Pray for Romania

A cemetery filled with vibrant colors and cheerful poems may sound unexpected, but Romania’s Merry Cemetery is one of the country’s most fascinating cultural landmarks. Colorful tombstones and humorous remarks celebrate the lives and personalities of loved ones. Beyond the Merry Cemetery, the nation is known for the folk arts of dance, music, wood-carving, weaving, and embroidery. Its landscape is marked by towering mountains, dense forests, and charming medieval villages. Roman occupation centuries ago gave Romania its unique, Latin-based Romance language. In 1947, the nation fell under communist rule. Although this regime ended in 1989, the country is still working to overcome its lasting effects. outdated infrastructure, and a lingering mistrust of authority are reminders of 42 years of oppressive rule.

Romania has one of the highest poverty rates in Europe. The nation is home to one of the largest Roma populations in Europe, who are especially vulnerable, with over 80 percent living below the poverty line. Along with poverty, the Roma population faces discrimination in education and employment as well as social exclusion. Roma communities are isolated from the rest of the population and have limited access to transportation, healthcare, and sanitation. Over 30 percent of children are impoverished, many of whom live on the streets. Limited job opportunities leave many teenagers unemployed. Substance abuse is part of daily life for Romanians, including binge drinking and drug use.

Romania has one of the highest percentages of Christians in the world. The Orthodox Church is rooted in Romanian history and preserved much of the nation’s culture amid Russian and Ottoman influences. Today, over 90 percent of Romania’s population identifies as Christian, most belonging to the Eastern Orthodox Church. Hungarian and German minorities preserve historic Lutheran and Reformed traditions, and Romania also has growing Pentecostal and Baptist churches. Still, folk practices such as protection rituals are mixed with Christianity. Pray for Romania to grow in biblical teaching and passion for the Gospel.