Aurelian Iftimiu

Four year anniversary of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church

Four years ago, on June 16, began the writing of ‘a new chapter in the history of the Church’ as Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew called the meeting of the Local Orthodox Churches that took place on the island of Crete. The Council took place from June 16 to June 26, 2016, at the Orthodox Academy of…

Jun 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate welcomes Government’s decision to resume regular worship inside churches

‘The Romanian Patriarchate received with joy the intensely awaited and fully justified decision of the authorities to allow the celebration of religious services inside the churches, with the participation of the faithful, in compliance with clear and still necessary regulations,” the Patriarchate’s spokesman Vasile Bănescu told Basilica.ro Tuesday. The decision to allow religious services to…

Jun 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Women in the Byzantine music – Exclusive interview with presbytera Paula Cautis, conductor of Filomelos choir

For almost 13 years, Filomelos Byzantine Women’s choir from Borzeşti has occupied a special place in the hearts of Byzantine music lovers. Presbytera Paula Cautiş, the conductor of the Byzantine choir, told the story of the Filomelos Choir in an interview with Basilica.ro. How it all started? How they overcame obstacles? But also, what are…

Jun 18, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Google Bucharest fined for renaming of Romania’s National Cathedral on Google Maps

Google Bucharest was sanctioned on Wednesday by the National Council for Combating Discrimination (CNCD) for not taking any action concerning the blasphemous renaming of the Romanian People’s Salvation Cathedral on Google Maps. The name of the new church was left as “Cathedral of the Stupidity of the Nation” in the app for several days. The…

Jun 18, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s new ambassador to Israel visits Romanian Patriarchate’s representation to Jerusalem

Romania’s newly appointed ambassador to Israel, Radu Ioanid, visited the headquarters of the Romanian Patriarchate’s representation in Jerusalem where he met with the V. Rev. Archimandrite Teofil Anastasoaie on Monday, June 15. “After a break of three years in which the position of ambassador was vacant, we are glad that it was finally decided that…

Jun 18, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

The life of the Church during the pandemic: Photo Gallery

The deepest liturgical period this year in Romania corresponded to the state of emergency due to the spread of the new Coronavirus. In the first phase, it was forbidden to officiate services in closed spaces, then the participation of the faithful was not allowed at all in the divine worship. The pain was all the…

Jun 17, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

For 12 years, Basilica.ro

June 16 marks the 12th anniversary of Basilica.ro, the only news agency belonging to an Orthodox Autocephalous Church. This unique project began as a news aggregator selecting articles from the Dioceses of the Romanian Patriarchate. Information was taken en masse directly from the source, with little intervention on form or content. After joining social media,…

Jun 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam at St Anthimos Monastery: Don’t run after fleeting things, chase holiness instead!

The patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti urged Sunday to set the sanctification of our lives above all personal ideals. His Grace presided over the Divine Liturgy at St Anthimos Monastery in Bucharest on the front steps of the church dedicated to the Synaxis of All Saints. Bishop Varlaam said we should chase holiness by…

Jun 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Timișoara Archdiocese donates house to victim of domestic violence with 5 children

Just days after the Huși Diocese of the Romanian Orthodox Church donated three houses to disadvantaged families as part of their “Joy is Home” project, the Archdiocese of Timișoara is doing the same. In the village of Babșa in Timiș County, the Archdiocese bought and donated a house to a mother with five children who…

Jun 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel on Sunday of All Saints: This is the most beautiful holiday regarding Church communion

During his sermon on Sunday, June 14, 2020, the Patriarch of Romania stressed the beauty of the diversity and unity in the Church. These are illustrated by the example of the Saints of all times, including those in the future, from all places, of all ages and different social ranks, the known and unknown.  ‘This…

Jun 15, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Celebration of services inside places of worship is fully justified – Patriarchate’s Spokesperson

The spokesman of the Romanian Patriarchate said Thursday that ‘the rapid return to the celebration of religious services inside the places of worship (with the implicit observance of the rules of physical distancing and sanitation of the liturgical spaces as established by the competent authorities) is already fully justified and adequate to the current Romanian…

Jun 12, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu