Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchate’s Spokesperson Bănescu comments on EU recommendations regarding Christmas ceremonies: They can’t impose anything

Vasile Bănescu, the spokesman of the Romanian Patriarchate, commented on the recommendations of the European Commission Christmas services should be replaced with online ceremonies. “The European Commission does not decide and cannot impose anything in the essential sphere of religion; it can only issue recommendations (!) related to encouraging and intensifying protection from the new…

Dec 3, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch of Romania: We have never received something as a gift in our history. Everything was obtained through sacrifice

‘The union of Romanians in a single national unitary state was accomplished after centuries of suffering, many spiritual and material sacrifices, sacrifices of human lives,’ Patriarch Daniel stressed during a Te Deum service at the Patriarchal Cathedral celebrating Romania’s National Day on Tuesday. The Patriarch underlined that Romania’s Great Union was not a random event,…

Dec 1, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Authentic church calendars are not convertible into election material

The Romanian Patriarchate was surprised to learn that during the election campaign a political entity printed, in order to offer citizens as electoral material, Christian-Orthodox calendars that contain not only a political logo, but also liturgical and typicon mistakes, omissions or erroneous inscriptions of some recently canonized Romanian saints and of some religious holidays. Beyond…

Nov 26, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

In brief: 10 things you need to know about the National Cathedral

The need to build a National Cathedral in Bucharest was considered after the War of Independence and the proclamation of Romania as a Kingdom. King Carol I passed a law on this endeavour in 1884. The original place of the Cathedral was established by Patriarch Miron in 1929: at the base of the Hill of…

Nov 26, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

St John the New’s relics tour Suceava County to ward off coronavirus

The holy relics of Saint John the New of Suceava toured the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți at the beginning of this week ‘to bring again the belief that we are not alone and that the saints protect us and intercede with God on our behalf,’ assistant bishop Damaschin of Dorna noted in a message…

Nov 26, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian President promulgates law declaring anti-communist ‘martyr city’ in Maramureş

President Klaus Iohannis promulgated the law by which the city of Dragomireşti in Maramureş County was declared a “martyr city” of the anti-communist struggle, the presidency announced on Nov. 13. The Senate adopted the bill, as the first forum notified, on April 23, the Chamber of Deputies voted decisively on October 20. “As a sign…

Nov 24, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

2 years since the Romanians’ Cathedral was dedicated to the Union, the Ascension, the Heroes, the Saints

Wednesday, November 25, 2020, marks 2 years since the historic moment of the consecration of the National Cathedral. The consecration of the cathedral in the Centennial Year meant its dedication first to God and the Holy Apostle Andrew, then to the nation under their protection: the heroes who gave their souls for the country, the…

Nov 24, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Daniil of Dacia Felix: We stand with our Orthodox Serbian brothers and we pray for the rest of Patriarch Irinej’s soul

Speaking at Radio Trinitas, His Grace Bishop Daniil, administrator of the Diocese of Dacia Felix, a Romanian Diocese headquartered in Vršac, Serbia, said that Romanians are praying for and stand with the Orthodox Serbians everywhere after the repose of Patriarch Irinej. He said that the Patriarch began his ministry “in the parts of the Daco-Roman…

Nov 23, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Irinej memorial service: We remember him among the great hierarchs who served the Church

After the Sunday Divine Liturgy celebrated outside of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova officiated a memorial service for the late Patriarch Irinej of Serbia. “We pray, in the spirit of the fraternal ties that exist between all the Orthodox Churches, for the rest of his soul, for the forgiveness of…

Nov 23, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel offers prayers for rest of Patriarch Irinej’s soul

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel officiated a memorial service at St George’s Chapel of his patriarchal residence for the rest of the soul of Serbian Patriarch Irinej on Sunday. “The way in which he led the Serbian Orthodox Church strengthened its major role in the life of Serbian society, thus, contributing to the rapprochement of the…

Nov 23, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Irinej laid to rest at Church of St Sava – VIDEO/PHOTO

After three days of national mourning, Serbian Patriarch Irinej was laid to rest at the Church of Saint Sava on Sunday, being the first Serbian Primate to be buried in the iconic place of worship in Belgrade. The Romanian Orthodox Church was represented by Fr Emanuel Tapalaga, vicar of Vojvodina (Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Dacia…

Nov 23, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu