Newham’s only Romanian church has seen its membership boom in recent months and preparations are now under way for a fast over Easter.

Father Sorin Paul Grecu, 55, of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Rutland Road, Forest Gate, said his congregation has blossomed in just a few months

“I have 100 to 150 people to pray in a service on Sunday,” he said, “and maybe 300 families, but not coming every Sunday.

“There are many from Barking and Dagenham, Romford, East Ham and Ilford.”

Fr Grecu has been a priest for 22 years, including three years in Romania.

Newham has one of the largest Romanian populations in London according to the Office for National Statistics.

Government data for 2010 shows people from Romania make up 11 per cent of the population.

This makes the borough a hub for Romanian Christians, though the main Romanian Orthodox church in London is in Holborn.

“I’m a bit different,” says Fr Grecu, “because I was working for Barking and Dagenham Council as a plasterer every day from 8am to 4.30pm.”

In a busy week he will perform baptisms, weddings and hear confessions, especially during the long Easter period, which runs on different dates than for other Christians.

“With fasting it’s not everybody keeping the fast,” he said. “It’s not Muslim Ramadan or something like that.”

The fast runs from February 16 to Easter on April 6 but people only fast for a few days, or not at all if they choose.

Usually they skip fish, meat, eggs or milk, effectively becoming vegetarian for a while, explained Fr Grecu.

The Orthodox branch of Christianity split from the Catholic church in what is known as the Great Schism in 1054.

There are around 200 million people worldwide who profess Orthodox Christianity.

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