Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church marks 135th anniversary of autocephaly

On Saturday, the Romanian Orthodox Church marks its 135th anniversary of autocephaly. After Romania gained its state independence in 1877 and was declared a Kingdom in 1881, the prestige of the Romanian Orthodox Church increased, making necessary the formal recognition of its autocephaly, long denied by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. On November 23, 1882, the Holy…

Apr 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

The Week in Pictures: April 13 -19, 2020

More than 260 million people marked Easter Sunday, with worshippers asked to stay at home to avoid coronavirus spread.  While many watched services online or on television, some sidestepped virus fears to attend churches on the most important date in the Orthodox calendar. Here is our selection of photos from the Orthodox world taken between…

Apr 22, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: The marks of the Lord’s passion in His glorified body highlight the mystical connection between the Cross and the Resurrection

During the Agape Vespers on Easter Sunday, also known as the Second Resurrection, Patriarch Daniel spoke about the characteristics of the Saviour’s risen body stressing that the marks of His Passion remained in his glorified body. The Patriarch of Romania explained why the risen Lord passed through the locked doors to meet his disciples. ‘He…

Apr 21, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel at Easter Vigil: The crucified and risen Christ is the Healer and Liberator of humankind

Patriarch Daniel, April 19, 2020: ‘Christ’s Resurrection today is for us as always a source of light and peace, a source of joy, but also a source of spiritual power to fight the hardships of life, including to fight with the disease, the fear of death, and suffering, with everything that severely befalls us and…

Apr 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Foot-washing ceremony at Putna Monastery: Let us wipe off the dust of sin!

After a long pause during the communist period, the foot-washing ceremony was resumed at Putna Monastery starting with 1992, during the stewardship of abbot Iachint Unciuleac. The ceremony cannot be held everywhere since at least twelve persons are needed Archimandrite Melchisedec explained after washing the feet of his fellow priests at Putna Monastery on April…

Apr 18, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

We have the unique opportunity to do good and to consolidate parent-child relationships, Bessarabia Metropolitan says in Easter Message

In his pastoral letter on Holy Pascha 2020, the Metropolitan of Bessarabia urged Orthodox Christians to profess Christ’s Resurrection and to take advantage of the home isolation period to consolidate their family relationships, but also to do mercy, thus showing solidarity with those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. ‘It may be hard and uncomfortable for…

Apr 18, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

As Orthodox believers are deprived of the Eucharist, Patriarch Daniel indicates other ways of partaking of Christ

As Romanian Orthodox believers are deprived of receiving Holy Communion in churches following the coronavirus outbreak, Patriarch Daniel said there are several ways to receive Christ in our souls spiritually. ‘Now only those who call priests home can receive the Eucharist,’ Patriarch Daniel said during his homily in an empty patriarchal cathedral on Maundy Thursday.…

Apr 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate reaches agreement with Ministry of Internal Affairs for distribution of consecrated Easter bread and Holy Fire to believers

The Romanian Orthodox Church Wednesday reached an agreement with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to allow church volunteers to distribute consecrated bread (Paști) and Holy Fire to believers on Easter night. The first form of the agreement signed on Tuesday was later amended by the two parts as epidemiologists expect the coronavirus pandemic to reach…

Apr 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s Easter Encyclical: Love has conquered death

In this year’s pastoral encyclical for Holy Pascha, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel highlights the mystery of Christ’s Resurrection noting that the faith in the resurrection ‘helps us not to lose our hope in the face of life’s hardships.’ ‘Let us ask more insistently for the help of the crucified and risen Christ, Who knows our…

Apr 14, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Parliament establishes national day celebrating Romanian village

Romania’s Parliament established a new national day celebrating the Romanian village. As provided by law 44/2020, the day, which was declared on April 3, sets aside the last Sunday of September as the Romanian Village Day. The law provides that the Day of the Romanian Village can be organized by the authorities of the central…

Apr 13, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel spreads message of hope on Palm Sunday: Christ will help us overcome the pandemic

Patriarch Daniel delivered a message of hope to a society living under the fear of the coronavirus pandemic, as he commemorated the glorious Entry into Jerusalem of Jesus Christ at the Divine Liturgy in the historical chapel of his patriarchal residence on April 12. The Patriarch of Romania noted that many people who stay at…

Apr 12, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu