Romania Moves to Restore Historic Monastery on Jordan River

JORDAN RIVER — Romanian and Israeli specialists have begun discussions on restoring the historic Romanian Skete at the River Jordan, including its church and damaged interior paintings. The first official bilateral meeting took place November 4 at the monastic site, marking a new step toward reviving the establishment after decades of abandonment.

The Romanian delegation included architect Bogdan Teodorescu and conservator-restorer Cătălin Palamariu, appointed by Patr. Daniel of Romania to represent the Romanian Patriarchate in consultations with Israeli experts. Archimandrite John Meiu, the Romanian Patriarchate’s representative in the Holy Land, announced the meeting.

Built in 1935 according to designs by architect Dumitru Ionescu-Berechet, the church sustained severe damage during the 1967 armed conflict. The surrounding area remained mined for decades, with demining operations completed in 2020.

Regular services have not been celebrated at the church for nearly 60 years. However, efforts to restore the property have gained momentum, and in September 2026, the site held its first Lesser Blessing of Water service in decades following a cleanup.

Fr. John expressed hope that the restoration would allow regular worship to resume, saying, “With God’s help, we hope to rekindle the flame of the Romanian people’s vigil lamp in this church, too.” He added that he hoped prayer would once again resound within the walls of the historic monastery.

Previously, the UOJ reported that thousands gathered at the Jordan River for the Theophany blessing of the waters.