Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania religious leaders urge Education Ministry to include Religion among Baccalaureate subjects

In an address initiated by the Romanian Patriarchate, thirteen representatives of religious denominations in Romania requested the inclusion of Religion in the list of subjects for which the Baccalaureate exam can be taken. The signatories also demand the removal from the new draft Law on pre-university education of some provisions related to the new ideologies.…

Mar 16, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Saint Benedict of Nursia, on self-realization: An exclusive essay by Bp Benedict of Bistrița

Assistant Bishop Benedict of Bistrița wrote an essay exclusively for Basilica.ro inspired by the work of his spiritual patron Saint. Please find below Bp Benedict’s essay: Saint Benedict of Nursia, on self-realization Along with Saints Basil the Great or John Cassian, Saint Benedict of Nursia is among the founders and organizers of monastic life. He…

Mar 16, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Lithuanian mother and daughter baptised Orthodox in Romanian village

Diana and her daughter Maja, born in Lithuania and settled in the United Kingdom of Great Britain, were baptised and received to Orthodoxy at Sts. Constantine and Helen church in Hemeiuș village, Bacău county. The mother took the name of St. Andrew the Apostle, and her daughter was named after the Virgin Mary. Parish priest…

Mar 16, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Draft law envisions return of former theological seminary in Chișinău to Metropolis of Bessarabia

The government of the Republic of Moldova is reportedly ready to hand over the building of the former theological seminary in Chișinău to the Romanian Orthodox Church-affiliated Metropolis of Bessarabia. The final step is for a draft law, tabled by several deputies of the ruling party, to be ratified by Parliament. The assets of the…

Mar 16, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch of Romania welcomes new Cypriot Ambassador on presentation visit

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church welcomed His Excellency Marios Kountourides, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Romania, on a presentation visit at the patriarchal residence on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. His Excellency thanked His Beatitude for the warm welcome and conveyed a message of friendship and appreciation from the people…

Mar 15, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Berlin officially recognises Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Germany as corporation under public law

The Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Germany, Central and Northern Europe has been officially granted recognition as a corporation under public law in the Land of Berlin. Religious communities in Germany may be recognised as corporations under public law (Körperschaften des öffentlichen Rechts).  This provision dates back to when the Church and State were not yet separated. Originally…

Mar 15, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Elder Iulian of Prodromos Skete laid to rest

On Saturday, the Romanian Prodromos Skete on Mt. Athos said farewell to one of its most beloved monks, Hieromonk Iulian (Lazăr). Fr. Iulian, who hailed from Botoșani in northeastern Romania and spent 46 years on the Holy Mountain, reposed in the Lord at the age of 97 on Friday, March 10. The separation from their…

Mar 15, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

His Grace the Archbishop of Canterbury visits the Romanian Patriarchate

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed His Grace Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of the Anglican Communion, at the patriarchal residence in Bucharest for a private visit on Tuesday, March 14, 2023. At the beginning of the meeting, the Patriarch of Romania expressed his joy at having the Archbishop of the Church of England…

Mar 14, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

6.75% of Albania’s population is still Orthodox: An analysis of demographic decline

The American online publishing platform Medium analysed the demographic decline in Albania’s Orthodox community. Albania is renowned for its religious variety, which includes a sizeable community of Orthodox Christians. By the beginning of the 20th century, 70% of Albanians were Muslim, 20% Orthodox, and 10% Catholic. Yet, the 2011 census found that Albania’s Orthodox population…

Mar 14, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Cluj Metropolis to host National Olympiad of Romani Language and Literature

The National Olympiad of Romani Language and Literature will be held in one of Cluj-Napoca’s Orthodox theological educational institutions’ contemporary, spacious facilities. The organisers and the Orthodox Metropolitan of Cluj confirmed the arrangements. Crăciun Ioan Lăcătuș, president of the Social-Missionary-Cultural Orthodox Association for Roma “St. Moses the Black,” Liliana Chiriac, Roma school inspector for the…

Mar 14, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Iași: Priests promote selective waste collection among parishioners

During their monthly administrative meetings, the priests in the Archdiocese of Iași attend training sessions on waste management and selective waste collection. After completing their formation, the priests will instruct their parishioners on properly managing waste. The sessions follow a protocol concluded at the beginning of the year between the Archdiocese of Iași and the…

Mar 14, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu