Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox students pray for power and strength to profess true faith at Fr Dumitru Staniloae’s tomb

Marking Father Dumitru Staniloae’s 27 year memorial anniversary, the members of the Romanian Orthodox Christian Students Association (ASCOR) gathered at Cernica Monastery ‘to pray for the rest of the soul of the reverend professor and his generation, but also to receive power and strength to profess the true faith and fulfil our role in society,…

Oct 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Bucharest Orthodox Students Association commemorates Fr Dumitru Staniloae at Cernica Monastery: Basilica Photos

Bucharest’s Romanian Orthodox Christian Students Association (ASCOR) prayerfully remembered father Dumitru Staniloae during a memorial service held at the great theologian’s tomb at Cernica Monastery on Saturday, October 10, 2020. Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Raluca Ene Follow us on Twitter: @BasilicaNews & @BasilicaPhotos

Oct 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

When images meet holiness: The holy relics of Saint Demetrios the New

The Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest keeps a very important gift of Romanians: the holy relics of Saint Demetrios the New, Protector of Bucharest. Received from General Pyotr Saltykov, the holy relics have been blessing Romanians for over 240 years. In 1786, the relics of St. Demetrios were placed in a wooden reliquary, clad in silver…

Oct 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Church and religious art represent true cultural landmarks: CultMin Gheorghiu

‘The Church and the religious art in Northeastern Romania represent true cultural landmarks that attract visitors from all over the world,’ Romania’s Minister of Culture Bogdan Gheorghiu wrote on Facebook, AGERPRES reports. The statement was made following a meeting of the minister with a delegation of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Radauti, held at the…

Oct 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

New priest ordained in Bucharest for Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate

The patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti performed the ordination to the priesthood of Deacon Gheorghe Chascear during the Divine Liturgy at St Anthimos Monastery in Bucharest on Sunday, October 11, 2020. Father Gheorghe Chascear is of Ukrainian origin and will serve at Campulung la Tisa parish within the Romanian Patriarchate’s Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate. ‘We…

Oct 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Ordination to the Priesthood at St Anthimos Monastery: Photo Gallery

On Sunday, October 11, 2020, the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St Anthimos Monastery in Bucharest, during which he ordained a priest for the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate. Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu Follow us on Twitter: @BasilicaPhotos

Oct 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

St Paisios of Neamt has founded a school of spirituality for whole Orthodoxy, Patriarch Daniel says during reliquary blessing service

Patriarch Daniel on Thursday blessed a processional reliquary containing a fragment of the relics of St Paisios of Neamț, saying that the Saint founded a school of spirituality useful for the whole Orthodoxy. St. Paisios of Neamț (Velichkovsky) organized and guided monastic communities at Dragomirna, Secu and Neamț monasteries in Romania. He translated the Philokalia…

Oct 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchate Spokesperson demands respect for most of the good and faithful people of the country: Pilgrimage is the expression of responsible religious freedom

The Romanian Patriarchate’s Spokesperson Vasile Bănescu commented on the decision to ban this year’s pilgrimage from Bucharest, on the patronal feast of the Patriarchal Cathedral. The spokesman reminded that the pilgrimage is a manifestation of religious freedom and that pilgrims and the Romanian Orthodox Church deserve more respect and trust from the authorities. “The rigorously…

Oct 15, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch of Romania calls for Church-State co-responsibility and cooperation to avoid excessive measures

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania has urged co-responsibility and cooperation between the Church and the Romanian State after the pilgrimage to Iasi for the feast of Saint Parascheva was banned for non-locals. Call for co-responsibility and cooperation to avoid excessive constraints: full text The Romanian Patriarchate expresses its full solidarity with all Orthodox believers…

Oct 9, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Teofan warns against religious freedom violations as only locals can venerate relics of St. Parascheva

Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina has warned against the violation of religious freedom rights as authorities decided that only people domiciled in Iași are allowed to enter the Metropolitan Cathedral and venerate the holy relics of Saint Parascheva. “Moldavia is currently living one of the saddest periods in its history.” The Metropolitan released a…

Oct 9, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

To to preserve religious freedom, sanitary measures must be taken with the utmost discernment: Patriarchate’s Spokesperson

The spokesman of the Romanian Patriarchate Vasile Bănescu reacted to the decision by which the National Committee for Emergency Situations (CNSU) announced that organizing events on religious holidays is allowed only with the participation of those who live or reside in that specific locality. The measure was motivated by the fact that the risk of…

Oct 8, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu