The Church Palliative Care Center “St. Panteleimon” is under construction in the Romanian diocese of Maramures and Szatmár. “Philanthropy of Maramures” announced the center aims to offer support and comfort to those in need and their families, embodying Christian compassion. The facility will feature treatment rooms, consultation areas, relaxation spaces, a dining area, a kitchen, and a chapel. The project preparation began in 2024, designated by the Romanian Patriarchate as the Year of Pastoral Care and Care for the Sick.
Each Romanian Church diocese has a “Philanthropy” association, forming a network that oversees charitable activities. These church groups engage Christian volunteers in social projects and specialists essential for their operations.
The Romanian Patriarchate, with its dioceses and the Church Association “Philanthropy,” oversees numerous palliative care centers and medical facilities for the elderly and infirm. The number of exclusive palliative care units varies annually. Notable centers include:
- “Saint Nektarios” Palliative Care Center in Bucharest with 28 beds.
- “Saint Nektarios” Palliative Care Center in Cluj-Napoca.
- “St. Luke of Crimea” Palliative Care Hospital in Deva.
- “St. Irene” Palliative Care Center in Voluntari, Ilfov.
- “St. Anne” Medical Care and Rehabilitation Center in Iași.
Recently, the Romanian Patriarchate announced new initiatives, such as the “St. Christopher” Children’s Palliative Care Center in Northern Romania, opened in late 2025, and a new center in the Archdiocese of Suceava and Raduți, alongside the Maramures Palliative Care Center project.
Official data indicate the Romanian Orthodox Church as a key provider of social and medical services in Romania, operating over 45 medical and pharmaceutical institutions, including care centers and palliative care facilities.
The Church prioritizes palliative care, recognizing its importance for those nearing the end of life, whom society may overlook as no longer “useful.”
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