Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Iakovos of Mytilene meets with Greek community in Tulcea

His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos of Mytilene on Sunday met with the Greek community in Izvoarele, a village in the eastern county of Tulcea. It has become a tradition for the Metropolitan of Mytilene as well as for other officials from Lesvos to visit Romania and meet with members of the Greek community in Tulcea every…

Dec 3, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam at Chapel of National Cathedral: Follow the spiritual courage of Saint Andrew!

The patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti on Saturday presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Chapel of the National Cathedral in Bucharest urging the believers to honour Saint Andrew the First-called as a spiritual father and to follow his spiritual courage (manhood). “This holiday has a true national importance because we celebrate our spiritual…

Dec 2, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Venerable Anatolie Tihai: Romanian missionary to Japan commemorated at Balti

Bishop Antonie of Balti last Thursday officiated a memorial service for Archimandrite Anatolie Tihai at the Nativity of the Lord Church in the city of Balti, Republic of Moldova, marking the 126th anniversary of the repose of this important Romanian Orthodox missionary to Japan. Venerable Anatolie was born in 1838 in the village Tărăsăuţi in…

Dec 2, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Young Orthodox show solidarity with Finland’s Jewish community after anti-Semitic incidents

A group of Orthodox youth joined the Finnish community leaders who gathered at the gates of the Helsinki Synagogue to lay bouquets of flowers in a show of solidarity with Finland’s Jewish community, which has been subjected to a spike in anti-Semitic attacks this year. The action was prompted in part by a recent incident…

Nov 29, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop of Maramures: Intensify good deeds during Nativity Fast. God gave us, let us give in return!

‘We are during the Nativity Fast, a sacred time, during which the first Sunday gospel readings relate about the danger of wealth, about the fact that it is not enough to combine fasting with prayer,’ His Grace Bishop Justin of Maramures said during his homily last Sunday. ‘We need to do many good deeds, especially…

Nov 29, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Elder Arsenie Boca commemorated at Prislop Monastery on 30th anniversary of repose

Fr. Arsenie Boca, one of the most prominent Romanian elders of the 20th century, reposed in the Lord on November 28, 1989. It was recently announced that he is being considered for canonization by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church. In the meantime, he was prayerfully commemorated Thursday at Prislop Monastery in Silvașu…

Nov 29, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Eugene Vodolazkin: Russia’s prize-winning novelist on main character: ‘Laurus brings together several lives of Saints’

Eugene Vodolazkin, one of today’s most famous Russian novelist, said that he was inspired by several lives of Saints when creating the main character of his best-selling novel Laurus. Eugene Vodolazkin and his wife Tatiana recently visited the Saint Nicholas –Tabacu church in Bucharest, the home of the Russian Orthodox Community in the capital of…

Nov 29, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

First Romanian Church in Africa to be consecrated this Saturday

A new church dedicated to Saint Andrew the First-Called who is considered the Protector of Romania will be consecrated this Saturday in Johannesburg, South Africa. The consecration ceremony will be officiated Nov. 30 by His Eminence Metropolitan Iosif of Western and Southern Europe. The event represents the crowning of the efforts of the Romanian community…

Nov 28, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

The Week in Pictures: November 18 – 24, 2019

Orthodox lifestyle, luminous portraits and pictures taken at religious events throughout the world comprise this week’s selection of photos. Follow us on Twitter: @BasilicaNews We would gladly include one of your photos depicting Orthodox life in our weekly selection. All you have to do is send the picture(s) you have taken to our email address…

Nov 27, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate expresses solidarity with Albanians affected by earthquake

At least fifteen people have died and 600 people have been injured after a powerful earthquake hit Albania in the early hours of Tuesday, causing damage along the country’s Adriatic coastline and in the capital, Tirana. Several buildings collapsed, burying residents in the rubble. The Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate released a statement on…

Nov 26, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s National Cathedral in figures, one year since its consecration

One year since the consecration of Romania’s National Cathedral we provide you with some figures to help you understand what this national project has meant until today. 110 million euros Because the number of press materials increased with the cathedral’s building process, and most of the time the deep significance of this national project is…

Nov 26, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu