Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch: Orthodox spirituality does not recognize the utopianism of a Resurrection without Crucifixion, nor the pessimism of the Cross without the Resurrection

“Orthodox spirituality does not recognize the utopianism of a Resurrection without Crucifixion, nor the pessimism of the Cross without the Resurrection,” noted His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in his patriarchal encyclical for Holy Pascha. Full text: Patriarchal Encyclical for Holy Pascha of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew †Bartholomew By God’s Mercy, Archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome and Ecumenical…

May 4, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Teofan’s Easter encyclical calls for prayer for those troubled by war

“Let us show a merciful heart towards those in need. Let us raise a thought of prayer for our fellows whose lives are troubled by the war in Ukraine, in the Holy Land and other parts of the world,” Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina urged in his Easter encyclical. At the same time, His Eminence Metropolitan…

May 3, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Raise the Cross, not the sword: Bishop Sebastian urges prayer for those in conflicts

In his pastoral letter for Holy Pascha, His Grace Bishop Sebastian of Slatina and Romanati advised the faithful to reject partisanship in the context of the current wars and to pray for all parties involved: “Let us raise the Cross instead of the sword and seek peace, not war; that peace that the Lord gave…

May 3, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop meets with Bucharest Anglican church former chaplain

His Grace patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiești welcomed Rev. Hugh Wybrew, former chaplain of the Anglican Church in Bucharest between 1971 and 1973, for an audience at the Palace of the Patriarchate on Wednesday, May 1. Viorel Coman, patriarchal adviser at the Department for inter-church and inter-religious relations of the Patriarchal Administration, and Rev. Nevsky…

May 2, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia Metropolitan urges to emulate myrrhbearers’ courage and confess spiritual and national identity

“We are responsible for standing upright and confessing the true faith, the true Orthodox values, defending our Romanian spiritual identity, and resembling the myrrh-bearing women,” His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia wrote in his pastoral letter for Holy Pascha 2024. “Full of courage, faith, zeal, and love, let us preach peace and forgiveness and share…

May 2, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s 2024 Easter Message: The Resurrection is the celebration of Christ’s humble and merciful love

In his Easter message, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel recalled that Christ’s Resurrection celebrates His humble and merciful love for all. “The Resurrection of the Lord is the celebration of Christ’s humble and merciful love, the One who overcame hatred, violence and death, giving people eternal life. That is why Holy Pascha is the celebration of forgiveness, peace…

May 2, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox photographers’ community OrthPhoto marks its 20th anniversary

OrthPhoto, an international organisation of Orthodox photographers, observed its 20th anniversary this month. The OrthPhoto community was established amidst the descent of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem on April 10, 2004. Over the past twenty years, the community has amassed a membership of over 120,000 individuals hailing from more than eighty countries. The gradual emergence…

Apr 26, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church marks 139th autocephaly anniversary: Recognizing no other authority but the Saviour God-man

Today marks 139 years since the Ecumenical Patriarchate recognized the autocephaly of the Romanian Orthodox Church, an essential moment for the Church and the Romanian State, which had won its independence from the Ottoman Empire (1877). “Essentially, autocephaly is the recognition of the spiritual maturity and administrative and pastoral freedom of an Orthodox Church in…

Apr 25, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Sepulchre: Up to 4,200 people permitted for Holy Fire ceremony

Representatives of the Common Technical Bureau of the Holy Sepulchre Church in Jerusalem announced the utmost number of pilgrims permitted to attend the Holy Fire Ceremony on Holy Saturday. Theodosios Mitropoulos, the architect of the Church of the Resurrection, and Nagib Naser, the architect of the Franciscan Brotherhood, confirmed to the Tourist Police station that…

Apr 25, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia Metropolitan’s message on Day of Remembrance of victims of 1946-1947 famine: Never forget their suffering

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru issued a message honouring the victims of the organised famine that ravaged Bessarabia from 1946 to 1947. “We bow our heads and knees to the memory of the reposed and promise never to forget their suffering and the lesson they left us,” the Metropolitan of Bessarabia said. This commemoration takes place…

Apr 22, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Georgian Ambassador to Bucharest visits Library of Holy Synod

Her Excellency Tamar Beruchashvili, Georgia’s Ambassador to Bucharest, visited the Library of the Holy Synod at St Anthimos Monastery on Thursday, April 18. Consul David Chachava accompanied the Georgian Ambassador. The Very Rev. Archimandrite Policarp Chitulescu, the Library of the Holy Synod director, welcomed the Georgian officials. The purpose of the visit was to coordinate…

Apr 22, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu