Aurelian Iftimiu

Open Doors report: 2022 was the worst year for Christians worldwide

Open Doors releases its annual World Watch List 2023, confirming that one out of every seven Christians worldwide suffers high persecution and discrimination for their faith. According to the data reported, more than 360 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith.  Similar numbers were recorded last year. However, the score…

Feb 20, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate urges support for Turkey-Syria earthquake victims

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church decided to help the Orthodox communities in Syria and Turkey, severely affected by the devastating earthquake that occurred at the beginning of last week. The earthquake affected the communities of the Patriarchate of Antioch in Alexandretta, Mersin and Antakia in Turkey, as well as the communities in…

Feb 14, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian diaspora in figures: More baptisms, weddings and conversions to Orthodoxy in 2022

The yearly report of the Romanian Patriarchate detailed the development of Romanian Orthodox dioceses abroad. Outside of the existing borders of Romania, the Romanian Patriarchate holds jurisdiction over four archdioceses and nine dioceses. Additionally, archdioceses serve as metropolitan centres. In these dioceses, there were a total of 1,483 parishes and non-parochial churches at the end…

Feb 14, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Clarification regarding the decision of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Patriarchate to recognise the autocephaly of the Church in North Macedonia

On February 9, 2023, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church approved the recognition of the autocephaly granted to the Orthodox Church in the Republic of North Macedonia by the Patriarchate of Serbia through its synodal tomos issued on June 5, 2022. During the synodal session, the decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of May…

Feb 13, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Over 25,000 foreign tourists visited Bucharest’s Patriarchal Palace in 2022

More than 25 thousand international tourists visited Bucharest’s Patriarchal Palace in 2022. According to the annual report presented by the National Church Council, the Conference Centre of the Patriarchal Palace hosted 147 events organised by the Romanian Orthodox Church or by national or international institutions and commercial companies. Numerous events organised by the Romanian Patriarchate…

Feb 13, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

“Prayer of the elderly is the source of their wisdom”: 10 Patriarch Daniel quotes on the elderly

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church declared 2023 as a Solemn Year of the pastoral care of the elderly. Here are ten quotes by Patriarch Daniel on the elderly: Care for the elderly, children and the poor shows a people’s degree of civilization and the depth of Christian living. The New Testament makes…

Feb 10, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Exemplary aid: Romanian Orthodox Church spends 8,7 mln euro to support Ukrainian refugees in 2022

The annual report summarising the activities of the Romanian Orthodox Church in 2022 presents figures regarding the support offered to Ukrainian refugees: its value is equivalent to 8.7 million euros. “It was an exemplary humanitarian aid,” declared the Patriarch of Romania during the meeting of the National Church Assembly this week. “Of course, it would…

Feb 10, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church’s Holy Synod meets for first time this year: decisions

On Thursday, February 9, 2023, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church met for a working session at “Patriarch Teoctist” Aula Magna of the Patriarchal Palace under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. The Holy Synod elected by secret ballot the Very Reverend Archimandrite Gherontie Ciupe as assistant bishop to the Diocese of…

Feb 10, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod elects new assistant bishop for Deva Diocese

During its working session on Thursday, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church elected a new assistant bishop for the Diocese of Deva and Hunedoara. By secret ballot, the synod elected the Very Rev. Archimandrite Gherontie Ciupe to assist the diocesan bishop of Deva and Hunedoara. The abbot of The Nativity of the Theotokos…

Feb 9, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchal Palace hosts International Military Conference of NATO, PfP Chief Chaplains

Delegations from 35 countries gathered for the first time in Romania at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest to discuss the role and mission of chaplains in the current geopolitical and religious context. On Monday, NATO and Partnership for Peace chief chaplains met at the church of Michael the Brave 30th Guards Brigade for a thanksgiving…

Feb 9, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Religious leaders call for increased support for refugees and host communities

Religions for Peace and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have assembled their Multi-Religious Council of Leaders for a two-day field mission to Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, calling for people of all faiths, across the globe, to increase their support of Ukrainian refugees and host communities. The event was attended…

Feb 7, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu