The Romanian Rite are Eastern Rite Catholics who use the old liturgy derived from the Orthodox Church but are in union with Rome. The Romanian Rite is found primarily in Transylvania and communities overseas who left Transylvania. After the fall of Constantinople in 1453, the Romanian Orthodox were cut off from the Orthodox Patriarch in Constantinople. The Turks conquered the Balkans but Transylvania was semi-independent. The Hungarian speaking rulers of Transylvania were Calvinist and Calvinism was preferred by the Turks since its advancement would further divide Christendom. The Calvinists put tremendous pressure upon the Romanian Orthodox to convert to Protestantism. The Orthodox are very resistent to Protestantism because of philosophy. To oversimplify, Protestantism is based upon the enlightenment and Orthodoxy is based upon mysticism. Never the twain shall meet, at least historically. Even after the expulsion of the Turks and restoration of Hapsburg rule, the Calvinists, who dominated Transylvania, kept the pressure on the Orthodox Romanians. Finally the the majority of the Orthodox Clergy went into Union with Rome. This placed them under the protection as much as possible under the Emperor in Vienna and out of the clutches of the Calvinist magnates in Transylvania. The Turks were receding as a menace after the Battle of Zenta in 1697 and the Union became fact in 1698. The Romanian Rite flourished under the Hapsburgs but was savagely suppressed by Stalin and the Communists. It is making a slow comeback in post Communist Romania, but is having problems trying to regain the churches that were taken from it. The Romanian Rite Catholics were probably an absolute majority in Transylvania.

Also known as the Eastern Rite Catholics. Traditions and ceremonies stem from those of the Greek Orthodox Church.