Aurelian Iftimiu

Called to become like angels: A dozen monastic tonsures in recent days

A number of men and women have given their lives to Christ in monasticism in the past several days in dioceses of the Romanian Orthodox Church both at home and abroad. Munich In Munich, His Eminence Metropolitan Serafim of Germany and Central and Northern Europe celebrated the first rite of tonsure for the new St.…

Apr 4, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Gov’t strengthens commitment to support three main projects of Metropolis of Bessarabia

After the commemorative ceremony held on March 27 in the city of Ialoveni to mark 105 years after the Union of Bessarabia with Romania, the President of Romania’s Chamber of Deputies visited the headquarters of the Metropolis of Bessarabia together with several Romanian dignitaries. At the meeting, officials of the Romanian government committed to financially…

Apr 3, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Busts of Bessarabia-Romania Union artisans unveiled in Ialoveni

Last week, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru and officials from both sides of the Prut River unveiled the busts of two great artisans of the Union of Bessarabia with Romania, Alexandru Marghiloman and Ion Inculeț. The ceremony on Monday, March 27, 2023, marked the 105th anniversary of the Union of Bessarabia with the Kingdom of Romania.…

Apr 3, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Rohia Monastery is building a cultural centre to honour Fr Nicolae Steinhardt

A new cultural monastic centre is being built at Rohia Monastery to honour the famous Romanian writer and Orthodox monk Nicolae Steinhardt whose main book, The Diary of Happiness, is regarded as a major text of 20th-century Romanian literature and a prime example of Eastern European anti-Communist literature. Last week, Bishop Iustin of Maramures visited…

Mar 29, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s central bank issues coins marking Centennial of Greater Romania Constitution

The National Bank of Romania (BNR) has issued gold and silver coins to mark the Centennial of the Constitution of Greater Romania, which was adopted in 1923 by King Ferdinand I. The obverse of the gold coin features the dome of the palace of the Assembly of Deputies in Bucharest during the interwar period, now…

Mar 28, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Byzantine-era church mosaic floor uncovered again in Israel after 40 years

The Israel Antiquities Authority has announced that a church floor decorated with flower mosaics that is 1,500 years old and located east of Ben-Gurion Airport but has remained undiscovered for the past four decades will soon be open to the public. The fine mosaic is part of the archaeological site of Horvat El-Bira, located in…

Mar 28, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia-Romania Union founders commemorated at Bucharest Patriarchal Cathedral

On Monday, the patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti officiated a memorial service at the patriarchal cathedral in Bucharest in honour of the founders of the Union of Bessarabia with the Kingdom of Romania. Bishop Varlaam recalled that “today we mark 105 years since the members of the Country’s Council in Chisinau voted the Union…

Mar 28, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel attends Parliament solemn session marking Centennial of Unified Romania Constitution

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on Monday attended a solemn session held at the Romanian Parliament to mark the Centennial of the Constitution of Unified Romania (1923-2023). His Beatitude addressed the participants after the President of Romania and recalled the importance of the fundamental law adopted in 1923 for church life. “The great changes in a…

Mar 28, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Petru’s message on 105th anniversary of Bessarabia-Romanian Unification: True union comes through faith in God

In a message marking the 105th anniversary of the Union of Bessarabia with Romania, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia recalled that the Act of Union, adopted by the Country’s Council on March 27, 1918, represented not only a national achievement but also an act of faith and aspiration towards a prosperous future. “In a…

Mar 28, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian PM visits Bessarabia’s future metropolitan cathedral

On Thursday, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru and Romania’s Prime-minister Nicolae-Ionel Ciuca visited the church of Sts Peter and Paul in Chisinau, which will serve as the future metropolitan cathedral for the Metropolis of Bessarabia. During the visit, the Metropolitan of Bessarabia pointed to the community’s needs and difficulties in painting the church and finishing other…

Mar 24, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Chișinău Sts Peter & Paul Church to become a metropolitan cathedral

The “Holy Apostles Peter and Paul” parish church in Chișinău’s Buiucanii Noi district will be elevated to the rank of Metropolitan Cathedral for the Metropolis of Bessarabia after completing the painting and landscaping works. On Friday, March 17, 2023, Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia visited the church with His Excellency Cristian-Leon Țurcanu, the Romanian Ambassador to…

Mar 23, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu