Aurelian Iftimiu

Saint Joseph the Merciful stood out through self-sacrifice, Bishop of Southern Bessarabia says

“He distinguished himself through self-sacrifice, but especially through mercy and the care he had for the Church and its servants,” Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia said Tuesday about Saint Joseph the Merciful at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iasi. „He was one of the worthy hierarchs who pastored this metropolis,” Bishop Veniamin said about St Joseph…

Jan 29, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate marks 162nd anniversary of Romanian Principalities’ Union

Several ceremonies including a solemn Divine Liturgy, a Te Deum service and a wreath-laying ceremony were held Sunday on the Patriarchate’s Hill in Bucharest to mark the 162nd founding anniversary of the Union of the Romanian Principalities. Attending the ceremonies, Patriarch Daniel spoke about the contribution of the Romanian Orthodox Church to ‘this fundamental act…

Jan 28, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate blesses and supports communion of Romanians everywhere: Patriarch Daniel

In a message occasioned by the 162nd anniversary of the Union of the Romanian Principalities, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel stressed that “the Romanian Patriarchate blesses and supports the communion of Romanians everywhere.” The message has three main topics including the declaration of 2021 as a Solemn Year of the pastoral care of Romanians outside Romania,…

Jan 26, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox high school students lay garland of red carnations on Eminescu’s shoulders to mark National Culture Day

The students of the Orthodox Pedagogical High School “Anastasia Popescu” in Bucharest continued this year the tradition of placing a garland of red carnations on the shoulders of the statue of Mihai Eminescu in front of the Romanian Athenaeum to mark Romania’s National Culture Day. Prof. Monica Șerbănescu, the director of the high school, posted…

Jan 21, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

It is unnatural and unworthy when we do not thank God for the gift of life and health: Patriarch Daniel

“It is unnatural and unworthy when we do not thank God for the gift of life and health and the benefits received from Him and when we do not thank the benefactors who helped us in life in various difficult times,” Patriarch Daniel said during his sermon last Sunday. In his speech at the Chapel…

Jan 21, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

When culture is inspired by worship, it opens up to eternity: Patriarch Daniel on National Culture Day

In his message on Romania’s National Culture Day, Patriarch Daniel referred to the connection between worship and culture but also stressed the liturgical and cultural value of cemeteries. “When religious worship bore fruit in culture, it opened up to universality; and when the culture was inspired by worship, it opened up to eternity,” His Beatitude…

Jan 16, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Table Tennis Cadet World Champion: I’ve always enjoyed going to church

14-year old Darius Movileanu is the first and only athlete in Europe to win the Table Tennis World Cadet Championship. Besides being a successful athlete, Darius is close to the Church. “I have been singing in the church choir since I was very young. I’ve always liked coming to church and chant,” Darius told Pro…

Jan 13, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Banat Metropolitan celebrates name day by sending gifts to Timișoara prison, neuropsychiatric hospitals

On the feast of Saint John the Baptist, Metropolitan Ioan of Banat turned his attention to the inmates of Timișoara’s prison. Ten prisoners selected with the help of the penitentiary management received a financial aid from the Metropolitan. Five of the detainees are called John, the Metropolis of Banat noted. The money granted was transferred…

Jan 13, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Ieronim of Sinaia ordains clergy at Romanian Athonite Skete of Honourable Forerunner

The patriarchal auxiliary bishop Ieronim of Sinaia visited the Romanian Skete of the Honourable Forerunner (Prodromos) on Mount Athos for the feast of the Nativity of the Lord according to the unrevised Julian calendar. During the festive Divine Liturgy on Christmas Day, His Grace Bishop Ieronim ordained hierodeacon Teofil Covaci to the priesthood and monk…

Jan 13, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Factbox: Church and Romanian Diaspora today

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church declared 2021 a Solemn Year of the pastoral care of Romanians outside Romania. Why is pastoral care of the diaspora so important and under what conditions does it take place? The term diaspora refers to members of an ethnic group who leave their place of origin and…

Jan 8, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

They are the Patron Saints of Romanians outside Romania

Whether they are part of the Romanian communities in the vicinity of the country’s borders, or whether they have gone to work, study or settled permanently in other places than their homeland, Romanian Orthodox believers are in the care of the Church on all meridians of the globe. “Romanians outside Romania” are generically named by…

Jan 8, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu