Aurelian 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

Romanian Patriarchal Choir Tronos performs at International Sacred Music Festival in Serbia

The Tronos Byzantine Choir of the Romanian Patriarchal Cathedral represented the Romanian Orthodox Church at the “Musical Edict” International Festival of Sacred Music in Niš, Serbia. The event was held on the feast of Pentecost. Held under the patronage of the Serbian Patriarchate and with the blessing of His Grace Bishop Arsenije of Niš, the…

Jun 12, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bust of Romanian Poet Mihai Eminescu unveiled at Detroit-Area Parish in Michigan

A bust of Romania’s national poet Mihai Eminescu was unveiled last Sunday during the patronal feast of the “Descent of the Holy Spirit” and “Saint Theodora of Sihla” Parish in Michigan, one of the oldest Romanian communities in the Detroit metropolitan area. Sculptor Cristi Bota, a native of Boian in Northern Bukovina, created the bronze…

Jun 12, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian hesychast and anti-Communist Confessor Fr. Benedict Ghiuș remembered 35 years after his passing

Archimandrite Benedict Ghiuș, one of the founders of the “Burning Bush” Hesychast Movement, humbly reposed in the Lord on June 12, 1990. Born Vasile Ghiuș in 1904 in Domnești, Vrancea County, he studied at the Faculty of Theology in Cernăuți and later earned his doctorate in Strasbourg, France. In 1934, he embraced monastic life at…

Jun 12, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Germany: Orthodox Christians provided faith-based end-of-life directive

Orthodox Christians from all canonical jurisdictions present in Germany now have access to a legal instrument that allows them to decide in advance what should happen to them in the event of cognitive decline or serious accident. Metropolitan Serafim of Germany, Central, and Northern Europe recommends that parish priests discuss this option with their communities.…

Jun 12, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu