Comuniunea

Comuniunea is a Romanian noun meaning “the communion” and derives from the Latin communio, through ecclesiastical usage in Romanian. The term carries both a concrete liturgical sense and a broader theological and social sense of shared participation.

In religious usage, comuniunea denotes the participation of believers in the life of Christ and in the Church. It is most closely associated with the Eucharist—the ritual act in which the consecrated elements are received as a sign of union with Christ and with the community of believers. In Catholic and Orthodox theology, comuniunea encompasses the sacramental act itself and the deeper spiritual unity it signifies, including the unity of believers with Christ and with one another. In Romanian liturgical language, the Eucharist is often referred to as Împărtășanie, while comuniune is used in theological or ecumenical discourse to describe the broader sense of fellowship and unity.

The term is also employed in a more expansive sense to denote communion as fellowship within the Christian community, such as the “communion of saints” or the shared life of believers. In ecumenical contexts, comuniunea can refer to dialogue about common beliefs and practices that relate to mutual recognition and participation across denominations. Outside strictly liturgical or theological usage, the word can appear in sociocultural discussions about the sense of community and belonging among people sharing faith.

See also: Împărtășanie, comuniune ecclesială, comunism? (note: no political or controversial connotations implied; see relevant ecclesiastical sources for nuances).