Aurelian Iftimiu

Prayers for peace recommended by Patriarch Daniel: full text

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel has recommended special petitions and prayers for peace that can be included in church services and private prayer. The texts have been proposed by the Liturgical Books Department of the Publishing House of the Romanian Patriarchate. They will be submitted to the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church for approval.…

Mar 18, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

The Week in Pictures: March 7 – 13, 2022

We invite you to view a selection of photos from around the world taken during the first week of Lent. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post:   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Basilica News Agency (@basilica.ro) Do you want to be featured in our weekly selection of photos? We would gladly…

Mar 16, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Cluj Metropolitan remembers anti-communist political prisoners at Gherla Memorial

On the feast of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste, the day the former anti-communist political prisoners in Romania are commemorated, Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj prayed for their souls at the monastic settlement at Gherla Memorial. The memorial service for the anti-communist political prisoners was held on Cărămidăriei Hill, near the anonymous cemetery with common…

Mar 15, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste honoured at Bucharest Monastery: “Martyrdom means love and its perpetuation”

The Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste were honoured at Bucharest’s St Anthimos Monastery, where particles of their relics, donated by Patriarch Nicodemus of Jerusalem 139 years ago, are displayed for veneration. The festal Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts was celebrated by the monastery’s abbot Protosyncellus Vicențiu Oboroceanu. During his sermon, the abbot referred to the…

Mar 15, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Day of anti-communist political prisoners; military, religious ceremony at ‘Wings’ monument in Bucharest

A military and religious ceremony was organized, last week on the Day of anti-communist political prisoners in the 1944-1989 period, at the monument called “Wings” (Aripi) in Bucharest’s Free Press Square.  The event, organized by the State Secretariat for recognizing the merits of fighters against the communist regime installed in Romania between 1945-1989, started with…

Mar 15, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Humanitarian aid for Ukraine war victims provided by the Romanian Orthodox Church

Against the dramatic background of the outbreak of war in Ukraine and the humanitarian catastrophe it has caused, the Romanian Orthodox Church has been mobilized since the early days of this conflict unleashed by Russia against an independent and sovereign country, providing considerable aid to Ukrainian refugees who arrived on the territory of Romania, in…

Mar 14, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

This is how the Orthodox Church in Finland reacted to the war in Ukraine

Right after Russia attacked Ukraine, the organizations of priests and chanters of the Orthodox Church of Finland, along with the Orthodox Youth Association of Finland and lay organizations, made a joint appeal to the worshippers of the Church to collect funds for Ukrainian refugees through Filantropia ry, the international aid organization of the Orthodox Church…

Mar 9, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Western Europe Metropolitan Iosif meets with Romanian Ambassador to London

During his pastoral visit to Great Britain, His Eminence Metropolitan Iosif of Western and Southern Europe had a meeting with the Ambassador of Romania in London, Her Excellency Laura Popescu, on Friday, March 4, 2022. The meeting took place at the headquarters of the Romanian diplomatic mission. “I was happy to meet with His Eminence…

Mar 8, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Irineu on Women’s Day: feminine delicacy and courage are symphonically intertwined in a Christian woman

On International Women’s Day, the Archbishop of Alba Iulia sent a congratulatory message to every Christian woman: “At the gate of her heart stands conscience as a guard, and only duty passes beyond the threshold of her heart,” Archbishop Irineu noted in his message. By a “trustworthy saying” (2 Tim. 2:10), the woman, through her…

Mar 8, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Land welcomes first Romanian pilgrims after two-year hiatus

After a two-year hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, Israel welcomed its first Romanian pilgrims on March 1. The first pilgrimage to the holy sites in Jerusalem was organized by the Romanian Patriarchate’s Basilica Travel Agency. Romanian pilgrims visited the Monastery of Saint George of Choziba, where the relics of St. John Jacob of Neamţ…

Mar 8, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Banat Metropolitan Ioan, Hungarian Ambassador Botond Zákonyi discuss Ukraine refugee situation

On Monday, the Hungarian Ambassador to Romania was welcomed by Metropolitan Ioan of Banat at the Diocesan Center in Timișoara. Among the topics discussed was the transit of refugees from Ukraine, a common concern of Hungary and Romania. The meeting took place at the request of His Excellency Ambassador Botond Zákonyi, in the context of…

Mar 8, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu