Aurelian Iftimiu

They protect us in 2022: The Saints who prayed unceasingly to God

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church has decided that 2022 will be the Commemorative Year of the Holy Hesychasts Symeon the New Theologian, Gregory Palamas and Paisius Velichkovsky of Neamț in the Romanian Patriarchate. Hesychasm is an ascetic practice of monastic origin that involves the constant repetition of the Jesus prayer: “Lord, Jesus…

Jan 11, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

2021 Year in Review: Significant decisions of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church

In 2021, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church had three working sessions. In February, the first meeting took place when two assistant bishops were elected for the Archdiocese of Iasi and the Diocese of Deva and Hunedoara. Also, in February, the Synod approved the solemn and commemorative themes for 2022. Last year, one…

Jan 11, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Teodosie performs Great Blessing of Waters on Black Sea shores: “Fear not future waves”

On the feast of Theophany, His Eminence Archbishop Teodosie officiated the Great Blessing of Waters on the seafront at the Tomis Harbour, expressing his hope that we will get through this difficult period: “May we have joy all year long, and let us not be afraid of the future waves. With God, we are above…

Jan 11, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia Metropolitan Petru urges respect for all born and unborn children in his Christmas encyclical

“The Church defends the unborn life because it looks with love to every woman who must give birth to children,” Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia notes in his Christmas encyclical. “God’s sign is the child,” His Eminence explains referring to the sign promised by God to the Prophet Isiah and by the angels to the shepherds.…

Jan 7, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

PHOTOS: The Theophany of the Lord at the Patriarchal Cathedral 2022

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel officiated the great blessing of the waters on the porch of the patriarchal residence in Bucharest on the feast of the Theophany of the Lord, January 6, 2022. Before the blessing service, the festal Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiești at the Patriarchal Cathedral. Photography…

Jan 7, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: The Orthodox does not lock God in the church, but observes His sanctifying work in all creation

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel explained on Wednesday what is the “blessing of the Jordan” asked for during the great blessing of waters on Theophany Eve: it is the sanctifying work of God in His creation. Through His Baptism in the Jordan River, the Saviour sanctifies the whole world. “In conclusion, the Orthodox does not lock…

Jan 7, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

A look back at the Romanian Patriarchate’s main philanthropic work in the second year of the pandemic

Father Ciprian Ion Ioniţă, Coordinating Patriarchal Adviser at the Social-Philanthropic Sector of the Patriarchal Administration, spoke at Radio Trinitas about the philanthropic activities carried out by the Romanian Patriarchate in the second year of the pandemic. Father Ciprian Ioniţă said that throughout this period, “support has been maintained for the medical units involved in the…

Jan 4, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

OrthPhoto releases new photo album exploring European Orthodoxy

The best photographs submitted in the OrthPhoto Awards contest organised last summer were included in a new photo album published by the Publishing House of the Orthodox Metropolis of Warsaw. The album titled “Colours of Orthodoxy. Europe” presents 179 photographs by 109 authors from 18 countries, making it a journey through all of European Orthodoxy.…

Jan 3, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Restoration of Church of the Nativity nears completion

The restoration of the ancient stone church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is nearing completion, although there is still important work to be done. Due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the project to restore this treasured church will take another year to complete. During a recent tour of the church before Christmas, Mazen…

Jan 3, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Photo gallery: Feast of Saint Seraphim of Sarov celebrated in Bucharest

Saint Seraphim of Sarov, one of the most beloved saints of Orthodoxy, was honoured on Sunday, January 2, 2022, at St. Nicholas – Tabacu Church in Bucharest with a Divine Liturgy celebrated by the parish priest Eugeniu Rogoti. In 2017, the place of worship received the reliquary with a fragment of Saint Seraphim’s relics, brought…

Jan 3, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel proclaims 2022 Solemn Year of Prayer, Commemorative Year of Hesychast Saints

The first Divine Liturgy in 2022 at the Patriarchal Cathedral ended with the proclamation of the solemn and commemorative themes of the New Year. Therefore, 2022 was proclaimed a Solemn Year of prayer in the Church’s life and the Christian’s life and a Commemorative Year of the Hesychast Saints Symeon the New Theologian, Gregory Palamas…

Jan 1, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu