Religion & Temples

1. Aceasta este o biserică ortodoxă?

   a-CHEAS-ta ES-te o bi-SE-ri-kuh or-to-DOK-suh

   Is this an Orthodox church?

   Usage

   Used when visiting churches in Romania to ask about the denomination

   Grammar Note

   About 86% of Romanians are Orthodox Christian. The Orthodox Church has major cultural influence

2. Se poate vizita mănăstirea?

   se po-A-te vi-zi-TA muh-nuh-STI-rea

   Can the monastery be visited?

   Usage

   Used to ask if a Romanian monastery is open to visitors

   Grammar Note

   Moldavia's painted monasteries are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Voroneț Monastery is the most famous

3. Trebuie să mă îmbrac decent?

   TRE-bu-ie suh muh ihm-BRAK de-CHENT

   Do I need to dress modestly?

   Usage

   Used before visiting a church or monastery to ask about dress code requirements

   Grammar Note

   Orthodox churches require covered shoulders and knees. Scarves and wraps are sometimes lent at the entrance

4. Când sunt slujbele duminicale?

   kihnd sunt SLUZH-be-le du-mi-ni-KA-le

   When are the Sunday services?

   Usage

   Used to ask about Sunday Mass or liturgy times at a church

   Grammar Note

   Orthodox liturgy (Sfânta Liturghie) typically takes place Sunday morning. Visitors may observe quietly

5. Este permisă fotografia în interior?

   ES-te per-MI-suh fo-to-gra-FI-a ihn in-te-ri-OR

   Is photography permitted inside?

   Usage

   Used to ask if photography is allowed inside a church or monastery

   Grammar Note

   Many monasteries charge a photography fee. Flash photography is usually prohibited

6. Frescele pictate sunt uimitoare

   FRES-ke-le pik-TA-te sunt u-i-mi-TOA-re

   The painted frescoes are amazing

   Usage

   Used to express amazement at the frescoes of the painted monasteries

   Grammar Note

   Moldavian monastery frescoes date to the 15th–16th centuries. Voroneț's distinctive blue is world-famous

7. Există o capelă pentru rugăciune?

   eg-ZIS-tuh o ka-PE-luh PEN-tru ru-guh-CHI-u-ne

   Is there a chapel for prayer?

   Usage

   Used at airports, hospitals, or public spaces to find a prayer room or chapel

   Grammar Note

   "rugăciune" means prayer. Major Romanian airports may have multi-faith prayer rooms available

8. Ziua Sfântului Gheorghe este sărbătorită

   ZI-ua SFIHN-tu-lui GHE-or-ghe ES-te suh-buh-to-RI-tuh

   Saint George's Day is celebrated

   Usage

   Used to explain the Romanian custom of celebrating name days and religious feast days

   Grammar Note

   In Romania, name days (ziua numelui) are as important as birthdays. Gheorghe's name day is April 23

9. Paștele este cea mai importantă sărbătoare

   PASH-te-le ES-te CHEA mai im-por-TAN-tuh suh-buh-TOA-re

   Easter is the most important holiday

   Usage

   Used in conversation about Romanian religious culture and traditions

   Grammar Note

   Romanian Easter follows the Julian calendar and may differ from Western dates. Midnight Mass is central

10. Vă rog păstrați liniștea în sfântul lăcaș

    vuh rog puh-STRATS li-NISH-tea ihn SFIHN-tul luh-KASH

    Please maintain silence in the sacred place

    Usage

    Sign commonly seen at church entrances, or used by guides to remind visitors to be quiet

    Grammar Note

    "sfânt" means sacred/holy. "lăcaș" is a literary term for a place of worship or sacred site

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