Growth of the Romanian Orthodox Community in Carinthia: New Church in Klagenfurt

Growth of the Romanian Orthodox Community in Carinthia: New Church in Klagenfurt

The Romanian Orthodox community in Carinthia is experiencing remarkable growth. In Klagenfurt, the municipality is currently working on building its own church and a parish center, while in Villach the foundation of a branch of the parish is progressing. This information comes from Pastor Visarion Viorel Ipati, who reports on the developments in a contribution in the "Pro Oriente" magazine.

In the past three years, the airport road in Klagenfurt has been working intensively. With the new church and the parish center, an important spiritual and social center for the Romanian Orthodox community in Carinthia is to be created. The parish hall has already been completed 90 percent; The church, however, is still under construction. Nevertheless, Pastor Ipati has hope of being able to celebrate the first service there in autumn.

Symbolism of growth

Pastor Ipati also sees the construction project as a sign of growth in the Romanian Orthodox community in Carinthia. The community was founded in 2008 and celebrated its first services in the Serbian Orthodox Church and in the Catholic Kreuzberg Church. You have been established there since October 2008.

The municipal area includes the entire state of Carinthia, which means that the faithful travel to Klagenfurt from all parts of the country to take part in the services. Lately, the community has also won many new members with a Russian -speaking background. According to Pastor Ipati, they come not only from Ukraine, but also from countries such as Armenia and Georgia.

Villach becomes a new location

recently have also been introduced in Villach Romanian Orthodox services. Once a month, Sunday liturgy takes place in the old Catholic church, which further diversifies the spiritual offer of the community.

In addition to his role as a pastor, Ipati has been the only clergyman for the entire region since 2008. In the meantime, he is supported by a second clergyman who works specifically in Villach. This expansion of the employee is intended to upgrade and expand the church services offering in the city.

religious instruction and ecumenism

Pastor Ipati is also intensively involved in the area of Orthodox religious education in Carinthia. He teaches at ten schools, while his wife even works in 14 schools. In addition, there is another Romanian Orthodox and Greek Orthodox and several Serbian Orthodox teachers in Carinthia.

In terms of ecumenism in Carinthia, the pastor expressed a positive statement in the "Pro Oriente" magazine. He emphasizes that cooperation with the Catholic and Evangelical Church works excellently. Ipati is active in an ecumenical pastoral commission and emphasizes the hospitality and support of other churches that have made it possible for the Orthodox community in the past 16 years to develop.

The comprehensive development and the planned extensions of the Romanian Orthodox community in Carinthia are an important step in the anchorage of the Orthodox belief in the region. Further details on these exciting developments can be found in the article of www.katholisch.at are read.