Aurelian Iftimiu

Antiochian delegation visits Romanian Patriarchate as Saint Sofian of Antim is locally canonized

A delegation of the Patriarchate of Antioch visited the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest on Monday, Sept. 15, where they were received by Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, general secretary of the Holy Synod. The delegation included Metropolitan Silouan of Byblos and Botris from the Archdiocese of Mount Lebanon, together with Father Daniel Bedran, a…

Sep 20, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Nectarie blesses former Anglican church as new Orthodox Cathedral in Dublin

Bishop Nectarie of Ireland and Iceland blessed the new Diocesan Cathedral in Dublin during a ceremony held on Saturday, Sept. 13. The Christ Church in Leeson Park was purchased by the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Ireland and Iceland with support from the Department for Romanians Abroad and hundreds of Romanian donors. The church, which previously…

Sep 20, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Metropolitan blesses Embassy in Colombia, meets with Orthodox leaders

His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas blessed the headquarters of the Romanian Embassy in the Republic of Colombia on Monday, Sept. 16. The event took place during the Metropolitan’s visit to Latin America and on the occasion of the completion of renovation works at the embassy in Bogotá, the capital of Colombia. His Eminence…

Sep 20, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Local canonization of Saint Sofian of Antim: He shone in Romania’s capital through his love and gentleness

The local proclamation of the canonization of Saint Sofian took place on Tuesday at Antim Monastery in Bucharest. On this occasion, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at an outdoor altar arranged in the courtyard of the monastery. The service was led by Archbishop Casian of the Lower Danube, together with Metropolitan Silouan of Byblos, Botris…

Sep 18, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Saint Sofian remembered as confessor, hesychast and iconographer at local canonization ceremony

The Romanian Orthodox Church celebrated on Tuesday the local proclamation of the canonization of Saint Sofian of Antim, a confessor of the faith during communist persecution, a hesychast spiritual father, and iconographer. On this occasion, Patriarch Daniel addressed the faithful with a special message, recalling the life and legacy of the new saint, whom Saint…

Sep 18, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Vigil service for Saint Sofian of Antim. Bishop Varlaam: God has blessed us with a Saint from our times

On Monday evening, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești officiated the all-night vigil for Saint Sofian the Confessor of Antim, ahead of the local proclamation of his canonisation. In his homily, Bishop Varlaam emphasised the joy of honouring “a saint from our own days,” known personally to many faithful in Bucharest and beyond.…

Sep 16, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel blesses reliquary ahead of local canonisation ceremony of Saint Sofian of Antim

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel blessed on Saturday the reliquary that will hold the relics of Saint Sofian of St Anthimos Monastery. The blessing service was officiated in the historic Chapel of Saint George the Great Martyr of the Patriarchal Residence, three days before the local proclamation of the canonisation of Saint Sofian the Confessor. On…

Sep 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Saint Kallinikos of Edessa may be officially celebrated in Romanian Orthodox Church from next year

The Synod of the Metropolis of Bessarabia has submitted a proposal to the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church that Saint Kallinikos of Edessa be officially included in the Orthodox calendar, with his commemoration to be held annually on August 8, starting next year. The proposal was adopted at the beginning of September during…

Sep 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Ireland and Iceland acquires Cathedral in Dublin

The Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Ireland and Iceland has recently acquired its own diocesan cathedral in Dublin, the diocese announced in a press release. The Christ Church in Leeson Park was purchased with the support of the Department for Romanians Abroad and the contributions of hundreds of Romanians who donated to the project. “The new…

Sep 11, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox youth gather in Cahul to discuss family life and healthy relationships

More than 235 teenagers from the Republic of Moldova and Romania came together between 28–31 August in Cahul for the Orthodox Youth Meeting, where they were taught about family life and the importance of healthy relationships. According to eu4moldova.eu, the aim of the gathering was to encourage participation in spiritual, cultural-artistic, and educational activities. From…

Sep 11, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Remembering Priest Aurel Munteanu 85 years after his martyrdom

Eighty-five years ago, on 10 September 1940, Father Aurel Munteanu, the first dean (archpriest) of Huedin, reposed in the Lord after being, in the words of historian Mircea-Gheorghe Abrudan, “brutally killed by a group of chauvinistic Hungarians”, in the context of Northern Transylvania being ceded to Hungary under the Second Vienna Award of 30 August…

Sep 11, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu