Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Timotei celebrates 20 years of Bilbao Parish, honors Saints known and unknown

His Grace Bishop Timotei of Spain and Portugal celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at the “Sunday of All Saints” Parish in Bilbao, Spain. The community marked its patronal feast and the 20th anniversary of its founding. Among those attending was Bianca Miruna Gavriliță, Romania’s Consul General in Bilbao. In his homily, the bishop emphasized…

Jun 17, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian religious missions in Holy Land safe amid Israel-Iran conflict, Church representative says

“In the context of the recent acts of war unfolding in the Holy Land, we inform you that our Romanian settlements in the Holy Land — the Representation in Jerusalem and the Romanian Settlement in the biblical city of Jericho — are safe,” announced Archimandrite Teofil Anăstăsoaie, the representative of the Romanian Patriarchate in the…

Jun 17, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabian bishops plan Centennial celebrations, canonizations, and theological education expansion

The four hierarchs of the Metropolis of Bessarabia met on Monday in Chișinău for a working session under the chairmanship of His Eminence Metropolitan Petru. The decisions made concern the celebration of the Centennial of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, theological education in the Republic of Moldova, canonizations, and ecclesiastical distinctions. The Synod decided to organize…

Jun 17, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian State News Agency Agerpres congratulates Basilica News Agency on 17th anniversary

The Basilica News Agency of the Romanian Patriarchate has received congratulations from Agerpres, Romania’s National News Agency, on its 17th anniversary. In a message from Director General Claudia–Victoria Nicolae, Basilica.ro is complimented for conveying “not just information, but also its deeper meaning.” “Over all these years, Basilica.ro has become a respected voice in the Romanian…

Jun 16, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Sanctification of humankind was the purpose of Pentecost, Patriarch Daniel explains

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel explained that the Sunday of All Saints follows immediately after Pentecost because “the purpose of the coming of the Holy Spirit into the world is the sanctification of humankind.” The Patriarch emphasized that this feast primarily reveals the ultimate goal for which Christ founded the Church. “The Church of Christ was…

Jun 16, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Nine years since the Holy and Great Council: Romanian Orthodox Church’s consistent contribution

Monday marks nine years since the opening of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church, which brought together hierarchs from ten autocephalous Orthodox Churches in Crete. The Romanian delegation included 25 hierarchs. The Council took place between June 16–26, 2016, preceded by a preparatory working committee from June 9–16. Key topics addressed included:…

Jun 16, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Basilica News Agency celebrates 17 years since first article: The Good to Know about the Church and society

Today marks 17 years since the Basilica News Agency, the media arm of the Romanian Patriarchate, published its first article. Established as a department on October 27, 2007, within the Basilica Media Center, the Romanian Patriarchate’s news agency began operating effectively the following year, with its first news story released online on June 16, 2008.…

Jun 16, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Church representatives join launch of Romania’s Gambling Addiction Strategy

The Senate’s Committee for Culture, Communication, and Media, the National Gambling Office (ONJN), and the National Agency for Drug and Addiction Policies (ANPCDA) organized a roundtable to launch the public policy document titled “National Strategy for the Prevention and Treatment of Gambling Addiction.” The event was attended by Olivia Nicoleta Vișan, Program Coordinator at the…

Jun 13, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Bishops in Canada discuss Church unity, societal challenges at Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the Canadian Conference of Orthodox Bishops (CCOB) took place last week in Toronto at the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada under the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Most Orthodox jurisdictions in the country were represented, including Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada, who attended on behalf of the Romanian Orthodox Church. During…

Jun 13, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Ignatie warns against ego worship, urges focus on divine glory

At the Divine Liturgy, which was celebrated Wednesday with priests from the Huși Deanery, His Grace Bishop Ignatie spoke about the damaging effects of selfishness and urged the faithful to glorify God rather than seek personal praise. His Grace recalled the example of a Desert Father who prayed that God would not glorify him before…

Jun 13, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarch receives Greek delegation, strengthens ties ahead of Orthodox Journal Centennial Conference

On Thursday, June 12, 2025, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church received at the Patriarchal Residence His Eminence Metropolitan Chrysostomos of Chalkis, accompanied by Mr. Alexandros Katsiaras, Director of Theologia, the official journal of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed the Greek delegation to the…

Jun 13, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu