Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s Transylvania, on National Geographic’s list of destinations on the rise for 2021

For families increasingly tethered to technology, a future farm stay here would be a chance to unplug, to spend time instead traveling by horse-drawn cart, hiking in the wooded Carpathian Mountains, and helping with chores like milking sheep, collecting eggs, and piling haystacks, says National Geographic about a future holiday in Transylvania in an article…

Nov 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Cluj Orthodox Cathedral lit teal joining WHO strategy to accelerate elimination of cervical cancer

The Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral in Cluj-Napoca glowed teal on Tuesday night for Cervical Cancer elimination. The Metropolis of Cluj, Maramures and Salaj has joined the first-ever global commitment to eliminate a cancer initiated by the World Health Organization. The event was organized by the “Prof. Ion Chiricuta” Oncological Institute in Cluj-Napoca in partnership with the…

Nov 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

10 Saints Gregory in the calendar: How to tell them apart

The name Gregory is mentioned ten times in the calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church, four of which in November. Every time this name is linked to a saintly person who embraced the monastic life. Etymologically, the name Gregory comes from Greek and it means ‘vigilant,’ ‘watchful,’ ‘alert.’ The name also became associated with Latin grex (stem greg–)…

Nov 18, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

The Week in Pictures: November 9 – 15, 2020

Last week’s selection of pictures is marked by colourful autumn landscapes, church celebrations and joyful communion. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post:   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Basilica News Agency (@basilica.ro) Do you want to be featured in our weekly selection of photos? We would gladly include one of your…

Nov 17, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

New church to be built in Căușeni in honour of Holy Brâncoveanu Martyrs

The Bishop of Southern Bessarabia laid the foundation stone for a new church in honour of the Holy Brâncoveanu Martyrs in Căușeni, Republic of Moldova, during a ceremony held Tuesday, Nov. 10. The Orthodox parish operates in a temporary place of worship, a chapel built in 2014. This is currently the only church in the…

Nov 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel welcomes new French Ambassador to Romania

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed the new French Ambassador to Romania Laurence Auer at his patriarchal residence on Monday, November 16, 2020. The Patriarch of Romania wished success to Mrs Laurence Auer at the beginning of her diplomatic mission in our country and appreciated Her Excellency’s rich diplomatic, cultural and educational experience. The French Ambassador…

Nov 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

PHOTO: Infographic of Innocence wants to “change the gloomy way of referring to December ’89”

On the green space next to the Kretzulescu Church in Bucharest, 1166 electric candles in the form of calla lilies “burned” every evening between November 8 and 15, in memory of the victims of the 1989 Revolution. The project called “Infographic of Innocence” was the idea of Funky Citizens Association. Designer Răzvan Pascu said that…

Nov 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Banat Metropolitan sends ‘vital message to divided society’: Adoration of the Magi is a call to unity and cooperation

In a message considered vital to a divided society, the Metropolitan of Banat referred to the adoration of Baby Jesus by the Magi as an impetus for unity, communion, and cooperation. “The Nativity of the Lord is an event that has blessed the history of the human race. The coming and the adoration of the…

Nov 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

2020 Romfilatelia Christmas stamps show National Cathedral mosaic of Virgin Mary

Two special stamps have been issued by Romfilatelia for Christmas this year, with the designs telling the story of the Annunciation of the Theotokos and the Nativity of the Lord through mosaic icons. The stamps see Virgin Mary receiving the good news of Christ’s incarnation from the Archangel Gabriel and Mary cradling the new-born Jesus…

Nov 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel expresses great sorrow and condolences after Piatra Neamț hospital fire

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on Saturday night expressed his condolences to the families of those who died in a fire that broke out at a hospital treating COVID-19 patients in Piatra Neamț. Patriarch Daniel’s message: full text We learned with great sorrow about the tragedy caused by the fire in the Intensive Care Unit at…

Nov 15, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Nativity Fast begins: “Let us prepare our souls to become the cave in which Christ will be mystically born”

On the first day of the Nativity Fast, Sunday, November 15, 2020, Patriarch Daniel explained that we should use his fasting season as a time for preparing our souls to become a luminous cave in which Christ the Lord will be mystically born. “To the merciful love of God Who sent His only Son in…

Nov 15, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu