First Royal Address to the Romanian Parliament in 64 Years

On the occasion of his 90th birthday King Michael I of Romania addressed the Romanian Parliament for the first time in 64 years. In his address King Michael called on the Romanian MPs to restore faith in democracy and the dignity of the Romanian nation on the world scene, indirectly condemning post-Communist Romanian governments by calling on the country's leadership to "break for good with the bad habits of the past."

Romanian President Traian Basescu refused to attend the special joint session of Parliament, condemning King Michael, who was forced to abdicate by the Communist regime in 1947, "Russia's servant." More here.

Romanian President Condemns Former King of Romania as Pro-Nazi, Pro-Soviet

Romanian President Traian Basescu has strongly criticized King Michael I of Romania, accusing him of complicity in the Holocaust during World War II and of serving Soviet interests in the country. President Basescu's comments have stunned Romanians, among whom King Michael remains highly popular. Although King Michael's reign saw the rise of a pro-Nazi government in the country, it was the king who organized the overthrow of the fascist regime. He later sought to remain in Romania as the Soviet Union orchestrated the rise to power of a Communist regime there, but abdicated when the new Romanian Communist authorities threatened to execute 1,000 Romanians if he did not do so. More here.

Romania Establishes Holiday Marking Freeing of Roma Slaves

Romanian President Traian Basescu has signed a law making 20 February a national holiday to commemorate the freeing of the country's Roma from slavery. Until 20 February 1856 the country's Roma, also known as Gypsies, were enslaved to an assortment of entities, including Romanian Orthodox monasteries. To this day they still face a great still of discrimination and remain one of the poorest and least educated ethnic minorities in Romania. More here.

Romanian Orthodox Patriarch and Romanian President Arrive in Cluj

Preparations for the funeral of Metropolitan Bartolomeu (Anania) of Cluj have begun in Cluj with Vespers and a memorial served by Patriarch Daniel (Ciobotea) of Bucharest and attended by President Traian Basescu of Romania, many hierarchs of the Church of Romania, and the Orthodox faithful of Cluj. More here.