Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania introduces National Reading Day

Romania will mark the National Day of Reading on February 15, according to a law promulgated on January 14 by president Klaus Iohannis. On this day, museums, public libraries and educational and cultural institutions will run various activities aimed at encouraging reading. These can range from book collection and donation events to reading and creative writing…

Jan 28, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

When does Great Lent 2022 start?

Great Lent begins on Monday, March 7, 2022. Also called Quadragesima or Tessaracoste, Great Lent is a 40-day season of spiritual preparation that comes before the Feast of Holy Pascha or the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, which falls on April 24. Two of the three hesychast saints commemorated by the Romanian Patriarchate in…

Jan 27, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia Metropolitan urges prayer for peace

The Metropolis of Bessarabia is following with concern the situation on the borders of Ukraine, where peace is fragile, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru said. “Tensions in the immediate vicinity of the Republic of Moldova threaten not only Ukraine but also the whole of Europe, which has only recently broken the iron curtain drawn after World…

Jan 26, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Saint Alexander’s relics offered to Bucharest retirement home chapel

Bishop Galaction of Alexandria and Teleorman donated a particle of the relics of St. Alexander of Constantinople to the chapel of the Luxab Retirement Home in Bucharest. The hierarch celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Luxab together with His Grace Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova on Sunday, January 16, 2022. “In doing good, let us not…

Jan 26, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

In pictures: Helsinki Uspenski Cathedral hosts episcopal consecration for first time in over 50 years

The former abbot of Valaam Monastery, Archimandrite Sergei Rayapolvi, became the first bishop ordained at Helsinki’s Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral since 1969. The Divine Liturgy and the ordination were celebrated on Sunday, January 16, 2022, by Archbishop Leo of Helsinki and All Finland, Metropolitan Arseni of Kuopio and Karelia, and Metropolitan Elia of Oulu.…

Jan 26, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel prays for Romania’s national unity, peaceful coexistence and dignified cooperation with other peoples

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on Monday officiated a Te Deum service at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, marking the 163rd anniversary of the Union of the Romanian Principalities. At the end of the service, the Patriarch reminded that on January 24, 1859, the works of the Electoral Assembly of Muntenia, which elected Prince Alexandru Ioan…

Jan 25, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

30 Quotes from Patriarch Daniel on Prayer

Without prayer, there is no Church and no Christian life, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel emphasized on the first day of 2022, a year when the Romanian Patriarchate pays homage to prayer in the Church’s life and the Christian’s life. “When we lose the joy and peace of the soul, it is a sure sign that…

Jan 19, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Spain’s Romanian Bishop meets with Apostolic Nuncio Bernardito Auza

His Grace Bishop Timotei of Spain and Portugal met with Monsignor Bernardito Cleopas Auza, Apostolic Nuncio to the Kingdom of Spain and the Principality of Andorra. During the meeting on January 4, the two discussed several issues of common interest for the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church and society as a whole. Among the…

Jan 14, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

2021 with Patriarch Daniel: Visits, events, and memorable messages

Although, for the most part, public events were affected by the pandemic, the agenda of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel was busy in 2021. He made fewer trips last year than before, but significant events took place under possible conditions. There were also official meetings and visits and resonant messages in various social contexts. Visit to…

Jan 14, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

140th anniversary of repose of St Antipas the Athonite of Calapodești celebrated in Roman

Saint Antipas of Calapodești was honoured at the Cathedral in Roman with an all-night vigil and Divine Liturgy. This year marked the 140th anniversary of the blessed repose of Saint Antipas, the patron saint of a chapel of the Archdiocesan Cathedral in Roman, Neamt County. “Saint Antipas is also present and honoured in the synaxaria…

Jan 13, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s Ambassador to Bulgaria meets with His Beatitude Patriarch Neophyte

Romania’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Brândușa Predescu, met on Tuesday with His Beatitude Patriarch Neophyte at the headquarters of the Orthodox Metropolis in Sofia, the Bulgarian Patriarchate announced. The meeting was also attended by Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, Secretary of the Holy Synod, Bishop Polycarp of Belogradchik, Vicar of the Metropolis of Sofia, and Father Neluțu…

Jan 13, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu