Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas prepares aid for families affected by Colombia earthquake

The Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas is preparing assistance for families affected by the earthquake that struck Colombia on 10 August 2026, Metropolitan Nicolae announced. Representatives of the Metropolis have begun efforts to identify the concrete needs of the communities affected by the earthquake in Colombia. Through Fr Daniel Adrian Ene, diocesan vicar and…

Aug 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Women in History: Anița Nandriș-Cudla, the Bukovinian peasant who chronicled her Gulag ordeal

Around age 70, in the quiet of her home in Mahala, Chernivtsi region, a Bukovinian peasant woman who had completed only three years of primary school began writing her memoirs under the title Memories from My Life. The manuscript, written neatly and without corrections – almost as though it had been dictated – was entrusted…

Aug 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania funds 11 church and monastery projects in southern Bessarabia

The Romanian Government, through the Department for Relations with the Republic of Moldova, is funding 11 projects to equip and develop churches and monasteries within the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia. The projects will be implemented between July and November 2026 and will include church painting, the production and acquisition of liturgical furnishings, the development of monastic…

Aug 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Oldest Romanian Orthodox parish in the Netherlands celebrates first feast of St Maria Brâncoveanu

The Parish of St Gregory the Theologian and St Maria Brâncoveanu in Schiedam/Rotterdam, the oldest Romanian Orthodox parish in the Netherlands, celebrated on Sunday its first summer patronal feast dedicated to St Maria Brâncoveanu. Fr Ioan Dură, the dean and parish priest, celebrated the Divine Liturgy. Following the service, a procession took place with the…

Aug 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Migrants Sunday brings Orthodox Christians of different backgrounds together in New Zealand

Romanian Migrants Sunday was celebrated at the Dormition of the Mother of God Parish in Christchurch, New Zealand, where Orthodox faithful of different backgrounds prayed together at the Divine Liturgy. During the service, the message of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel was read. Romanians, Serbs, Russians, Bulgarians, English people and faithful from other communities prayed together…

Aug 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

From medicine to theology: Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia recounts his journey towards faith

His Eminence Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia spoke on a ProTV Chișinău podcast about the path that led him from medical studies to theology and, subsequently, to monastic life. Metropolitan Antonie explained that his interest in theology began while he was studying medicine, when his psychiatry courses prompted questions about the existence of the soul and…

Aug 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Athanasios of Latakia consecrates Putna Monastery metochion: ‘We are brothers in Christ. Nothing separates us’

His Eminence Metropolitan Athanasios of Latakia (Patriarchate of Antioch) consecrated on Sunday evening the church of Putna Monastery’s metochion at Poiana Mănăstirii, Suceava County. “We are brothers in Christ. Nothing separates us,” the visiting hierarch said. “We are one Body – the Body of Christ. And this Body is the Church. Even though we speak…

Aug 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel presents Saint Maria Brâncoveanu as model of faith, patience and generosity

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania described Saint Maria Brâncoveanu as a model of Christian faith and courage whose trust in God enabled her to endure the martyrdom of her husband and four sons, years of captivity and exile without falling into despair. In a message delivered on Sunday at the local proclamation of her…

Aug 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Local proclamation of Saint Maria Brâncoveanu: Churches she supported receive reliquary icons

The local proclamation of Saint Maria Brâncoveanu’s canonisation took place on Sunday at the New St George Church in Bucharest. Churches founded or supported by the saint received icons containing a fragment of her holy relics. These included the St Nicholas “Dintr-o Zi” Church in Bucharest, the monasteries of Hurezi, Surpatele and Dintr-un Lemn in…

Aug 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox monk warns of ‘virtual narcissism’ fuelled by social media validation

The Very Rev. Protosyncellus Sofian Costea has discussed the tendency to seek the approval of others online in a new episode of Doxologia’s video series “ASKetica”, explaining that “we chase after vainglory and motivation that comes from people, and less after the glory that comes from God”. Fr Sofian, who is blind yet continues his…

Aug 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Jerusalem Patriarchate prepares for 2,000th anniversary of Christ’s Baptism in 2030

The Holy Synod of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem discussed preparations for events marking the 2,000th anniversary of the Lord’s Baptism in 2030. The hierarchs, meeting under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem, reviewed plans on Thursday for a series of events along the River Jordan highlighting the anniversary’s historical and spiritual…

Aug 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu