Krashovani

The Krashovani (Serbian:Крашовани, also Karashevci/Карашевци) are an ethnic-Serb subgroup living in the Romanian Banat around the town of Caraşova (Serbian: Царашево/Caraševo). It is estimated that there are around 5,000 Krashovani in Romania.

The Krashovani are distinguished from other members of the Serb minority in Romania due to their religion, which is Roman Catholic, whereas most Serbs, in Romania and in general, are of Eastern Orthodox faith.

Their migration to these parts can be traced to the 1370s. Fleeing from the Ottoman onslaught they settled in the Catholic Kingdom of Hungary.

Their dialect is an archaic speech preserved in the area of Eastern Serbia, the Timok valley around Zaječar.

See also: Catholic Serbs , Bunjevci, Šokci , Eparchy of Krizevci.