In light of the recent outbreak of war in the Holy Land, Archimandrite Teofil Anăstăsoaie, the Romanian Patriarchate’s representative in the Holy Land, announced on Monday that Romanian establishments in the region—including the Representation in Jerusalem and the Romanian Settlement in the biblical city of Jericho—are safe.
The announcement follows the escalation of armed conflict between Israel and Iran, which began on June 13 and has resulted in the deaths of 24 Israeli civilians and 224 Iranian civilians amid ongoing bombings.
“All the residents who serve in this mission are protected, and we hope that things will return to normal soon, as everything has been disrupted by these unfortunate events,” said Archimandrite Teofil.
He further explained that while a few pilgrims remained in the Holy Land during the conflict, the majority have been able to leave Israel following guidance from Romanian officials at the embassy and consulates active in the region.
Efforts are still underway to find evacuation solutions for a few Romanians remaining in the Holy Land, the priest added.
Context
The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in contact with about 300 Romanian pilgrims and dual citizens currently in Israel—including Bethlehem—and Iran. With the airspaces of both countries closed and all flights canceled, Romanians are advised to register with the Romanian embassies in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Tehran and to use dedicated emergency contacts for consular assistance.
Emergency Contact Information:
Israel
telaviv@mae.ro (Embassy in Tel Aviv)
haifa@mae.ro (Consulate General in Haifa)
Iran
teheran.consul@mae.ro (Embassy in Tehran)
(Photo credit: Archimandrite Teofil Anăstăsoaie)
Source: Basilica.ro
