Brno, Czech Republic, June 24, 2025
Photo: basilica.ro
Bishops of the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia came together on Sunday to consecrate the paintings of a Romanian church in Brno, Czech Republic, during the celebration of the Sunday of All Saints of Romania.
His Grace Bishop Siluan of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Hungary and His Grace Bishop Isaiah of Brno and Olomouc concelebrated both the consecration of the iconography and the Divine Liturgy that followed, marking a milestone for the Romanian Orthodox community in the Czech Republic, reports the Basilica News Agency.
Photo: basilica.ro
“Today we celebrated the Holy Liturgy together with His Grace Bishop Siluan, honoring both the saints of the Romanian Orthodox Church and those of our Church,” said Bp. Isaiah following the service. “They pray for us and intercede before God for our needs.”
The services took place at a church with special historical significance. Built on the site where soldiers fought during the two World Wars, the church serves as a memorial to the 40,000 Romanian soldiers who lost their lives on Czechoslovakian territory during both conflicts. The church is dedicated to three patrons: St. Ludmila, the Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple, and the Romanian Saints.
The current church replaced an earlier chapel dedicated to St. Ludmila, which had served the Romanian community before their numbers grew. Construction of the new church began in 2010 when the late Bishop Simeon of Brno and Olomouc laid the cornerstone.
Bp. Isaiah expressed particular joy about the inter-Orthodox cooperation, stating: “I’m especially happy that I was able to meet this community and serve together both at the consecration of the iconography and at the Holy Liturgy with His Grace Bishop Siluan, who showed us much openness, love and of course joy for this joint service.”
The bishop noted the appropriateness of the timing, saying it was fitting that “on the Sunday of Romanian Saints, we could experience this calling and gift of God in this communion and inter-Orthodox service here in Brno, in one of the important cities of the Czech Republic.”
The parish is under the local Czech bishop, but upholds Romanian traditions and a spiritual connection with the Romanian Patriarchate.
Bp. Siluan also visited the Eparchial Center and Orthodox Cathedral in Olomouc as part of his pastoral visit.
The church project was initiated with support from Romanian consular authorities and the Romanian Ambassador to Prague, who desired to create a place of worship honoring Romanian soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in Czech lands.
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