Romania used Cyrillic alphabet before 1860-1862. They adopted Orthodox Christianity as Constantinople (East Roman Empire) was a close neghbor and when shit hits the fan you'd rather rely on a neighbor and not to s/o thousand miles away to save your ass. It was as result of the struggle for influence between Constantinople and Rome. The same way Czechs (when the Moravian mission of Cyril and Methodius failed) and Poles adopted Catholicism. But of course I'm giving you that explanation in relation to modern times and conflicts.