South Carolina’s First Romanian Orthodox Church Consecrated

Photo: basilica.ro

EASLEY, SC — After nine years of dedicated effort, Romanian Orthodox faithful in South Carolina celebrated the consecration of the Church of St. Gregory the Theologian in Easley on Sunday, the only Romanian parish in the state. His Eminence Metr. Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas presided over the service, joined by Assistant Bp. Damaschin of Dorna and a team of priests and deacons. During the service, Athanasios McClain was instituted as a reader.

In recognition of the parish’s devotion, Metr. Nicolae presented an icon of Jesus Christ to the community and awarded parish priest Fr. Bogdan Cojoleancă the Order of “Saints Constantine and Helena” for his missionary and pastoral work. Assistant Bp. Damaschin emphasized gratitude and a living relationship with God, saying, “Through those around you, you draw near to God; and if you despise or forget them, you separate yourself from Him.”

Metr. Nicolae described the consecration as “a call to a spiritual pilgrimage…culminating in the Eucharistic encounter with Christ and foreshadowing believers’ entry into the Kingdom of Heaven.” The Romanian Orthodox Mission of St. Gregory the Theologian, established in August 2017, moved to its current space in Easley in December 2020. Renovations and interior beautification began in 2024 under Fr. Bogdan’s pastoral leadership, completing the long journey to consecration.

A second Romanian mission has been established in South Carolina and meets in the older temple at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in downtown Columbia.

Previously, the UOJ reported that the Kursk Root Icon visited South Carolina. 

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