Romanian Orthodox Patriarch Encourages Holy Land Pilgrimages

Jerusalem, 20 January, 2026 (TPS-IL) -- Bucharest (AGERPRES) – The Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Daniel, received on Tuesday at the Patriarchal Residence, the Ambassador of Israel in Bucharest, Lior Ben Dor, on which occasion the church leader stressed the importance of intensifying the pilgrimages of Romanian Orthodox Christians to the Holy Land.

“His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel emphasized the importance of intensifying pilgrimages of Romanian Orthodox Christians to the Holy Land, especially to Jerusalem and Bethlehem, which represent a means of spiritual strengthening for pilgrims from our country. At the same time, His Beatitude highlighted the fact that, in recent years, more and more Jews living in the Holy Land travel to Romania to visit the birthplaces of their parents and grandparents,’ informs the Sector for Christian, Interreligious and External Romanian Communities Relations, quoted by Basilica.ro.

In turn, the Israeli diplomat mentioned the importance of pilgrimages to the Holy Land as a means of consolidating the friendship and good relations that exist today between the Romanian and Jewish people. In addition, he recalled the difficult geopolitical situation in the Holy Land and the Middle East, expressing his hope for a resolution of the conflicts and a more stable future for the region.

Ambassador Ben Dor was accompanied by the Deputy Head of Mission at the Israeli Embassy in Bucharest, Erez Golan.