History
St Nicholas Romanian Orthodox Parish, Zürich
Switzerland, like many other countries of Western Europe, has been and still is a second home for many Romanians, each of whom came here for reasons of their own, for a shorter or a longer time. Naturally, their attachment to the spiritual and cultural values of Romania showed itself here as well, and it led to the founding of Orthodox parishes, around which they gathered to glorify God in the language of their forebears.
Years earlier, Romanian parishes had been founded in Geneva, then in Lausanne and in Lugano, leaving only the German-speaking part of Switzerland without one. Although there were fewer of them than in the French-speaking part, the Romanians of Zürich and its surroundings, on the initiative of a small group (Aurel Buda, Mihaela Keller-Iezan, Mihai-Sorin Stupariu and Mihai-Leonard Bercea), turned to Metropolitan Iosif (Pop) of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Western and Southern Europe, asking him to approve and bless the founding of a parish in this Swiss city too. From the start, this undertaking was guided and supported by Fr Romică-Nicolae Enoiu, who was then studying in Fribourg. Metropolitan Iosif’s prompt and favourable answer led the initiators to reach as many Romanians in the region as they could, in a short time, and to arrange the first service.
By God’s providence, about six weeks after the idea was first raised, on 20 December 2001 († St Ignatius the God-bearer), in the presence of Bishop Siluan, auxiliary bishop of the Metropolis, Fr Romică Enoiu served the first service in Zürich, followed by carol singing, in the Serbian Orthodox chapel of St Paraskevi, Zollikerstrasse 74. Services were held in this chapel until the end of February 2002, while a permanent place for the liturgy was sought. Since March 2002 we have been at home in the crypt of the Catholic parish of St. Katharina in Zürich (Wehntalerstrasse 451), which we have furnished with the necessary liturgical objects and where the services are held regularly, according to an announced schedule.
By decision no. 51 of 1 February 2002, Metropolitan Iosif officially recognised the founding of the St Nicholas Romanian Orthodox Parish in Zürich, “in view of the pastoral and missionary needs of Zürich and its surroundings”, and appointed Fr Romică Enoiu as its parish priest.
On 21 April 2002 the parish assembly elected the first parish council: six representatives of the faithful who, together with the priest, were charged with drawing up the parish’s statutes and with its administration.
As the parish must finance itself, the parish council decided at its meeting of 18 May 2002 to set an annual contribution for all members – a practice also found in the other Christian denominations in Switzerland – so that all the necessary expenses can be covered.
Since the parish was officially opened, the number of the faithful has grown steadily; many come from quite far away (St. Gallen, Lucerne, Basel, Olten, Aarau and elsewhere), showing their zeal for holy things and their attachment to the Church of their forebears.
The members of the parish are of all ages, but young families predominate, which explains the large number of baptisms celebrated so far.
The parish’s patronal feast – the feast of St Nicholas on 6 December – and the great feasts of Christianity are, for the Romanians of German-speaking Switzerland, true spiritual resting places and blessed occasions to spend time together at the shared meals (agapes) that follow.
May the merciful God ever pour out His grace and His rich gifts upon the whole community.
