Aurelian Iftimiu

African metropolitan urges faithful to follow St. John Jacob’s example at Romanian seminary feast

“The saints gather us together today. We have come to celebrate a saint—St. John Jacob—who was also a man, yet his eyes were always fixed on God,” Metropolitan Chariton of Kananga of the Patriarchate of Alexandria and All Africa said on Wednesday during the patronal feast of the Theological Seminary at Neamț Monastery. His Eminence…

Aug 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarch Daniel marks 39 years since monastic tonsure

His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, received the monastic tonsure 39 years ago at the age of 36. His monastic sponsor was St. Cleopas of Sihăstria, one of the great spiritual elders of Romanian Orthodoxy, who was canonised by the Holy Synod in 2024. The monastic tonsure took place at Sihăstria Monastery…

Aug 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Hermit Saints to adorn National Cathedral’s underground chapel, creating ‘monastic cell atmosphere’

The underground chapel of Romania’s National Cathedral will feature numerous Romanian monastic saints, including hermits who lived and prayed in caves. On Wednesday, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Paisie of Sinaia said the chapel “will create the atmosphere of a monastic cell.” Speaking at the National Cathedral Chapel on the feast of St. John Jacob the New…

Aug 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bucharest theology dean participates in world’s leading New Testament studies meeting

Fr. Cosmin Pricop, Dean of the “Patriarch Justinian” Faculty of Orthodox Theology at the University of Bucharest, participated in the 80th Annual Meeting of the Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (SNTS), the world’s most prestigious international association dedicated to New Testament studies. The meeting was held from July 28 to August 1 at Durham University in…

Aug 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian initiative launches 40 diaspora events to strengthen ties with expatriates

Romanian entrepreneurs’ network RePatriot will organise more than 40 events for Romanians living abroad this August as part of its annual “Diaspora Days” initiative. According to a press release issued by RePatriot, the campaign, launched ten years ago, is based on the conviction that “Romanians living abroad should not be sought only when they return…

Aug 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Assyrian Patriarch Mar Awa III makes first visit to Romania for Syriac studies congress

His Holiness Mar Awa III, Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East, made his first-ever visit to Romania from August 3 to 7. According to a press release from the Levant Institute, the visit took place in conjunction with the 14th World Congress for Syriac Studies and the 12th International Conference on Christian Arabic…

Aug 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

World Syriac Congress opens in Bucharest, highlights Christian heritage and peacebuilding

More than 400 scholars, religious leaders, and academics from 35 countries assembled on Monday for the opening of the World Syriac Congress and the International Conference on Arab Christian Studies in Bucharest. The opening ceremony took place in the Ion I. C. Brătianu Hall of the Palace of Parliament. Cătălin-Ștefan Popa, Director General of the…

Aug 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Nicolae highlights St. John Jacob’s ties to Romanian Orthodox faithful in America

Metropolitan Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at the Romanian Orthodox Protection of the Mother of God Monastery in Allegan, Michigan, where he highlighted St. John Jacob of Neamț’s connection with Romanian Orthodox faithful in North America. The service marked the monastery’s early celebration of St.…

Aug 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Fr. John Breck recalls first encounter with Orthodoxy: “At last, I had come home”

Fr. John Breck, a priest of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), recalled his first encounter with Orthodoxy in an interview published by Words to Youth, a magazine edited by Putna Monastery. “I had a very profound feeling and the conviction that, at last, I had come home,” the American priest said. Fr. Breck explained…

Aug 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel blesses reliquary for newly canonised nuns of Văratec Monastery

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church blessed on Monday the reliquary that will house the relics of the newly canonised Venerable Mothers Nazaria, Olympias, and Elizabeth (Safta) Brâncoveanu of Văratec Monastery. The service took place at the historic St. George Chapel of the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest. The silver reliquary was crafted…

Aug 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

UNESCO adds Sebastia archaeological site in West Bank to World Heritage List

UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee has inscribed the archaeological site of Sebastia in the West Bank on the World Heritage List. The decision was adopted during the Committee’s 48th session, held in Busan, South Korea. More than three millennia of continuous habitation According to the nomination dossier, Sebastia has been continuously inhabited for more than 3,000…

Aug 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu