Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate, Department for Romanians Abroad sign cooperation protocol

On May 17, 2023, a cooperation protocol was signed between the Romanian Patriarchate and the Department for Romanians Abroad, represented by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel and Secretary of State Gheorghe-Florin Cârciu. Constantly mindful of the significance of fostering identity consciousness and strengthening ties with Romanians outside of Romania, the Romanian Patriarchate, through its diocesan-organized Romanian…

May 23, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan of Bessarabia backs Moldova’s pro-EU path, calls for unity and determination

Tens of thousands of people gathered in the Moldovan capital, Chisinau, on Sunday in support of the country’s pro-Western government. On this occasion, Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia addressed the citizens, urging unity and determination. Thank you for believing Moldova. Keep strong, hold steady. We will not let you down. Addressing the 70,000 people who flooded…

May 22, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Athonite monks present Patriarch Daniel with relic of Ven. Dionisie Ignat

On Saturday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed two hieroschemamonks from St George – Colciu cell on Mount Athos: Fr Dionisie Alb, the cell’s hegumen, and Fr. Dionisie Florea. The Athonite fathers presented the Patriarch of Romania with a fragment of the honourable head of Elder Dionisie Ignat. Patriarch Daniel granted them the second highest distinction…

May 22, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Bucharest Patriarchal Cathedral marks 365th consecration anniversary

On May 7, 2023, Bucharest’s historical patriarchal cathedral dedicated to the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen marked the 365th anniversary of its consecration. In 1658, Patriarch Makarios of Antioch and All East led the consecration ceremony of the church founded by Wallachia’s ruler Constantin Serban Basarab, which initially served as catholicon for a monastery. Concelebrants…

May 9, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Dacia Felix Bishop expresses condolences over Belgrade school shooting

His Grace Bishop Ieronim of Dacia Felix extended condolences over the tragic shooting in a school in Belgrade, which killed nine, including eight children and wounded others. “Such tragic events, which sadden us and, simultaneously, worry us due to their unpredictability, are just as many alarm signals regarding the unconditional love, attention and emotional support…

May 5, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Suceava Archbishop suggests Decalogue for Christian Women

In the context of Sunday of the Myrrhbearers, His Eminence Archbishop Calinic of Suceava and Rădăuţi proposed a Christian woman’s Decalogue. The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church has designated the third Sunday after Holy Pascha as Christian Women’s Sunday beginning in 2020 to underscore the role and significance of Christian women in the…

May 5, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian priest and physiotherapist: “When I massage them, I kneel next to each one and pray”

Priest Cătălin Mureș, who serves at the Holy Great Martyr Menas Church in Suceava, is a physiotherapist in his spare time. At his ordination to the priesthood, he prayed to God to be able to heal sick people. “Then, in 1992, I was thinking of helping them through prayer, thinking that I would pray for…

May 5, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Banat Metropolitan Ioan writes first verse of Romania’s biggest handwritten Bible

The itinerant exhibition called the Museum of the Bible, which hosts over 1000 copies of the Holy Scriptures in hundreds of languages and dialects, has returned to Timișoara. During the opening of the exhibition, a new initiative began: the handwriting of the biggest Bible in Romania. The opening of the exhibition took place on Monday,…

May 4, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Wiki Loves Monuments 2022: Photo of small wooden church in Bessarabia named among winners

A photo showing the wooden church in the village of Gîrbova, Ocnița district, Republic of Moldova, was ranked 11th in the latest edition (2022) of the Wiki Loves Monuments international competition. From over 150,000 images registered, 337 photos were selected by the jurors of the 36 national competitions. “These are the 15 best images from…

May 4, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel venerates relic of St Thomas: “An intensification of paschal joy”

The relics of Saint Thomas the Apostle and the Holy Great Martyr Catherine were brought last week from Greece for the patronal feast of Pantocrator Monastery in Teleorman County in southern Romania. Before leaving for Greece, the Greek delegation visited the patriarchal residence bringing the relics to be venerated by the Patriarch of Romania. “We…

May 4, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Prayer before competition: Romania’s national bodybuilding and fitness team receive Archbishop Irineu’s blessing

Tuesday, before departing for the European Championship in Spain, His Eminence Archbishop Irineu blessed the Romanian National Bodybuilding and Fitness Team at Christ Pantocrator Monastery in Alba Iulia. Gabriel Toncean, the president of the Romanian Federation of Bodybuilding and Fitness, headed the team. “Let’s say a young gymnast wants to compete in the Olympic games.…

May 4, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu