from their native places, Romanians in Italy can feel close to their country by participating in Holy Mass performed in Romanian, where they listen to the Holy Gospel and share with Christ the Lord. Often, Romanian Orthodox priests help newcomers to integrate more easily into the respective community by facilitating certain services they need. They can provide spiritual guidance and social assistance to community members. Considering the fact Romanians are not enclaved in Italy, there are no Romanian neighborhoods. Romanian individuals live in the middle of Italian communities. They often have to adapt to religious, social and political local conditions. Therefore, the community around the priest plays a very important role in the good integration of Romanians in the local environment. Romanian Christians, who live among strangers, by distance from their country and from their beloved, are they better complying with the words of Holy Scripture: “We have no fortress here, but we seek what is to be”? This paper is an interdisciplinary study on the challenges of Romanian Orthodox priests in Italy.