Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew blesses pilgrims from Moldova on the Island of Chios

A group of pilgrims from the Republic of Moldova, currently visiting the Island of Chios, Greece, received a blessing from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew following the Divine Liturgy at the Church of the Dormition of the Mother of God in Kallimasia. The group was accompanied by Father Marin Osoianu, director of the “Emaus” Pilgrimage Centre of…

Sep 11, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Father Nicolae Steinhardt’s “Journal of Joy” to be published in English by SVS Press

Father Nicolae Steinhardt’s seminal work, “The Journal of Joy,” will be published in its entirety in English by St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press in New York. The volume is currently available for pre-order. In his book, Steinhardt writes, “The test that never fails, the definitive criterion for drawing close to Christ is good cheer. Only a…

Sep 11, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Every young person needs God’s blessing, Archbishop says in new school year message

“Every young person needs the blessing and care of God, whose guiding and protective presence illuminates the mind and reveals the depths of knowledge,” said Archbishop Ioachim of Roman and Bacău on the occasion of the new school year 2024-2025. “We extend our deepest appreciation to all the educators working in the schools within the…

Sep 11, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Two Romanian Parishes in Georgia commemorate Teacher Cristina Irimie, victim of school shooting

Two Romanian parishes in Georgia, USA, held memorial services on Sunday for math teacher Cristina Irimie, who tragically lost her life last week in the school shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder. Father Nicolae Clempuș from St. Mary Romanian Orthodox Church in Dacula (Romanian Orthodox Church) and Father Nicolae Acsente from Sts. Constantine and…

Sep 11, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel encourages Christian education at start of 2024-2025 school year

As the 2024-2025 school year began, Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church congratulated students, parents, teachers, and educators. He emphasized the importance of Christian education, calling it “light for society” and essential for the spiritual growth of individuals in communion with God. Patriarch Daniel highlighted that Christian education fosters values such as love, kindness,…

Sep 11, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel sends message to International Conference on Orthodox Spirituality at Bose Monastery

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church has sent a message of blessing and encouragement to the participants of the 30th International Inter-Christian Conference on Orthodox Spirituality, held on September 3-6, 2024, at the Monastery of Bose in Italy. The event, organized under the leadership of Father Sabino Chialà, the monastery’s prior, brought…

Sep 11, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox parishes in the US show strong post-pandemic recovery, outperforming other denominations

A recent study published by the Hartford Institute for Religion revealed that Orthodox parishes in the US experienced a smaller decline in congregational numbers during the pandemic than other religious denominations and have been more successful in attracting new members during this period. Nationally, all liturgical communities in the US, regardless of denomination, lost an…

Aug 28, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox youth in Germany to hold annual gathering focusing on loneliness, egoism and love

The Association of Romanian Orthodox Youth in Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg (ATORG) will hold its annual meeting in Vienna from October 11 to 13, 2024. ATORG invites participants to explore how loneliness and egoism can be diminished, both from the perspective of biblical values and teachings and from the practical teachings of Orthodoxy. According to…

Aug 28, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate publishes first edition of funeral service in Ukrainian language

The Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate has recently published the first edition of the Funeral Rites in Ukrainian, which provides a uniform liturgical text for all Ukrainian Orthodox parishes under the Romanian Patriarchate. The book was compiled with the contributions of Fr. Marius N. Lauruc, a counsellor at the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate in Romania, and Oxana and…

Aug 28, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Parish in Malaga receives funding for new religious and cultural centre

The Romanian Orthodox Parish “Saint John the Baptist” in the province of Malaga, Spain, has received funding to renovate, restructure, and equip a space dedicated exclusively to the religious, cultural, and social activities of the Romanian community. The sum of approximately 240,000 euros has been provided by the Department for Romanians Abroad (DRP). The Romanian…

Aug 28, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Ukrainians in Romania pray for peace on Ukraine’s Independence Day

On August 24, Ukrainian Orthodox communities marked Ukraine’s Independence Day by offering prayers of thanksgiving and holding memorial services for the fighters who have fallen in the ongoing war in Romania’s neighbouring country. Special prayers for peace, as recommended by His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, in March 2022, were also recited in every Ukrainian…

Aug 28, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu