Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Damaschin: It was unfair and improper that 50 out of 80 years since the Fântâna Albă Massacre were years of silence

“It was unfair and improper that 50 out of the 80 years since the Fântâna Albă massacre were years of silence,” said His Grace Assistant Bishop Damaschin of Dorna on Thursday during a memorial service held in memory of the approximately 3,000 Romanians killed on April 1, 1941, in the Varnița forest. The Assistant Bishop…

Apr 3, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Football team manager: “I became a practicing Orthodox Christian”

Dinamo Bucharest football team manager, Mario Nicolae, said in a video that he started to put his Orthodox faith into practice. The announcement was made in response to those interested in why he left his hair long and grew a beard. “I became a practicing Orthodox Christian. As I always had to be. I have…

Apr 2, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

The Week in Pictures: March 22-28, 2021

The Feast of the Annunciation brought joy to Orthodox Christians during this period when nature comes back to life. Here is our selection of pictures taken between March 22 and March 28, 2021. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post:   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Basilica News Agency (@basilica.ro) Do you…

Apr 2, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Ambassador David Saranga visits Romanian Patriarchate’s representation in Jerusalem: It is essential to respect religious freedom

Israel’s Ambassador to Romania, David Saranga, visited the Romanian Settlement in Jerusalem on Tuesday, March 30, 2021. The Ambassador was welcomed by the Very Rev. Archimandrite Teofil Anăstăsoaie, the Romanian Patriarchate’s representative to the Holy Land. “The Romanian Church in Jerusalem is a landmark for Israel’s culture,” said Ambassador David Saranga. His Excellency disagreed with…

Apr 2, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Transylvania Metropolitan Laurentiu: Young people who stay chaste before marriage give birth to blessed children

The Metropolitan of Transylvania said that the Christian family is in crisis. The solution is to resist sin through love and solidarity. He urged parents to encourage young people to keep chaste until marriage and called on mothers “to honour the blessed status God has given them at creation, namely to give birth to children.”…

Apr 1, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

State Secretary Oana Ursache: Inside the church abroad, the Romanian feels at home

The new State Secretary for Romanians Abroad, Oana Ursache, met with the patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti at the Patriarchate’s Palace on Monday, March 29, 2021. The meeting aimed at implementing future projects for the benefit of Romanians abroad and took place at the “Sanctus Iohannes Cassianus” Room. Fr. Nicolae Dascălu, coordinating patriarchal counsellor…

Apr 1, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

80th anniversary of the Fântâna Albă Massacre

April 1 became by law, adopted in 2011, a National Day honouring the memory of Romanians who were the victims of the massacres at Fântâna Albă and other areas, deportations, famine and other forms of repression organized by the totalitarian Soviet regime in Hertza region, northern Bukovina and the whole of Bessarabia. After signing the…

Apr 1, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

A year of philanthropy in a pandemic. Interview with the volunteer coordinator at National Cathedral’s Chapel

The volunteers of the Chapel of the Romanian People’s Salvation Cathedral have been organizing various activities for years to help others. Since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in Romania, they were mobilized and helped those suffering. Dănuţ-Viorel Prună, the volunteer coordinator, told Basilica.ro how the volunteers managed to achieve their goals and come to…

Mar 31, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Let us remain confident that we can survive in one Romanian breath: Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia

In a message occasioned by the 103rd anniversary of the Union of Bessarabia with Romania, on March 27, 2021, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru stressed that the example of the forerunners who accomplished the Union in 1918 “encourages us to remain steadfast and confident, that we can last forever in one Romanian breath, despite the (hopefully…

Mar 29, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel lauds March for Life: It encourages birth, helping families and young pregnant girls

“Especially on this day of the Annunciation, we appreciate and ask for God’s blessing for all families and especially for families that give birth to children,” said the Patriarch of Romania, who lauded the pro-life manifestations in his sermon delivered on Thursday, March 25, 2021, at the chapel of the Patriarchal Residence. For this reason,…

Mar 29, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Job, driver’s license and an understanding wife, these are the criteria for clergy in the diaspora, Metropolitan Iosif says

The challenges faced by Romanian clerics abroad and the specifics of the diaspora’s mission were highlighted by Metropolitan Iosif of Western and Southern Europe in an interview with Radio Trinitas. “To have a driver’s license, to be very mobile, to have an understanding wife,” are some of the criteria that a priest in the diaspora…

Mar 24, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu