THE ST. VOIVODE NEAGOE BASARAB ROMANIAN ORTHODOX PARISH IN SWANEA
HISTORICAL
On July 10, 2023, the establishment and official opening of our parish took place, in response to the pastoral and spiritual needs of the Romanian Orthodox faithful in this region of Wales. Our parish is the second Romanian Orthodox parish in Wales, having been founded with church blessing and with the desire to preserve and cultivate the Romanian faith, language and traditions in the diaspora.
From the beginning, the liturgical life of the parish has been carried out in a framework of good ecumenical collaboration, with services being celebrated in the Anglican church that has hosted our community since the first moments of its existence. This support has contributed significantly to the consolidation of the parish community and the development of pastoral-missionary activities.
After the first year of activity, with the help of God and the support of the Department for Romanians Abroad, our parish succeeded in purchasing its own church, a landmark event in the history of our community. The acquisition of this place of worship represents not only an important administrative step, but also a testimony of the unity, sacrifice and involvement of the parish's faithful.
Another particularly important moment in the life of the parish is the fact that it owns the first Romanian cemetery in Great Britain, thus offering believers the opportunity to rest those who have fallen asleep in the Lord in a sanctified space, in accordance with the ordinance and tradition of the Romanian Orthodox Church.
Currently, the parish church is undergoing a comprehensive renovation and adaptation process, with the aim of restoring and arranging the place for the full development of liturgical and community life. Until their completion, religious services continue to be held in the Anglican church where the parish has functioned since the beginning, thus ensuring the continuity of the spiritual life of the community.
Our parish continues its mission with hope, based on faith in God, brotherly communion and the desire to serve with responsibility and pastoral love the Romanian faithful in this part of the United Kingdom.