Aurelian Iftimiu

National Cathedral’s towers become scaffolding-free: PHOTOS

The towers of the National Cathedral in Bucharest are partly free of scaffolding in the areas where the stone cladding and exterior plastering were completed. Here are the latest pictures taken by the Basilica News Agency’s photographer. Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu Follow us on Twitter: @BasilicaPhotos

Feb 7, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Gurie Georgiu named honorary citizen of Deva

Three months after his repose, Bishop Gurie Georgiu was awarded posthumous citizenship of Deva. The ceremony was held after the clergy-laity assembly of the Diocese of Deva and Hunedoara on January 27. The new shepherd of Deva and Hunedoara, His Grace Bishop Nestor officiated a memorial service for his predecessor at the Diocesan Centre in…

Feb 7, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Transylvania Metropolitan commemorates greatest Romanian philanthropist Emanuil Gojdu

The Metropolitan of Transylvania commemorated Romania’s most outstanding philanthropist Emanuil Gojdu on the 152nd anniversary of his repose during a memorial service in Sibiu last week. The memorial service was held in front of Emanuil Gojdu’s statue in Sibiu’s ASTRA Park in the presence of university professors, representatives of the ASTRA County Library in Sibiu…

Feb 7, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania feels like second home for Kenyan priest: “It really is a holy place with loving, friendly and welcoming people”

Priest Habil Lipesa Omukuba from Kenya says Romania has become his second home. In an interview for a local publication in Sibiu, Turnul Sfatului (Council Tower), the Kenyan priest confessed that he saw snow for the first time during his visit to Romania. He also learned to cook sarmale (cabbage rolls). He also talked about…

Feb 1, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate’s representative to Cyprus awarded Order of Cultural Merit by President Iohannis

The Romanian Patriarchate’s representative to Cyprus, Fr. Matei Petre, received an order of cultural merit from the President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis, in recognition of his efforts to consolidate Romanian spirituality and culture in the Republic of Cyprus. The President of Romania signed the decoration decree for the Rev. Stavrophore Fr. Matei Petre on January…

Jan 28, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

PHOTOS: Works resume at Romania’s National Cathedral after holiday pause

After a pause for the feasts of the Nativity and the Baptism of the Lord, works were resumed on the construction site of the National Cathedral at the beginning of January. Due to unfavourable weather conditions caused by strong winds and very low temperatures, the works outside the cathedral were temporarily suspended. At the interior,…

Jan 28, 2022Aurelian 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