Aurelian Iftimiu

30 pictures that captured the life of the Church during the pandemic

Tears, emotion, hope, humble joy and patience characterized the lives of Romanians during the Covid-19 pandemic. Given the special conditions in which the Church’s services took place in the last three months, the Basilica News Agency organized a photography contest entitled “The Life of the Church in Times of Pandemic.” Out of over 400 participants,…

Jul 13, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: The Prodromitissa Icon connects two Gardens of the Mother of God, Athos and Romania

“It is a joy to see that an icon of the Mother of God gathers in the love of the Holy Trinity a lot of people from different parts of the country, but also of different ages,” said His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on Sunday at the summer patronal feast of the National Cathedral’s Chapel. At…

Jul 13, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel remembers St Constantine Brancoveanu as example of faith, source of light on 300th anniversary of translation of blessed relics

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel wrote a message marking the 300th anniversary of the translation to Bucharest of the ‘relics sanctified through martyrdom’ of one of Romania’s most significant leaders, martyrs and saints Constantine Brancoveanu. The message was read out Sunday, July 12, 2020, at St George the New Church in Bucharest, one of Brancoveanu’s foundations.…

Jul 13, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Two candidates head to Holy Synod final election of new Archbishop of Suceava and Rădăuți

The assembly of bishops (synod) of the Metropolis of Moldavia and Bukovina gathered Saturday, July 11, for a working session in Iași during which two candidates were proposed for the vacant episcopal see of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți. The archdiocesan see became vacant after the repose of 90-year old Archbishop Pimen Suceveanul of…

Jul 13, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Feast of Directress Icon of Theotokos celebrated at Neamț Monastery

Monastics and pilgrims gathered Thursday at Neamț Monastery in eastern Romania to celebrate the feast of the Wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God called the Directress. The festive Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Grace Bishop Calinic of Botosani, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Iasi. The day’s sermon was delivered by Fr.…

Jul 10, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Diocese of Australia & New Zealand builds first Romanian Orthodox Monastery in southern hemisphere

The Romanian Diocese of Australia and New Zealand is carrying out a complex project in the Australian state of Victoria, which includes the first Romanian Orthodox monastery in the southern hemisphere, a social and cultural centre, an episcopal chapel and a church dedicated to the Three Holy Romanian Hierarchs Andrew Șaguna, Gregory the Teacher, and…

Jul 10, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate adds its voice: Keep Hagia Sophia a museum

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel told the Ecumenical Patriarch that the Romanian Patriarchate supports the preservation of the current status of the Hagia Sophia Basilica in Constantinople (Istanbul). The status of this symbol for Christianity is being re-discussed in Turkey. The Ecumenical Patriarchate has asked the Turkish authorities to keep the current museum status for the…

Jul 8, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

The Week in Pictures: June 29 – July 5, 2020

Family portraits, church holidays and oases of peace are just some of the images featured in this week’s selection of photographic landmarks. Last week’s most liked picture on Instagram:   View this post on Instagram   *RO: Mănăstirea Putna își sărbătorește joi, 2 iulie 2020, ctitorul și ocrotitorul, pe Sf. Ștefan cel Mare. *EN: Putna…

Jul 7, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Putna Monastery holds celebrations of St Stephen the Great in absence of Abp Pimen for first time

For the first time since the canonization of Ruler Prince Saint Stephen the Great (1992), the Saint’s feast day was celebrated at Putna Monastery in the absence of Archbishop Pimen of Suceava, abbot Melchisedec Velnic noted Thursday. The celebrations took place in special conditions caused by the pandemic. The abbot of Putna also lamented the…

Jul 4, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Blue Quarantine Story: Illustrations by Romanian artist show harsh reality of doctors during coronavirus outbreak

The Romanian artist Luminița Pătrățeanu created mindful illustrations that reflect on the world’s current situation and capture the harsh reality of doctors who sacrifice themselves to take care of people. The illustrations went on display this week at the Municipal Emergency Hospital in Moinesti under the title ‘Blue Quarantine Story.’ The outdoor exhibition was opened…

Jul 3, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Photo Gallery: Patriarch Daniel presides over Divine Liturgy on feast of Holy Apostles Peter and Paul 2020

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church presided over the Divine Liturgy on the feast day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest on Monday, June 29, 2020. Concelebrant for the Divine Liturgy included His Grace Bishop Timotei of Prahova, the assistant bishop to the Archdiocese of…

Jul 1, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu