Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s Central Bank issues commemorative coin for the 375th anniversary of Saint Anthimos the Iberian’s birth

The National Bank of Romania (BNR) launched a commemorative gold coin on Monday to mark the 375th anniversary of the birth of Saint Anthimos the Iberian, an emblematic cultural personality of Georgian origin who served as Metropolitan of Wallachia between 1708 and 1716. Coin Design and Features The obverse of the coin features a detailed…

Mar 3, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Serafim: Great Lent is a journey with Christ through His Passion

“With a kind and forgiving heart that does not hold on to resentment, we can begin Great Lent—a journey alongside our Savior Jesus Christ on the path of His Passion,” explains Metropolitan Serafim of Germany, Central, and Northern Europe in his pastoral letter at the start of Great Lent 2025. In his Lenten pastoral letter,…

Mar 3, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Fasting is an act of love for God, not a public display

“We do not fast to be seen or praised by people, but we fast to love God more,” said His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on Sunday during the Divine Liturgy at the historic Chapel of the Holy Great Martyr George at the Patriarchal Residence. Regarding fasting itself, the Patriarch of Romania explained that the Gospel of…

Mar 3, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch of Bulgaria: Autocephaly is a measure of a local Church’s maturity

“Autocephaly is a measure of the maturity of a local Church in indissoluble communion with the other local Churches, members of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church,” noted Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria last Saturday, as the Bulgarian Orthodox Church marked the 80th anniversary of its autocephaly recognition. His Beatitude emphasized that the world is…

Feb 26, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian officials discuss Orthodox pastoral care and Christian solidarity in Italy

The President of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, MP Ionuț Vulpescu, and Romania’s Ambassador to the Holy See, His Excellency George Bologan, were received on Monday by Bishop Siluan at the headquarters of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy. During their meeting with Bishop Siluan, the discussion emphasized and appreciated the spiritual and social assistance…

Feb 25, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Ignatie of Huși: The Triodion period as a spiritual MRI for the soul

“The Triodion period is a time of invitation and reflection, a call to look within ourselves and conduct a kind of spiritual technical inspection. All the services performed during this period serve as a sort of spiritual MRI, showing us where we stand in our effort toward the Kingdom of God,” said Bishop Ignatie of…

Feb 25, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

UK’s Romanian Orthodox Archbishop-elect bids farewell to Italy after 17 years of ministry

His Grace Atanasie, recently elected as the first Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, bid farewell to the Romanian Orthodox community in Italy on Sunday after 17 years of ministry. The archbishop-elect celebrated his final Divine Liturgy at the Eparchial Center in Rome, where he urged the faithful to…

Feb 25, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

First Romanian Orthodox Bishop in North America commemorated at Mono Monastery

Bishop Policarp Morușcă, the first hierarch of Orthodox Romanians in North America, was commemorated Sunday at the Romanian Monastery of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and St. Ephraim the New in Mono, Canada. The monastery’s abbot, Hieromonk Policarp Atenagora, officiated the memorial service after the Divine Liturgy. The service reflected that Romanians in the…

Feb 25, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Miraculous Syriac Icon of the Mother of God marks 67 years at Ghighiu Monastery

On February 25, 1958, the miraculous “Syriac” Icon of the Mother of God was brought to Ghighiu Monastery by Metropolitan Basil Samaha of Sergiopolis from the Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East. For 67 years, many faithful who have prayed before the icon at Ghighiu Monastery have testified to receiving swift aid, healing, and…

Feb 25, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

140 years since the birth of Father John the Stranger, a key figure in the Burning Bush hesychast movement

One hundred forty years have passed since the birth of Father John the Stranger, a priest who introduced the Jesus Prayer to the Bucharest-based Burning Bush hesychast movement, as he had learned it from the elders of Optina Monastery. “John the Stranger” is the name by which Father Ioann Kulygin, born on February 24, 1885,…

Feb 24, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Ukrainian Orthodox Parish in Bucharest holds memorial for war victims on third anniversary of conflict

On Sunday, the Ukrainian Orthodox Parish “Saint Peter Mogila” in Bucharest held a memorial service for the victims of the war in Ukraine, marking three years since the conflict began. The service was preceded by the Divine Liturgy, celebrated by Father Vladimir-Clement Malcovici, the parish priest of the Ukrainian community. “I have parishioners who come…

Feb 24, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu