Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel urges believers to intensify fasting efforts: Turn physical hunger and thirst into hunger and thirst for God

In words following the proclamation of the Gospel reading on Sunday, Patriarch Daniel highlighted the need to intensify the fasting efforts during Lent, noting that this law established in paradise reflects a hunger and thirst for God. ‘To intensify our fasting efforts means to turn our physical hunger and thirst into hunger and thirst for…

Mar 29, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Târgoviște Archdiocese donates vital sign measuring device to county hospital

The Orthodox Archdiocese of Târgoviște Thursday announced that it has purchased a vital sign measuring device that will be donated to the County Emergency Hospital. Fukuda Denshi’s latest patient monitor DS-8100N cost about 4,343 Euros and will serve the coronavirus patients in Targoviste. The archdiocese’s statement notes that the action “contributes to the national and…

Mar 27, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Matei Balș” thanks Romanian Patriarchate for its material and spiritual support

Romania’s National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr Matei Balș” thanked all those who have shown their willingness to support the institute with donations in money, food, sanitary materials and protective equipment amid Covid-19 outbreak. ‘Thanks to the Romanian Patriarchate for the material and spiritual support,’ the Matei Balș Institute of Infectious Diseases in Bucharest…

Mar 27, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel urges believers to look after mental health amid coronavirus outbreak. Mother of God is of great help

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel Wednesday celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the St George chapel of his patriarchal residence in Bucharest to mark the feast of the Annunciation. During his sermon, the Patriarch referred to the Akathist Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos and the special prayer placed at the end of the Akathist Hymn. “This…

Mar 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

The Week in Pictures: March 16 – 22, 2020

As the coronavirus pandemic brings the global lifestyle to a change, the Orthodox Church reorganized its worship in compliance with the recommendations of the authorities. Here is our selection of photos from the Orthodox world taken between March 16 and 22, 2020. Follow us on Twitter: @BasilicaNews Follow us on Instagram: @basilica.ro We would gladly include one…

Mar 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian faithful to jointly pray from their homes daily at noon

The Chancellery of the Holy Synod has announced a new program of prayer in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, beginning March 25, on the feast of the Annunciation, calling upon all faithful to join one another in common prayer daily at noon, each from his own home, while church and monastery bells ring out…

Mar 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

New measures regarding church services and social activities

Based on the Military Ordinance no. 1 of March 17, 2020, and the Military Ordinance 2 of March 21, 2020, which established successive measures to limit the freedom of movement and assembly of citizens, which also affects the public religious life of the believers, following the consultation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs on March…

Mar 23, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate calls for faith, temperance, and solidarity in face of coronavirus

Given Romania’s state of emergency due to the new coronavirus epidemic, the Romanian Patriarchate calls for responsibility, temperance and solidarity. The Romanian Patriarchate urges all priests of the Romanian Orthodox Church to implement with realism, lucidity and confidence the measures imposed by the state authorities, which temporarily affect the Church’s liturgical life. These regulations aim…

Mar 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Transylvania Metropolitan urges prayer for loving protection of the Virgin Mary in times of pandemic

In addition to the recommendation to respect the regulations announced by authorities, Metropolitan Laurentiu of Transylvania advised the clergy to officiate every morning the Supplicatory Canon of the Theotokos and to read the special prayer for the cessation of the coronavirus pandemic. “We ask all the ministers of the altars in all the parishes and…

Mar 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Alba Archbishop Irineu sends encouraging message: Our ancestors surpassed many hardships with Christian dignity

Archbishop Irineu of Alba Iulia has sent a message of encouragement context of containment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which ‘is affecting the lives of some and limits the freedom of movement and action of others.’ The Archbishop of the historic city of Alba Iulia referred to the ancestors of the Romanian people who surpassed many…

Mar 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Coronavirus: Râmnic Archdiocese Seminary offers 200 rooms for quarantine

The Archdiocese of Râmnic has announced that it has made the dormitory of its Theological Orthodox Seminary available to the country’s health authorities to take in patients, serve as a quarantine zone or even provide accommodation to health professionals. A total of 200 rooms will be available for quarantine. “In the Archdiocese of Râmnic, as…

Mar 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu