Scotland's first Romanian Orthodox Church to open in Glasgow

A church in the east end of Glasgow is to be consecrated as the first place of worship for the Romanian Orthodox Church in Scotland.

Shettleston Old Parish Church will host a special inauguration ceremony at 3pm this Sunday as it becomes the home for Romanian Orthodox followers in the city.

Metropolitan Joseph Pop is flying in from Romania to bless the hall, and he will also bring with him a message from the country’s ex-King Michal.

The idea came from Romanian Daniel Manastireanu, who is training for the ministry with the Church of Scotland in the area.

He explained, "The Romanian Orthodox community approached me to ask for help in finding a space where they could start the first Romanian Orthodox Church in Scotland.

“Having already experienced the warm hospitality of Glasgow churches, I appealed to Shettleston Old Parish Church for help in this matter.

“I was overjoyed to see the minister and the elders taking on this challenge with great enthusiasm and desire to be helpful and welcoming to a migrant community in their church buildings."

The Shettleston congregation will still worship in the main sanctuary with Interim Moderator Rev Adah Younger, and the Orthodox worshippers will meet in the old church hall.

She said: “We wanted to offer our space and hospitality, and the office bearers have been working extremely hard getting everything ready in time.”

Former Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, the Very Rev Sheilagh Kesting, will be there with guests which include Linda Fabiani, Scottish Minister for External Affairs, Europe and Culture, and the Romanian Ambassador Doctor Ion Jenga. There will be a message of support from the British Royal family,

The new congregation will be called “The Presentation of Our Lord”. As part of the celebration two Romanian choirs will perform a Byzantine music concert after the main ceremony.