Ukrainian monastery in Romania celebrates patronal feast

A patronal feast was celebrated at the Ukrainian monastery in Romania. Photo: Ukrainian Vicariate

The Monastery of the Nativity of John the Baptist in the Romanian village of Ruscova-Oblaz celebrated its patronal feast with a solemn service, Basilica.ro reports.

The festive Divine Liturgy on July 7, 2026, was celebrated by 14 clergy of the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate in Romania, led by Vicar Marius Lauruc.

The service was held according to the Julian calendar and gathered many Ukrainians living in the region. During the service, sermons were delivered in two languages: eparchial adviser Ioan Iurca addressed the flock in Romanian, while Vicar Marius Lauruc spoke in Ukrainian.

After the Liturgy, clergy and laity held a solemn cross procession around the monastery church. Young people dressed in traditional Ukrainian folk costumes took an active part in the prayerful procession.

The monastery’s abbot, Hegumen Gurie Bocicorec, thanked the faithful for their joint prayer and, in keeping with local tradition, invited all those present to a festive meal.

The Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate is a structure within the Romanian Patriarchate. It provides pastoral care for around 30,000 ethnic Ukrainians living in the regions of Maramureș, Transylvania, Crișana, and Banat. The Vicariate was officially restored by a decision of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church in February 1990.

As the UOJ reported, UOC priests took part in celebrations at Romania’s Putna Monastery.

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