Ordinariate for the Faithful of the Eastern Rite in Romania

The Ordinariate for the Faithful of the Eastern Rite in Romania (Romanian: Ordinariatul Armeano-Catolic), based in Gherla, is a subdivision of the Armenian Catholic Church, itself under the authority of the Pope, and serves Catholic members of Romania's Armenian community living in Transylvania.

At the end of the 17th century, Transylvania's Armenians converted to Catholicism, with the town of Gherla becoming the seat of their bishop. Similarly to the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church, the Armenians accepted basic Catholic principles while preserving their traditional rites and officiating liturgies in the Armenian language. By the time of the Union of Transylvania with Romania in 1918, many of the region's Armenians had undergone Magyarization. According to the terms of the 1927 Concordat between Romania and the Holy See, the country's Armenian Catholics were recognised as a standalone diocese,^[1] formally set up in 1930.^[2]

After 1948, with the onset of the Communist regime, the ordinariate had an unclear status, as it was no longer recognised by the authorities. This changed in 1964, when a Papal decree transferred the ordinariate under the authority of the Alba Iulia Diocese, the archbishop of which was given the title of "ordinary" in 1991. The latter measure, taking place after the fall of the Communist regime, was enacted without requesting the recognition of the Romanian Government. As of 2008, the ordinariate had one parish each in Gherla, Gheorgheni, Dumbrăveni and Frumoasa, with members living elsewhere in Transylvania as well.^[1] In 2004, there were 515 members served by two priests.^[2]

• 

  Cathedral in Gherla (1748-1808)

• 

  Church in Dumbrăveni (1766-1791)

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} (Romanian) "Ordinariatul Armeano-Catolic", at the Ministry of Culture and National Patrimony, Under-Secretariat for Culture and Religious Affairs; accessed January 8, 2011.
2. ^ ^{a b} "Ordinariate of Romania, Faithful of Eastern Rite (Armenian)" at Catholic-Hierarchy; accessed January 8, 2011.