Between April 24 and May 8, 2025, with the blessing of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae, Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of the Americas, Vicar Fr. Daniel Ene undertook a missionary visit to Latin America, serving the Romanian Orthodox communities in Ecuador and Colombia. This pastoral journey, under the sign of the joy of the Lord’s Resurrection, was an occasion to strengthen spiritual bonds and consolidate the canonical presence of the Romanian Orthodox Church in this part of the world.
Thomas Sunday in Quito – Living Faith in the Heart of the Andes
In Quito, the capital of Ecuador, Fr. Daniel celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Thomas Sunday at the San Charbel Church, together with the faithful of the Romanian Orthodox Mission "Saint Hierarch Joseph of Partoș". The community includes Romanians, Antiochian and Palestinian Orthodox faithful, as well as numerous Ecuadorian converts—a powerful testimony to authentic missionary work and the open hearts drawn to Orthodoxy.
A particularly meaningful moment was the charitable project "Alimentos de Amor", organized on April 26 in a very poor neighborhood in the southern part of the city. Over 100 hot meals were distributed to people in need, reaffirming the Church’s vocation to be near those who are suffering or marginalized.
During his time in Quito, Fr. Daniel also discussed the community’s plans to find a permanent location to establish an Orthodox church. Additionally, in the context of strengthening relations with local authorities, conversations were held regarding the upcoming visit of Her Excellency Mrs. Camelia Ion Radu, Romanian Ambassador to Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia, scheduled for May 23–28.
A great reason for thanksgiving is the fact that the Romanian Orthodox Church in Ecuador now has legal recognition and is the only canonical Orthodox church officially recognized by the Ecuadorian state. This status reflects the seriousness of our presence in Ecuador and offers encouragement for future steps.
Official Meetings in Bogotá – Ecumenical Dialogue and Mission Support
From April 30 to May 1, Fr. Daniel Ene had a series of official meetings in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. At the Romanian Embassy, he met with His Excellency Mr. Manuel Pleșa, Romanian Ambassador to Colombia, as well as members of the diplomatic staff.
Together with the ambassador, Fr. Daniel held important meetings with:
- His Excellency Archbishop Paolo Rudelli, the Apostolic Nuncio to Colombia;
- Fr. Carlos Guillermo Arias Jiménez, Director of the Episcopal Commission for the Promotion of Christian Unity and Interreligious Dialogue of the Colombian Bishops’ Conference.
Discussions focused on the development of interchurch relations between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, as well as support in identifying a suitable space for celebrating the Divine Liturgy in Barranquilla, where the Orthodox community is currently in a transition phase.
Fr. Daniel also held phone conversations with Fr. Fadi Abou Chebel, recently appointed Maronite Exarch for Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador, and with His Grace Bishop Edgar Jesús Mejía Orozco, Auxiliary Bishop of Barranquilla, to discuss future collaboration. Preliminary contact was also made regarding a potential meeting with Mr. Alejandro Char Chaljub, Mayor of Barranquilla.
Barranquilla – Feast of Saint John the Wallachian and a New Chapter for the Community
Following the meetings in Bogotá, Fr. Daniel traveled to Barranquilla, where he participated in the early celebration of the feast day of the Romanian Orthodox Mission "Saint John the Wallachian". On Saturday, May 3, he met with the Parish Council, followed by the celebration of Vespers, and on Sunday, May 4, Fr. Daniel co-celebrated the Divine Liturgy with Fr. Esteban Díaz, the parish priest, in the space that has served the Orthodox community for many years.
This marked the final Divine Liturgy in the former location, which is unfortunately no longer available. Beginning that Sunday, the community has been worshiping in a temporary location in Puerto Colombia, east of Barranquilla.
On May 2, the community in Barranquilla also organized their own edition of "Alimentos de Amor", offering support to those in need and demonstrating the same charitable spirit in the name of the Gospel.
Looking Toward a Strong and Rooted Future
Fr. Daniel Ene’s missionary visit to Ecuador and Colombia strengthened pastoral bonds, encouraged local communities, and opened concrete paths for the development of a stable and lasting Orthodox presence in Latin America. We prayerfully hope that both the Quito and Barranquilla communities will soon have their own permanent churches, following the example of the already established parishes in Caracas, Venezuela (the wooden Maramureș-style church dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God) and in Concepción, Chile (dedicated to Saint Silouan the Athonite).
These visits—alongside those planned in the coming weeks—are also preparing the first archpastoral visit of His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae to Colombia, Chile, and Ecuador, which is scheduled for September 2025. This historic visit will strengthen the mission and mark a new beginning for the presence of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Latin America.
Fr. Esteban Díaz
