Romania recognizes Christian persecution with their first national day of remembrance

For the first time ever, the country of Romania is honouring Christians facing persecution with a national day of remembrance. 

Just a few days ago, on August 16, the country honoured persecuted Christians worldwide. The day specifically honours an 18th Century Romanian prince named Constantin Brancoveanus.

Back on August 15, 1714, Brancoveanus was executed by the Ottomans for refusing to convert to Islam, along with his sons.

According to Evangelical Focus in Europe, Daniel Gheorghe, an MP of the National Liberal Party prompted this initiative, which was recently approved by the Romanian parliament.

Gheorghe told German newspapers, "Every year more Christians worldwide become victims of violence."

While this is the first time the country's government is recognizing this day, the Romanian Catholic Church has recognized August 16th as a day to remember martyrs, since the 1990s.

When it comes to religious freedoms in Europe, Gheorghe says there are dangers to the “censorship of language” and there is growth of “neo-Marxist” and “secular and nihilistic” ideologies.

Open Doors 2020 annual report found that there is severe Christian persecution found in 73 countries around the world.