DIASPORA PINEROLESE
INTERVIU CU PREOTUL CIPRIAN MARIUS GHIZILA
PAROHIA « SFANTUL VOIEVOD STEFAN CEL MARE» PINEROLO, REGIUNEA PIEMONT, PROVINCIA TORINO, ITALIA
In acest sens am considerat ca cel mai elocvent ar fi fost sa prezint la congres un interviu al preotului de la parohia ortodoxa de la Pinerolo, Ciprian Marius Ghizila care vine din spaţiul Carpato - Danubiano Pontic, din Romania, de la Braila, este preot paroh al parohiei cu hramul „ Sfantul Voievod Stefan cel Mare”, Pinerolo, provincia Torino, Regiunea Piemont, Italia. Domnia sa face parte si din corpul de control al Episcopiei Ortodoxe din Italia si cu binecuvantarea Inalt Presfintitului Siluan a acceptat sa fac interviul cu dansul.
« Asadar, parinte Ciprian, voi începe cu întrebările la care am rugămintea să îmi dați răspunsuri cat mai concludente si exacte.
1. Care a fost momentul si motivatia datorita carora ati hotarat sa deveniti preot?
Raspuns
Acum, stand si amintindu-mi, momentul hotarator a fost atunci cand aveam 5 ani si impreuna cu bunica mea am mers la o inmormantare a unei matusi, intr-o localitate din judetul Tulcea, care se numeste Nufarul, unde se afla o comunitate de lipoveni foarte unita. Pe langa preotul ortodox roman a venit si preotul lipovean care m-a impresionat cu statura sa inalta, barba rosie si glasul sau baritonal cand a inceput sa rosteasca rugaciunile. La intoarcere i-am spus bunicii mele ca mi-ar placea sa devin preot. Asa bunica m-a dat in grija cantaretului bisericesc din satul unde locuiam, am invatat rugaciuni si toate celelalte ajungand sa merg la seminarul teologic si apoi la facultatea de teologie.
2. De cati ani sunteti preot la parohia ortodoxa din Pinerolo, provincia Torino,
Regiune Piemont, Italia, cu ce probleme v-ati confruntat la inceputuri in parohia ortodoxa de la Pinerolo si cum le-ati rezolvat?
Raspuns
In data de 10 martie 2026 s-au implinit 14 ani de cand sunt preot aici, la Pinerolo. Probleme nu pot spune ca au fost, dar anumite situatii cu care m-am confruntat la inceput era inerent sa se intample. Parohia a fost infiintata de altcineva inaintea mea, parintele care a fost inaintea mea a slujit 7 ani si jumatate, avea si o alta varsta decat mine, eu am venit ca un tanar la douazeci si ceva de ani, normal ca enoriasii au avut o anumita rezerva. Slujba se desfasura intr-o biserica a seminarului catolic din Pinerolo care fusese data in folosinta comunitatii romanilor ortodocsi din Pinerolo, pentru un timp delimitat, cand urma sa ni se dea in folosinta o alta biserica, ce la momnetul respectiv era inadecvata. La sfarsitul anului 2012, custodele bisericii ne-a anuntat ca anul urmator trebuia sa ne mutam. Si asa ne-am mutat in anul urmator intr-o bisericuta din centrul istoric, cu o capacitate de trei ori mai redusa decat prima, pe o strada cu sens unic, fara curte, fara nimic. A fost o schimbare, dar acum suntem in biserica noastra care in octombrie 2025 a fost sfintita.
In schimb, in privinta enoriasilor, am constatat o distanta mare intre credinciosi, mai ales ca parohia noastra se intinde pe un teritoriu destul de vast, nu ca cele din tara care au un teritoriu limitat. Raspunsul ar trebui sa fie concret, dar e foarte relativ. Dupa Institutul de Statistica Italian, in orasul Pinerolo sunt 1386 romani. Am spus romani referindu-ma la numarul lor e un pic impropriu, pentru ca nu toti romanii sunt ortodocsi, nici dintre cei ortodocsi sunt practicanti ai religiei ortodoxe si nu au prea multa tangenta cu biserica, si atunci numarul efectiv al credinciosilor care chiar participa e mai mic. In orasul Pinerolo ar fi 700 - 800 persoane la care se adauga si cei care se afla in zonele limitrofe. Uneori, asa ca o gluma, vorbeam cu episcopul catolic din orasul nostru si ii spuneam : “ Excelenta Voastra, parohia noastra este mai mare decat episcopia voastra ca intindere teritoriala”. O estimare a numarului romanilor in intreaga parohie ar fi in jur de 2500 care nu pot veni mereu la slujbe, doar la sarbatorile importante: Craciun, Pasti, Coborarea Sfantului Duh, Boboteaza. Cam 150 de persoane participa la slujba de duminica. In ce priveste zonele tarii, predominant sunt din zona Moldovei, judetul Vaslui, mai exact din orasul Birlad si comunele limitrofe, dar si din Iasi, Suceava, Bacau.
3. Cati romani fac parte din familia parohiei si din ce zone ale tarii au venit in Italia?
Raspuns
Raspunsul ar trebui sa fie concret, dar e foarte relativ. Dupa Institutul de Statistica Italian, in orasul Pinerolo sunt 1386 romani. Am spus romani referindu-ma la numarul lor e un pic impropriu, pentru ca nu toti romanii sunt ortodocsi, nici dintre cei ortodocsi sunt practicanti ai religiei ortodoxe si nu au prea multa tangenta cu biserica, si atunci numarul efectiv al credinciosilor care chiar participa e mai mic. In orasul Pinerolo ar fi 700 - 800 persoane la care se adauga si cei care se afla in zonele limitrofe. Uneori, asa ca o gluma, vorbeam cu episcopul catolic din orasul nostru si ii spuneam : “ Excelenta Voastra, parohia noastra este mai mare decat episcopia voastra ca intindere teritoriala”. O estimare a numarului romanilor in intreaga parohie ar fi in jur de 2500 care nu pot veni mereu la slujbe, doar la sarbatorile importante: Craciun, Pasti, Coborarea Sfantului Duh, Boboteaza. Cam 150 de persoane participa la slujba de duminica. In ce priveste zonele tarii, predominant sunt din zona Moldovei, judetul Vaslui, mai exact din orasul Birlad si comunele limitrofe, dar si din Iasi, Suceava, Bacau.
4. Cu ce probleme va confruntati astazi, dupa ce biserica a fost cumparata cu
ajutorul Departamentului Romanilor de Pretutindeni si a enoriasilor?
Raspuns
Am anticipat un pic, anterior, in anul 2024, in decembrie, am reusit, cu sprijinul Departamentului Romanilor de Pretutindeni si bineinteles cu ajutorul substantial al credinciosilor sa achizitionam biserica in care slujim deja de 13 ani si sa devina a noastra. Acest lucru a fost dorit de foarte mult timp pentru comunitatea noastra si dam Slava lui Dumnezeu ca am ajuns sa-l implinim. Odata cu atingerea acestui obiectiv probleme exista, mai ales ca dupa perioada pandemiei, multe persoane au ramas fara munca, cele care lucrau in domeniu asistentei domiciliare,de ingrijire a persoanelor in varsta, chiar si cei care lucrau in fabrici si de aici apar si probleme la nivel personal, familial si al comunitatii. Problema delicata, sa zic asa, este legatura cu tinerii. Si aici incerc pe cat pot sa am o legatura cu ei, in sensul ca pana la un anumit punct copiii vin la biserica, vin cu parintii, vin cu familia, participa, sunt prezenti. Dupa o anumita varsta, 18-19 ani se indeparteaza de biserica. Pentru mine personal este un semn de intrebare cum putem pastra aceasta legatura pentru ca de generatia tanara depinde si continuitatea existentei romanilor in acest spatiu si a comunitatii crestinilor ortodocsi din Pinerolo. Ori este evident ca exista o dependenta de telefon, de tot ce inseamna media, inteligenta artificiala care par mult mai atractive decat raporturile umane directe. Bineinteles ca apar si vicii si toate celelalte, dar in general ceea ce eu doresc este sa pastrez aceasta legatura cu ei si sa-i fac sa nu-si uite radacinile si sa ii fac sa-si doreasca sa aiba o legatura spirituala cu biserica.
5. Cum colaborati cu celelalte parohii ortodoxe din Regiunea Piemonte?
Raspuns
Foarte bine colaboram si in primul rand, in zona Piemont suntem organizati in 3 protopopiate, unitati mai mari decat parohia in sine, care au mai mult la randul lor de 10 parohii. De exemplu, noi facem parte din protopopiatul Piemont doi, suntem 14 parohii si la nivel local, sunt organizate centre misionare si prin interemediul parintilor proptopopi avem intalniri periodice, in jur de 40 preoti, dar cu parohiile vecine ne intalnim ori la Sfantul Maslu, la sfintele Liturghii, la hramuri ori la alte slujiri care depind de context.
6. Cu autoritatile locale italiene din Pinerolo, Regiunea Piemonte ce raport aveti?
Raspuns
Slava Domnului foarte bune, atat cu autoritatile civile, cat mai ales cu cele religioase. In mod special cu Episcopul catolic, chiar si cu cultul Valdez, biserica valdeza bazate pe respect, sprijin, colaborare reciproca. La nivel social ne implicam cu totii pentru binele comunitatii in general si al situatiilor particulare in anumite momente. In ceea ce priveste relatia cu autoritatile civile, avem o buna colaborare cu primaria, cu reprezentantii Consilului Comunal, mai ales pentru noi, o comunitate noua care se diferentiaza prin limba si religie, am gasit multa intelegere. Pozitia geografica a orasului Pinerolo, care se afla in zona multiculturala si multi religioasa apropiata frontierei cu Franta, creaza spatiu pentru colaborarea diferitelor credinte si religii intre ele.
7. Stiu ca faceti parte din Corpul de Inspectie si Control al Administratiei Eparhiale al Episcopiei
Ortodoxe in Italia. Care sunt atributiile domniei voastre?
Raspuns
Ca inspector parohial desfasor activitatea sub autoritatea Preasfintitului nostru Episcop, Siluan, si atributiile pe care le am sunt: de a controla, de a indruma activitatea parohiilor, respectarea randuielilor bisericii ortodoxe romane, a legislatiei bisericesti. Daca sunt anumite reclamatii, solicitari se merge in locurile respective si se analizeaza situatiile si daca este nevoie, se fac rapoarte, dosare pentru situatii mai problematice. Sa dea Dumnezeu sa nu existe. Pana acum nu am avut astfel de situatii.
8. Cat de mare importanta acordati in pastrarea identitatii romanesti si
promovarea acesteia in randul tinerei generatii? Ce actiuni concrete ati adoptat?
Raspuns
In primul rand slujba in limba romana, predarea invataturilor de credinta si militez, atat cat mi se permite, pentru vorbirea in limba romana in casa, in familie. E clar ca si copiii mergand in scoli italiene comunica in limba italiana cu colegii lor care nu sunt numai italieni, ci si alte nationalitati. Fara nici o discutie, a cunoaste doua limbi, este un atu, dar in sarcina familiei cade invatarea si comunicarea in limba materna. Am militat intotdeauna ca in familiile unde ambii parinti sunt romani sa se vorbeasca in limba romana. E clar ca la scoala, profesorii, educatorii le spun parintilor ca e bine sa vorbeasca in italian acasa cu copiii lor pentru a nu avea probleme la scoala, dar problema este alta, noi, ca si emigranti din prima generatie, nu cunoastem italiana foarte bine si e mai bine sa lasam profesorii, educatorii sa-i invete corect limba italiana. Avand in vedere ca sunt si familii mixte, unele parti ale slujbelor, chiar si Evanghelia le fac si in limba italiana, pe langa limba romana. Slujba se face in proportie de 90% in limba romana, la fel si predica si cateheza.
9. Cu ce probleme se confrunta membrii parohiei pe care o pastoriti?
Raspuns
In primul rand problemele economice pentru ca trebuie sa tinem pasul cu costurile pentru intretinerea bisericii si asigurarea conditiilor optime pentru enoriasii care participa la slujbe.Apoi sunt probleme de sanatate inerente varstelor, conditiilor de munca, probleme sentimentale a celor ce s-au rupt, se simt dezradacinati, cauta o solutie de impaca si familia din tara, si pe cea din Italia. Din pacate, uneori, trebuie sa facem o alegere.
10. Stiu ca unii romani se gandesc sa se intoarca in tara. Care este sfatul Domniei
Voastre ca sa ia decizia corecta?
Raspuns
Este o intrebare destul de dificila si decizia e greu de luat. Generatia noastra este legata de tara noastra, prin bunci, prin locuri, prin prietenii, si multi au nostalgia locurilor de acasa, dorul ii framanta. Unii poate ca au mare parte din familie in tara,unii au venit cu gandul de a sta doar o perioada si apoi sa se intoarca, de a castiga un ban si de a-si imbunatati nivelul de trai in tara. Problema este ca exista si generatia tanara, copii care s-au nascut aici, au inceput scoala in Italia, in unele situatii nu s-a pastrat o legatura cu Romania, nu s-a mers in vacanta la bunici din motive economice sau altele. Un gand de intoarcere este groaznic pentru cei mici, se simt dezradacinati, fara sa stie unde merg. Mai mult, daca in casa nu au vorbit in limba romana, copiii nu se pot exprima si nu pot comunica. Ruptura devine problematica. I-as sfatui pe romani sa se roage la Dumnezeu si sa le randuiasca pasii pe care sa ii faca in viitorul lor. E clar ca sunt si oameni care s-au intors si acum le este bine. Cunosc, din pacate, si foarte multe situatii ca s-au intors in tara si au sperat ca se integrasera in ordinea omeneasca si dupa o perioada de 10-15 ani de trai in occident nu au mai reusit sa-si mai gaseasca locul si sa se adapteze la modul de trai, mentalitatea din Romania. Unii dintre ei s-au reintors din tarile de unde au plecat. Este dureros, dar este o realitate pe care trebuie sa o recunoastem.
11. Data de 1 august 2026 este o data istorica pentru comunitatea romanilor din Italia in care,
Parlamentul Republicii Italiene de la Roma, a aprobat Acordul dintre Statul italian si Episcopia Ortodoxa Romana a Italiei.
Raspuns
Raspunsul este un pic mai larg. In 12 septembrie 2011, cand statul italian a recunoscut Episcopia Ortodoxa Romana ca personalitate juridica, a fost inceputul demersurilor momentului despre care vorbim acum. Dar, de atunci, ca toate parohiile ortodoxe romane sa aiba personalitate juridica iata ca mai durat destui ani, apropae 15. In luna iulie, 2026, Senatul italian a aprobat in unanimitate recunoasterea Episcopiei Ortodoxe Romane ca personalitate juridica, urmand ca Presedintele Republicii Sergio Mattarella sa semneze legea. Beneficiul este ca parohiile vor fi recunoscute oficial ca personalitati juridice. Preotii vor fi recunoscuti ca ministri de cult, vor putea intra in scolile italiene si sa predea religia ortodoxa in functie de numarul de solicitanti. Se va putea intra in inchisori, centre de reeducare pentru asistenta religioasa. Pana acum era nevoie de multe avize si multi directori de astfel de inchisori nu permiteau intrarea preotilor ortodocsi. In cimitirele din Italia se vor repartiza parcele speciale in care sa fie inmormantati crestinii ortodocsi romani, in functie si de posibilitatile primariilor locale. Pana acum, mormintele crestinilor ortodocsi erau amestecate printre mormintele italienilor. Crestinii ortodocsi vor avea zile libere de sarbatorile ortodoxe. Casatoria religioasa celebrata de ministri de cult ortodocsi sa fie recunoscuta si sa aiba efecte civile in baza certificatului de casatorie religioasa, nemaifiind nevoie de casatoria civila.
12. Ce planuri de viitor aveti pentru a promova si dezvolta activitati care sa atraga
cat mai multi cetateni romani din Pinerolo si imprejurimi in pastrarea si impartasirea noilor generatii religia ortodoxa, traditiile, istoria, limba strabuna ?
Raspuns
Punctul central si de referinta ramane biserica, in primul rand. In episcopia noastra sunt foarte multe activitati, evenimente, festivaluri de traditii populare si de port al costumului national, zilele limbii romane,ore de limba romana, concurs de proza si poezie. Problema se pune cum putem ajunge la inima si sufletul romanilor care se lasa coplesiti de munca si activitatile lor ? Eu zic ca Dumnezeu a zis ca omul sa munceasac 6 zile si a saptea sa se odihneasca.
13. Aveti o familie frumoasa care va este mereu in apropiere. Ca tata, ce raport
aveti cu fiul domniei voastre? Ce sfaturi pentru viitor ii dati?
Raspuns
Este adevarat ca am o familie frumoasa, doamna preoteasa mi-a fost mereu aproape si bineinteles si restul familiei, mamele, ca doar pe dansele le mai avem. Raportul cu fiul meu nadajduiesc sa fie unul bun, si atat cat pot, incerc sa fiu un parinte model. Ca sfaturi pentru viitor, atat eu, cat si sotia mea, ne-am dori ca fiul nostru sa fie OM in societate. Stiti vorba romaneasca « A fi domn e o-ntamplare, a fi om e lucru mare». Noi incercam sa transmitem valorile sanatoase copilului nostru, sa fie respectuos, sa fie demn si respectat acolo unde isi va desfasura activitatile. Cel mai mult insa doresc sa nu-si uite credinta si sa nu uite niciodata de Dumnezeu oriunde il va purta viata. Sa ramana OM, sa aiba empatie si sa inteleaga ca viata aceasta este doar un pasaj si o pregatire pentru ce va urma dincolo.
14. Ce mesaj doriti sa adresati participantilor la Congresul International de Istorie
a Jurnalismului de la Craiova din luna septembrie a acestui an?
Raspuns
Da, mai mult decat un mesaj, un gand. Vedem ca astazi, in jurul nostru, multe lucruri intra intr-un con de umbra si e din ce in ce mai greu sa deosebim adevarul de minciuna, lumina de intuneric. In acest context eu ma gandesc, si e valabil pentru noi toti, sa fim pe cat putem aducatori si purtatori de lumina si de adevar in lumea in care traim. Lumina aceasta nu trebuie luata de la susrsele de energie, ci de la sursa cea adevarata, de la Cel ce este Adevarul si Lumina, de la Domnul nostru Iisus Hristos. Sa ne ajute Dumnezeu pe toti sa fim oameni ai luminii, ai adevarului, ai pacii si de ce nu, sa ne vedem si sa ne cunoastem cu totii in Imparatia lui Dumnezeu.
Va multumesc,
Profesor Inginer Olimpia Dobre
Proiectant european acreditat le Bruxelles
20.07.2026
Pinerolo, Italia
INTERVIEW PRIEST CIPRIAN MARIUS GHIZILA
Orthodox Parish “Saint Voivode Stefan the Great” Pinerolo
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE HISTORY OF JOURNALISM - Craiova,
September 25 - 26, 2026
I responded with great enthusiasm to the invitation from Professor Gabriela Pasarin, PhD (Habil.), President of ARIP, to present a paper highlighting the specific characteristics of the Romanian community in the Pinerolo area; I did so on behalf of the "Dacia Senza Frontiere" Association from San Marino, with which I collaborate as an external associate.
To this end, I felt the most effective approach for the congress would be to present an interview with the priest of the Orthodox parish in Pinerolo, Ciprian Marius Ghizila. Originally from the Carpathian-Danubian-Pontic region—specifically Brăila, Romania—he serves as the parish priest of the "Saint Voivode Stephen the Great" parish in Pinerolo (Turin province, Piedmont region, Italy). He also serves on the supervisory board of the Orthodox Diocese of Italy and, with the blessing of His Eminence Siluan, agreed to the interview.
« So, Father Ciprian, I will start with the questions to which I ask you to give me the most conclusive and accurate answers.
1. What was the moment and the motivation due to which you decided to become a priest?
Answer
Now, sitting and remembering, the decisive moment was when I was 5 years old and together with my grandmother I went to a funeral of an aunt, in a town in Tulcea County, called Nufarul, where there was a very united Lipovean community. Besides the Romanian Orthodox priest, the Lipovean priest also came, who impressed me with his tall stature, red beard and baritone voice when he began to say the prayers. On our way back, I told my grandmother that I would like to become a priest. So my grandmother gave me to the church singer in the village where I lived, I learned prayers and everything else, and ended up going to the theological seminary and then to theology faculty.
2. How many years have you been a priest at the Orthodox parish in Pinerolo, province of Turin, Piedmont region, Italy, what problems did you face at the beginning in the Orthodox parish in Pinerolo and how did you solve them?
Answer
On March 10, 2026, it will be 14 years since I have been a priest here, in Pinerolo. I can't say that there were any problems, but certain situations that I faced at the beginning were inherent to happen. The parish was founded by someone else before me, the priest who was before me served for 7 and a half years, he was also a different age than me, I came as a young man in his twenties, it is normal that the parishioners had a certain reserve. The service was held in a church of the Catholic seminary in Pinerolo that had been given to the Romanian Orthodox community in Pinerolo for a limited time, when another church was to be given to us, which at that time was inadequate. At the end of 2012, the custodian of the church announced that the following year we had to move. And so we moved the following year to a small church in the historic center, with a capacity three times smaller than the first, on a one-way street, without a courtyard, without anything. It was a change, but now we are in our church which was consecrated in October 2025.
On the other hand, regarding the parishioners, we noticed a great distance between the faithful, especially since our parish extends over a fairly large territory, unlike those in the country which have a limited territory. Here, a parish has believers who come from a distance of 60-70 km from Pinerolo where the church is located.
Another problem would be the presence of Romanian believers from all areas of the country who have different traditions, do not have the same concerns, mentalities, concepts, sometimes they even have prejudices and it is more difficult to have a general word for everyone, but with patience, catechesis and availability it was possible to overcome these things.
3. How many Romanians are part of the parish family and from which areas of the country did they come to Italy?
Answer
The answer should be concrete, but it is very relative. According to the Italian Institute of Statistics, there are 1386 Romanians in the city of Pinerolo. I said Romanians referring to their number is a bit inappropriate, because not all Romanians are Orthodox, even among the Orthodox are practitioners of the Orthodox religion and do not have much contact with the church, and then the actual number of believers who actually participate is smaller. In the city of Pinerolo there would be 700 - 800 people to which are added those who are in the neighboring areas. Sometimes, as a joke, I would talk to the Catholic bishop of our city and tell him: “Your Excellency, our parish is larger than your diocese in terms of territorial extent”. An estimate of the number of Romanians in the entire parish would be around 2500 who cannot always come to services, only on important holidays: Christmas, Easter, Descent of the Holy Spirit, Epiphany. About 150 people attend the Sunday service. As for the areas of the country, they are predominantly from the Moldova area, Vaslui county, more precisely from the city of Birlad and the neighboring communes, but also from Iasi, Suceava, Bacau.
4. What problems do you face today, after the church was purchased with
the help of the Department of Romanians Everywhere and the parishioners?
Answer
I anticipated a little, previously, in 2024, in December, we managed, with the support of the Department of Romanians Everywhere and of course with the substantial help of the faithful, to purchase the church where we have been serving for 13 years and to make it ours. This has been desired for a very long time for our community and we give Glory to God that we have come to fulfill it. With the achievement of this objective, there are problems, especially since after the pandemic period, many people were left without work, those who worked in the field of home care, care for the elderly, even those who worked in factories and from here problems arise at a personal, family and community level. The delicate problem, so to speak, is the relationship with young people. And here I try as much as I can to have a connection with them, in the sense that up to a certain point the children come to church, they come with their parents, they come with their family, they participate, they are present. After a certain age, 18-19 years old, they move away from the church. For me personally, it is a question mark how we can maintain this connection because the continuity of the existence of the Romanians in this space and of the Orthodox Christian community in Pinerolo also depends on the young generation. Or it is obvious that there is an addiction to the telephone, to everything that means media, artificial intelligence which seem much more attractive than direct human relationships. Of course, vices and all the others appear, but in general what I want is to maintain this connection with them and to make them not forget their roots and to make them want to have a spiritual connection with the church.
5. How do you collaborate with the other Orthodox parishes in the Piedmont region?
Answer
We collaborate very well. First of all, in the Piedmont area, we are organized into three deaneries—units larger than the individual parish, each comprising more than ten parishes. For example, we belong to the Piedmont II Deanery, which consists of 14 parishes; missionary centers are organized at the local level, and—through the deans—we hold periodic meetings involving around 40 priests. However, we also meet with neighboring parishes for services such as Holy Unction, the Divine Liturgy, patronal feast day celebrations, or other services depending on the specific occasion.
6.What is your relationship with the local Italian authorities in Pinerolo, Piedmont Region?
Answer
Thank God, very good, both with the civil authorities and especially with the religious ones. Especially with the Catholic Bishop, even with the Valdez cult, the Waldensian church based on respect, support, mutual collaboration. At a social level, we all get involved for the good of the community in general and of particular situations at certain times. Regarding the relationship with the civil authorities, we have a good collaboration with the mayor's office, with the representatives of the Communal Council, especially for us, a new community that differentiates itself by language and religion, we found a lot of understanding. The geographical position of the city of Pinerolo, which is located in the multicultural and multi-religious area close to the border with France, creates space for the collaboration of different faiths and religions among themselves.
7.I know that you are part of the Inspection and Control Body of the Diocesan Administration
of the Orthodox Episcopate in Italy. What are your duties?
Answer
As a parish inspector, I carry out my work under the authority of our Most Holy Bishop, Siluan, and my duties are: to control, to guide the activity of the parishes, to observe the regulations of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and to observe church legislation. If there are certain complaints, requests, we go to the respective places and analyze the situations and, if necessary, reports are made, files are filed for more problematic situations. God forbid that it should not exist. So far, we have not had such situations.
8. How much importance do you place on preserving Romanian identity and promoting it among the younger generation? What concrete actions have you taken?
Answer
First and foremost, there are the church services conducted in Romanian and the teaching of the faith; I also advocate—to the extent that I am able—for the use of Romanian at home, within the family. Naturally, since the children attend Italian schools, they communicate in Italian with their classmates—who come not only from Italy but from various other nationalities. Undoubtedly, knowing two languages is an asset, but the responsibility for teaching and communicating in the mother tongue lies with the family. I have always advocated that in families where both parents are Romanian, Romanian should be the language spoken. Of course, teachers and educators often tell parents it is best to speak Italian at home with their children to avoid school-related difficulties; however, the issue is that we, as first-generation immigrants, do not know Italian very well ourselves. It is better to let teachers and educators teach them the language correctly. Given the existence of mixed-nationality families, I conduct parts of the services—including the Gospel reading—in Italian alongside Romanian. The service itself is conducted 90% in Romanian, as are the sermon and catechesis.
9. What problems do the members of the parish you pastor face?
Answer
First of all, economic problems because we have to keep up with the costs of maintaining the church and ensuring optimal conditions for the parishioners who attend services. Then there are health problems inherent to age, working conditions, emotional problems of those who have broken up, feel uprooted, are looking for a solution to reconcile both the family in the country and the one in Italy. Unfortunately, sometimes, we have to make a choice.
10. I know that some Romanians are thinking of returning to the country. What is your advice
to make the right decision?
Answer
It is a rather difficult question and the decision is difficult to make. Our generation is connected to our country, through grandparents, through places, through friends, and many are nostalgic for their home places, the longing torments them. Some may have most of their family in the country, some came with the idea of staying only for a while and then returning, to earn some money and improve their standard of living in the country. The problem is that there is also the younger generation, children who were born here, started school in Italy, in some situations they did not maintain a connection with Romania, they did not go on vacation to their grandparents for economic reasons or other reasons. The thought of returning is terrible for the little ones, they feel uprooted, not knowing where they are going. Moreover, if they did not speak Romanian at home, the children cannot express themselves and cannot communicate. The break becomes problematic. I would advise Romanians to pray to God and to arrange the steps they should take in their future. It is clear that there are also people who have returned and are now doing well. Unfortunately, I also know many situations where they returned to the country and hoped to integrate into the human order and after a period of 10-15 years of living in the West they were unable to find their place and adapt to the way of life, the mentality in Romania. Some of them returned from the countries where they left. It is painful, but it is a reality that we must recognize.
11. August 1, 2026, is a historic date for the Romanian community in Italy, marking the day the Parliament of the Italian Republic in Rome approved the Agreement between the Italian State and the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy.
Answer
The answer is a bit broader. On September 12, 2011, when the Italian state recognized the Romanian Orthodox Diocese as a legal entity, it was the beginning of the steps of the moment we are talking about now. But since then, for all Romanian Orthodox parishes to have legal entity, it took quite a few years, almost 15. In July, 2026, the Italian Senate unanimously approved the recognition of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese as a legal entity, following which the President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella signed the law. The benefit is that the parishes will be officially recognized as legal entities. Priests will be recognized as ministers of worship, they will be able to enter Italian schools and teach the Orthodox religion depending on the number of applicants. They will be able to enter prisons, re-education centers for religious assistance. Until now it was many permits were needed and many directors of such prisons did not allow Orthodox priests to enter. In the cemeteries in Italy, special plots will be allocated in which Romanian Orthodox Christians will be buried, depending on the possibilities of the local town halls. Until now, the graves of Orthodox Christians were mixed among the graves of Italians. Orthodox Christians will have days off from Orthodox holidays. Religious marriage celebrated by Orthodox ministers of worship should be recognized and have civil effects based on the religious marriage certificate, no longer needing civil marriage.
12.What future plans do you have to promote and develop activities that will attract
as many Romanian citizens from Pinerolo and the surrounding area in preserving and sharing the Orthodox religion, traditions, history, and ancient language with new generations?
Answer
The central and reference point remains the church, first and foremost. In our diocese there are many activities, events, festivals of traditions folk and national costume wearing, Romanian language days, Romanian language hours, prose and poetry contest. The question is how can we reach the heart and soul of Romanians who are overwhelmed by work and their activities? I say that God said that man should work 6 days and rest on the seventh.
13. You have a beautiful family that is always close to you. As a father, what kind of relationship do you have with your son? What advice do you give him for the future?
Answer
It is true that I have a beautiful family, the priestess has always been close to me and of course the rest of the family, the mothers, because we only have them. I hope that my relationship with my son will be a good one, and as much as I can, I try to be a model parent. As advice for the future, both my wife and I would like our son to be a MAN in society. You know the Romanian saying "To be a gentleman is an accident, to be a man is a great thing". We try to transmit healthy values to our child, to be respectful, to be dignified and respected wherever he will carry out his activities. Most of all, however, I want him not to forget his faith and never to forget God wherever life takes him. To remain a HUMAN, to have empathy and to understand that this life is just a passage and a preparation for what will follow beyond.
14.What message do you want to address to the participants at the International Congress of the History of Journalism in Craiova in September of this year?
Answer
Yes, more than a message, a thought. We see that today, around us, many things are entering a shadow cone and it is increasingly difficult to distinguish truth from lies, light from darkness. In this context, I think, and it is valid for all of us, to be as much as we can bringers and bearers of light and truth in the world in which we live. This light must not be taken from energy sources, but from the true source, from the One who is Truth and Light, from our Lord Jesus Christ. May God help us all to be people of light, truth, peace and why not, let us all see and know each other in the Kingdom of God.
Thank you,
Professor Engineer Olimpia Dobre
European Project Manager accredited in Brussels
20.07.2026
Pinerolo, Italy»
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