Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate to host national conference on Byzantine heritage and contemporary church art

The Palace of the Patriarchate in Bucharest will host the National Conference “Doctrinal Unity and National Distinctiveness in Church Painting” in November, bringing together specialists in iconography, church painting, architecture and restoration. Now in its 13th edition, the Romanian Patriarchate’s Church Painting Commission will organise the conference on 12–13 November. This year’s theme is Church…

Oct 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church marks 30 years since St Andrew’s relics drew over a million pilgrims to Iași

Monday marked 30 years since Iași received the relics of the Holy Apostle Andrew for the feast of St. Parascheva. The historic event drew more than one million faithful to the city, Moldavia’s traditional capital. The reliquary containing the Honourable Skull of the Holy Apostle Andrew arrived on 12 October 1996, accompanied by a delegation…

Oct 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Greek Orthodox metropolitan proposes eight measures to tackle loneliness through parish communities

The hierarchs of the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece discussed loneliness in contemporary society and its pastoral implications last week, with eight measures proposed to help address social isolation through communities of faith. Metropolitan Dorotheos of Syros, Tinos, Andros, Kea, Milos, Delos and Mykonos presented a paper entitled The Pastoral Care of Loneliness…

Oct 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

More than 1,000 join Orthodox family march led by Metropolitan Antonie in Chișinău

Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia and more than 100 clergy gathered on Sunday to pray for families at the statue of St Stephen the Great in central Chișinău during a family march, “Rooted in Tradition”, organised by the Archdiocese of Chișinău. They were joined by approximately 1,000 faithful. His Eminence prayed for God’s blessing upon families,…

Oct 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Atanasie: Christian families in the diaspora face a choice between fragmentation and renewal

“The Christian family rediscovers its vocation to be a light in contemporary society, a living witness to Christ’s love and a foretaste of the Kingdom even in the midst of the world,” said Archbishop Atanasie of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. His Eminence participated on Tuesday in the first session of presentations at the International…

Oct 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Paisie: Christian families pass on faith through example, not tradition alone

“The Christian family remains one of the fundamental settings in which faith is passed on, not because it automatically guarantees religious continuity, but because it is where children first encounter concrete expressions of communion, responsibility and a relationship with God,” Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Paisie of Sinaia said on Tuesday at the International Theological Symposium in…

Oct 12, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox scholars and hierarchs review decade since Holy and Great Council of Crete

An international conference examining the Holy and Great Council of Crete began in Chantilly, France, on Monday, 5 October, marking the tenth anniversary of the landmark Orthodox Church gathering. The International Scientific Conference, titled The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church (2016–2026): Assessment and Prospects, was organised by the Ecumenical Patriarchate and ran…

Oct 12, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

International theology symposium in Bucharest examines challenges facing Christian families

The International Theological Symposium, titled “The Christian Family – Light and Witness in Contemporary Society”, opened on Tuesday in the Patriarch Teoctist Aula Magna at the Palace of the Patriarchate in Bucharest. Among those attending were His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel; Fr Wilhelm Dancă, Vice-President of the Romanian Academy and representative of its President, Marius Andruh;…

Oct 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox community in Japan completes iconostasis at cemetery church

Romanians in Japan are continuing work on the church at the country’s first Orthodox cemetery, which they established in Minami-Alps, Yamanashi Prefecture. “Today, we managed to complete the iconostasis and install the icons painted in Romania by Andrei Neguș,” Fr Daniel Corîu of the Romanian Orthodox Parish in Tokyo reported on social media. The church’s…

Oct 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel urges Romanian clergy in Serbia to preserve identity and strengthen Orthodox cooperation

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel received a delegation of clergy from the Diocese of Dacia Felix at the Patriarchal Residence on Thursday. The delegation was led by Fr Boian Alexandrovici, Romanian Orthodox Vicar of the Timok Valley. The delegation included Fr Doru Ovidiu Ursu, secretary of the vicariate and the Deanery of Bor and Lăpușnea; Fr…

Oct 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate voices concern over proposed decriminalisation of drug possession for personal use

The Romanian Patriarchate notes with concern the draft legislation proposing to decriminalise certain offences related to possessing drugs for personal use and believes any changes in this area must prioritise protecting the gift of life, personal health, and the well-being of families and communities. Particular attention must be paid to children and young people, who…

Oct 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu