Aurelian Iftimiu

Response to Pope Francis’ statement on a unified date for Easter

Following a recent statement by Pope Francis regarding the establishment of a common date for the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord, we wish to clarify that any consultation on the date of Easter and a possible decision can only take place within the framework of a future Pan-Orthodox Council, with the participation of…

Jan 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Five days of Church mourning in Albania: Funerals of Archbishop Anastasios to be held Thursday

The Holy Synod of the Albanian Orthodox Church convened on Saturday for an extraordinary session and declared a five-day period of mourning in memory of Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durrës, and All Albania, who passed away earlier that morning. The body of the late Archbishop will be brought to the “Resurrection of Christ” Cathedral in…

Jan 27, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Christian unity discussed at round table in Brussels

Fr. Sorin Șelaru, Director of the Romanian Patriarchate’s Representation in Brussels, participated on Tuesday in a round table titled How Do We Understand Christian Unity in Practice?. He emphasized that striving for unity should constantly concern every believer. The event featured a dialogue between Fr. Sorin Șelaru; Fr. Manuel Barrios Prieto, Secretary-General of the Commission…

Jan 27, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

God changes hearts through His overwhelming goodness, not punishment, Patriarch Daniel says

“God wants to change the hearts and lives of people not so much through punishment, illness, troubles, or rebukes, but especially through His overwhelming goodness,” said Patriarch Daniel on Sunday in his sermon about Zacchaeus, the tax collector. “Since the Lord Christ did not rebuke Zacchaeus but honoured him with a visit to his house,…

Jan 27, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Serbian minority in Romania celebrates Saint Sava Day

Since 2020, the feast day of Saint Sava Nemanja, the first Archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church, has been recognized as the official celebration of the Serbian minority in Romania. The institution of Saint Sava’s Day was initiated by Deputy Adnagi Slavoliub of the Union of Serbs in Romania, according to Agerpres. On January 27,…

Jan 27, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Principalities’ Union Day: Metropolitan of Bessarabia reaffirms the national and spiritual identity of Bessarabians

“The Union of the Romanian Principalities was the day when the sons of Moldavia and Wallachia embraced as brothers, under the same flag and faith, laying the foundation of the modern Romanian state,” said His Eminence Metropolitan of Bessarabia in a pastoral message marking the 166th anniversary of this historic event. “This Union was not…

Jan 25, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Anastasios of Albania reposes in the Lord aged 95

Archbishop Anastasios, the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, passed away on Saturday morning at the age of 95, according to a statement published on the official website of the Albanian Orthodox Church. His Beatitude had been hospitalized in Tirana on January 3 due to a viral infection and was later transferred to Athens. “The…

Jan 25, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bilingual edition of Saint John the New’s Akathist bridges Romanian and Ukrainian communities

The Crimca Publishing House of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți has released a bilingual edition (Romanian-Ukrainian) of The Life and Akathist of Saint John the New of Suceava. Published at the end of last year, the book has been showcased at multiple cultural events in Romania and Ukraine’s Chernivtsi region. The 5,000-copy print run…

Jan 23, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Saint Helena’s relics to visit Romania after centuries in Venice

The relics of the Holy Empress Helena, mother of Saint Constantine the Great, Emperor and Equal-to-the-Apostles, will be brought to Pantocrator Monastery in southern Romania for a historic pilgrimage. The sacred remains, currently housed in a Venetian Catholic church, will stay at the monastery from April 30 to May 8, 2025. Saint Helena was originally…

Jan 23, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Diocese in Spain, Portugal announces €147,000 in aid for 2024, mainly for flood victims

The Assembly of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Spain and Portugal convened on Tuesday at the Diocesan Center in Madrid, where activity reports for the year 2024 were presented. The event began with the Divine Liturgy, celebrated by His Grace Bishop Timotei of Spain and Portugal, followed by a Te Deum service conducted by His…

Jan 23, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

UK’s Romanian Archbishop-elect officiates Vespers in Italian at St. Paul Outside the Walls Basilica

On Monday, the newly elected Archbishop Atanasie of Great Britain and Northern Ireland officiated the Vespers service in Italian at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, where the tomb of St. Paul the Apostle is located. Numerous Romanian clerics from the Lazio region were part of the clergy assembly. At the…

Jan 23, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu