the COUNTRY of Romania

 
 

Abundant Roman ruins and artifacts document the conquest of this area, known as ancient Dacia, in the year 105 A.D. Roman occupation ceased in 271 A.D. as barbarian tribes moved across central Europe. Romania then entered a long period of domination by Asians and then by Turks. A coup in 1947 placed the country under an extremely oppressive and cruel Communist regime. The revolution of 1989 overthrew Ceaucescu but failed to completely unseat the Communist leaders of the past.

Romania is a land rich in agriculture, minerals and oil, but these were plundered under the Ceaucescu regime, leaving the country in poverty. Democracy and economic growth have been slow in taking root.  However, Romania, along with its southern neighbor Bulgaria, was the latest country to be accepted into the European Union in January of 2007.

The influence of Christianity was evident here in the second century A.D. Strong cultural and national convictions resulted in the formation of the Romanian Orthodox Church which claims to embrace approximately 85% of the population in its membership. Among evangelicals, Baptists and Pentecostals comprise the largest adherents.

Persecution, deprivation and official atheism under 50 years of Communist rule created a longing for freedom and truth. Probably no other former satellite country has experienced such a spiritual awakening with hundreds of new churches formed since the 1989 revolution.


Information adapted from http://www.abwe.org/serve/fields/romania.asp

 

Romania: then and now

Location: Southeastern Europe, bordering the Black Sea, between Bulgaria and Ukraine

Area: 237,500 sq km (slightly smaller than Oregon)

Population: 22,000,000

Ethnic Groups: Romanian 89.5%, Hungarian 6.6%, Roma (Gypsy) 2.5%

Language: Romanian (Romance language)

Religion: 85% - Romanian Orthodox, 8% Catholic, 5% Protestant

Climate: temperate; cold, cloudy winters with frequent snow and fog; sunny summers with frequent showers and thunderstorms

for more visit the World Factbook

Though predominantly made up of ethnic Romanians (89.5%), Romania also includes a people group called the Roma.  Roma are more commonly known as “Gypsies.”  In fact, Romania is second only to Spain in having the highest population of Roma in the world.  The Roma culture is very different than the Romanian culture.

Though many Romanians suffer great poverty, Roma are most commonly very poor and often uneducated.  Many Roma leave Romania in hopes for a better life somewhere else.  While not great in number (most accounts show 2.5% of the population, though some claim as high as 10%), the Roma are spread all throughout the country.  The visitor to Romania will quickly encounter Roma and will be moved by their dire needs, both spiritual and physical.

A collision of cultures