CULTURAL EVENTS
120 Years of Faith, Identity, and Romanian Continuity in America. The Jubilee of St. Helen
Romanian Greek Catholic Church in Cleveland: A Historic Milestone for the Romanian Diaspora
On June 27–28, 2026, the Romanian community in Cleveland celebrated a landmark event in its history. St. Helen Romanian Greek Catholic Church in Cleveland—the first Romanian church established on American soil—marked 120 years of uninterrupted existence, commemorating a defining chapter in the history of Romanians in the diaspora. Since 2013, the parish has been shepherded by Rev. Dr. Petru Stînea, a native of Mihalț, Romania.
The jubilee brought together members of the Romanian community in Cleveland, the majority of Romanian Greek Catholic priests serving in the United States, as well as numerous guests from Chicago, New York, Detroit, and Canton. The celebrations were honored by the presence of His Excellency Bishop John Michael Botean, Bishop of the Romanian Catholic Eparchy of St. George in Canton, who celebrated the liturgical services together with the assembled clergy, marking this occasion of profound spiritual and historical significance.
Founded in 1906 by the first Romanian immigrants to settle in Cleveland, St. Helena Parish occupies a unique place in the history of Romanian communities in the United States. It was the first Romanian church established in North America and, for more than a century, has served as the religious, cultural, and social center of Romanian immigrants from Transylvania and the other historic regions of Romania.
Beyond its liturgical mission, the church became the place where generations of Romanian Americans preserved their native language, traditions, faith, and national identity, making a decisive contribution to the strengthening of the Romanian-American community. One
of the parish's most remarkable characteristics is its historical continuity. Unlike many other Romanian communities that have changed locations or administrative structures over time, St. Helena Church continues to serve the faithful in the very same location where it was founded 120 years ago.
Likewise, the Divine Liturgy has been celebrated in the Romanian language every Sunday without interruption since 1906, faithfully preserving the tradition established by the founders. Today, St. Helena Parish remains one of the most representative Romanian Greek Catholic communities in the United States and stands as a living symbol of the historical and spiritual continuity of Romanians in the diaspora.
The anniversary celebration was also attended by distinguished guests from Romania, including Cristian Terheș, Member of the European Parliament; Dr. Matei Drîmbărean, Director of the Alba County Department of Culture; and Dr. Silviu Tuzes, Chief of the Intensive Care Unit at Alba County Hospital, accompanied by his family.
A highlight of the jubilee was the launch of two landmark books dedicated to the history of Romanians in the United States, both published in 2026 by the National Museum of the Union Publishing House in Alba Iulia and Mega Publishing House in Cluj-Napoca.
The first volume, authored by Rev. Dr. Petru Mihail Nicolae Stînea, is entitled The History of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church in the United States of America (1903–2026). It is the first comprehensive study in English devoted to the history of the Romanian Greek Catholic Church in the United States. The book traces the institutional and spiritual development of the Church over more than a century, providing scholars and English- speaking readers with a thoroughly documented account of the growth of Romanian Greek Catholic communities in America.
The second volume, written by Carmen Stînea and Petru Stînea, is entitled The History of the First Romanian Community in the United States: Little Romania of Cleveland, Ohio (1890–2025). Based on extensive archival research, the book reconstructs the history of the first Romanian settlement in the United States. It chronicles the development of the neighborhood known as "Little Romania," where the first Romanian immigrants established themselves and laid the foundations for the religious, cultural, and social institutions that would shape Romanian
identity across the Atlantic. Both works make significant contributions to the historiography of the Romanian diaspora and fill an important gap in the study of the Romanian presence in North America.
The two books were presented by distinguished figures from Romanian and Romanian- American academic and cultural life.
Cristian Terheș, Member of the European Parliament, emphasized the importance of preserving national identity and historical memory within Romanian communities abroad, highlighting the fundamental role that the Church and cultural institutions have played in strengthening Romanian identity overseas and maintaining ties between Romanians in America and their homeland.
Prof. Greg Scărlătoiu, President and CEO of the Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK), underscored the documentary value and international significance of these studies for understanding the contribution of Romanians to the history of American immigration.
Dr. Matei Drîmbărean stressed the necessity of preserving the cultural and documentary heritage of Romanian communities in the diaspora.
Străjeri spoke about the vital role of collective memory in safeguarding national identity.
Rev. Remus Orian highlighted the spiritual dimension of the community's history and the profound relationship between faith and Romanian identity.
The 120th anniversary of St. Helena Church was far more than the commemoration of a religious institution; it was a celebration of the entire history of Romanians in America. It was an occasion in which past and present came together to affirm that the values of faith, solidarity, and
national identity have endured across generations.
More than a century after the arrival of the first Romanian immigrants in Cleveland, St. Helena Romanian Greek Catholic Church continues to stand as a symbol of permanence, unity, and the preservation of Romanian roots on the North American continent.
November 20, 2025
Blessed Cardinal Iuliu Hossu Honored in New York On November 20, 2025, the Romanian Greek Catholic Mission in New York, in collaboration with the Romanian Cultural Institute in New York, organized a cultural evening dedicated to the memory of the remarkable Cardinal-Martyr Iuliu Hossu, the man who proclaimed the 1918 Proclamation of Union and sacrificed his life for the Romanian GreekCatholic Church and for the freedom of the Romanian people.
Romania dedicated the entire blessed year of 2025 to this outstanding spiritual and patriotic figure.
Although cultural in format, the evening had a profoundly spiritual character, centered on the inspiring life and witness of Blessed Iuliu Hossu. The event opened with the prayer through which we ask the Lord for the canonization of the Blessed Martyr Bishops.
Hosted at the Romanian Cultural Institute, the program was moderated by Mr. Dorian Branea, Director of the Institute. Mrs. Simona Florea, Consul General of Romania in New York, was also present and offered a warm greeting to all those in attendance.
The program continued with a video message of blessing and greeting from Bishop John Michael Botean, Bishop of our Eparchy for the United States and Canada, followed by a message from Bishop Paul Chomnycky, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Bishop of Stamford, Connecticut, which was read by Fr. Remus Orian of St. Michael Church in Aurora, Illinois.
The life and legacy of Cardinal Hossu were presented by Fr. Radu Titonea, Parochial Administrator of the Holy Mary Romanian Greek Catholic Mission in New York. A special presentation on the historical relationship between Cardinal Iuliu Hossu and the Romanian clergy in America was given by Rev. Dr. Petru Stanea, pastor of St. Helen Romanian Greek Catholic Church in Cleveland, Ohio, the first Romanian church established in the United States.
It was an inspiring evening in which we paid tribute to a man distinguished both for his unwavering faith and his profound patriotism—Cardinal-Martyr Iuliu Hossu.
May his life's motto, "Our faith is our life," continue to enlighten and inspire each one of us.
The celebration concluded with the Divine Liturgy on Friday, November 21, the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Temple, celebrated together with the visiting priests and a group of faithful from our mission in the New York metropolitan area.
March 24, 2024
Book Launch: Prof. Univ. Dr. Ioan Mușcutariu: Researcher and Scientist in the Physics
and Technology of Condensed Matter, Romanian Patriot, edited by Ciprian Hugianu and Ioan
Lăcătușu. Sfântu Gheorghe: Eurocarpatica Publishing House, 2023. Presentations by: Cornel
Rusu, Rev. Dr. Petru Stinea, and Dr. Carmen Stinea.
August 25, 2019
In 2019, Saint Helena Church, in collaboration with the Carpathian Society, the Baptist Churches of Cleveland and Akron, the Orthodox Churches, Saint Mary and Bunavestire, organized an event related to the famous holiday, One World Day. This event was held at the Romanian Cultural Garden in Cleveland, on MLK Dr. The Cultural Gardens of Cleveland sum up the public gardens of the nationalities of this city, and since 1945, a day has been dedicated to their celebration. On the day of One World Day, all nations that have such a garden are invited to celebrate in their own style, thus presenting their national specificity to the whole world. Romanians received a place in these gardens in 1955 and since then they celebrate One World Day.
September 14-17, 2017
International Epaminonda Lucaciu History Symposium, Second edition, "Historical stages and moments of Romanian history." During the second edition of the symposium, the guest of honor was Greg Scărlătoiu, Executive Director of the Human Rights Committee in North Korea in Washington, DC, who gave a lecture on the current situation in North Korea, and about the similarities of Korean and Romanian communism.
Launching the book, "Lucrările Simpozionului Internațional de Istorie Epaminonda Lucaciu, ediția a I-a, 2016: Etape și moment de istorie românească în S.U.A.," edited by Phd Carmen Stînea, Alba Iulia, Altip, 2017. The printing of the book was made possible by the financial support of the Romanian-American Community Forum in Ohio, through the Romanian Baptist Churches in Cleveland and Akron, the Orthodox Churches of Saint Mary and Bunavestire and the Greek- Catholic Church of Saint Helena in Cleveland.
May 12, 2016
Launching the book, "Istoria Bisericii Greco-Catolice din Statele Unite ale Americii, 1903-2016," by Petru Stinea, Alba Iulia, Altip, 2016.
May 12-14, 2016
First International Epaminonda Lucaciu History Symposium, "Historical Stages and moments of Romanian Greek-Catholic Church in North America."
The first international history symposium dedicated to Greek-Catholic Churches in U.S.A. took place at Saint Helena Church in Cleveland. The symposium was entitled Epaminonda Lucaciu, after the name of the priest who founded the first Romanian parish in America. The event, organized under the patronage of the Greek Catholic Diocese of Canton, Ohio and St. Helena Church, was attended by historians and theologians from Romania, the U.S.A. and Italy. The symposium brought together historians and researchers from Cluj-Napoca, Alba Iulia, Bucharest, Oradea and Timisoara, and also, theologians, and priests from Los Angeles, New York, Canton, Mc Keesport, St. Nazians-Wisconsin, Akron and Cleveland. The works presented were dedicated both to the history of the Greek -Catholic Churches (XVIII-XX centuries) and to other Christian denominations. Other topics discussed were the communist persecution in Romania, the protection and conservation of historical monuments in Romania and so on. Two documentary films and a photographic exhibition dedicated to the communist persecution in Romania, made by the Institute for the Investigation of the Crimes of Communism and the Memory of the Romanian Exile (IICCMR) Bucharest , were also shown.
July 31, 2015 – February 26, 2016 – Cafeneaua Culturală
During 7 months, people who love poetry, history and Romanian culture met at Saint Helena Church. Topics related to Romanian emigration in Cleveland, as well as various aspects related to the life and work of some writers were discussed. The audience enjoyed the works of the following writers: Mihai Eminescu, Aron Cotruș, Vasile Militaru, Nina Cassian, Henriette Yvone Stahl.
2013 – 2017
Concerts of Romanian artists from Romania were organized at Saint Helena Church. Here is a list of a few artists: Maria Dragomiroiu, Oana Tomoiagă, Vlăduța Lupău, Alexandru Brădățan, Adriana Antoni, Valeria Codorean, Traian Ilea, formațiile Trei Sud-Est, Petreuș etc.
May 31, 2015
Launching the book, "Românii americani de la Marile Lacuri. Peste 100 de ani de prezență românească în statul american Michigan," by Ștefan Străjeri, București, Anamarol, 2014.
December 2015
In December 2015, the Sunday School of Saint Helena Church, led by PhD Cristina Noara started. Cristina Noara organized various cultural activities, through which children got closer to the Romanian language, history and culture.
August 18, 2013
Picture Exhibition – Searching the Colors- author- Olimpiodora Cerghedean
2006
100th Anniversary of Saint Helena Church
Launching DVD
