The history of Hellenism in Romania is deep-rooted and dates as far back as Antiquity. It last enjoyed prosperity at the time of the Treaty of Adrianople (1829), signed between the Russians and Turks. As a result of the Treaty, The Danubian Principalities (Wallachia and Moldavia) acquired political and economic independence and hitherto started the process of creating the modern Romanian State (1857) (Stavrianos 2001: 290-291, 339-363). During this period large numbers of Greeks emigrated to the neighboring country, attracted by the ample financial opportunities that had arisen. Most of them were engaged in commerce, in particular cereals and wood, in the merchant navy and in the leasing of large domains. They created vibrant communities, each with its own communal organization, churces and schools, the most important of them being those at Braila, Galati, Giurgiu, Constanta, Sulina, Tulcea and Bucharest. The Greek communitew in Romania flourished until 1947 when they were dissolved by the communist regime.