Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox abbot in US: Monastic vocation is God’s gift, not human achievement

Archimandrite Ieremia Berbec, abbot of the Romanian Orthodox Monastery of St. Demetrius the New in Middletown, New York, recently gave an interview to a youth magazine edited by Putna Monastery. In his conversation with Iulian Tomeac, former president of ASCOR Suceava, the archimandrite reflected on the meaning of monasticism and how one discerns the calling…

Aug 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Paisie: Christ’s peace is victory over the storm, not the absence of it

“Christ’s peace is not the absence of the storm, but victory over it,” Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Paisie of Sinaia explained on Sunday. “God has not promised us a life without trials, but His presence in every trial.” The Evangelist thus shows that true peace is not simply the disappearance of hardships, but Christ’s presence in…

Aug 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Benedict urges faithful to leave behind ‘the noise of the outside world’ during Dormition Fast

“Let us set aside, for a time, the noise of the outside world, give shape to the power of communion, and bear witness to the joy of our Orthodox faith,” Bishop Benedict of Sălaj said in a message at the beginning of the Dormition Fast. “We are all called—priests, monastics, and faithful alike—to add greater…

Aug 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Macarie urges faithful to entrust families to the Mother of God during Dormition Fast

“Let us entrust our families, our children and young people, our parents and the elderly, the sick and the lonely, our homes, our journeys, our worries, our trials, and all our needs to the Mother of God,” Bishop Macarie of Northern Europe said in a message marking the beginning of the Dormition Fast. The bishop…

Aug 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: The Church overcomes history’s storms only through Christ

“Only Christ saves the praying Church when she finds herself amid the stormy sea of history and in the darkness of times hostile to the light of the Gospel of salvation,” Patriarch Daniel emphasised on Sunday in his sermon on the Gospel reading of Christ calming the storm. “No matter how many worthy ministers the…

Aug 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Mihail introduces Australia’s new assistant Bishop: ‘Together we will renew our ministry’

His Grace Bishop Mihail of Australia and New Zealand introduced the diocese’s first assistant bishop, Iachint of the Pacific, to the faithful on Sunday. The hierarchs concelebrated the Divine Liturgy at the “Life-Giving Spring” Monastery at the Episcopal Residence in Melbourne, Australia. “We hope that, together, we shall serve with great dedication and renew our…

Aug 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Antonie marks 24th anniversary of Metropolis of Bessarabia’s legal recognition

Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia officiated a Te Deum at the St John the Theologian Metropolitan Chapel in Chișinău on Thursday, marking 24 years since the official recognition of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, re-established after the fall of communism. The service was followed by the reading of a message from the metropolitan, who described the anniversary…

Jul 31, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian ambassador to Italy receives patriarchal order of Saint Maria Brâncoveanu

Her Excellency Gabriela Dancău, Romania’s Ambassador to the Italian Republic, received the Order of St Maria Brâncoveanu on Thursday, an honour conferred by Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The ambassador said she dedicates “this distinction to the Romanians in Italy, in whose service I carry out my mandate as ambassador.” The Patriarchal decoration…

Jul 31, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate urges parishes to support people during heatwave

Amid the extremely high temperatures affecting Romania, the Romanian Patriarchate urges all dioceses to provide support to people impacted by the heatwave. Parishes and monasteries are encouraged to distribute drinking water to those in need and to allow people affected by the heat to rest for short periods in shaded and cool areas. Church institutions…

Jul 31, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Atanasie: Dormition Fast calls faithful to rediscover ‘the altar of the heart’

One of the deepest calls of the Dormition Fast is the rediscovery of the altar of the heart, wrote Archbishop Atanasie of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in his pastoral message published at the beginning of the fasting season. “The altar is the place where God and man meet, where God gives Himself to humanity…

Jul 31, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Forty years since the repose of Patriarch Iustin Moisescu: A founder of Romanian theological culture

The Romanian Orthodox Church on Friday marks 40 years since the repose of Patriarch Iustin Moisescu, one of its most distinguished scholars and a major contributor to Romanian theological culture. Patriarch Iustin Moisescu was born on 5 March 1910 in the village of Cândești, Argeș County, Romania. He studied at the War Orphans’ Seminary in…

Jul 31, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu