Aurelian Iftimiu

The Life-giving Spring is a celebration of joy. We are often ignorant of how great the gift of health is: Patriarch Daniel

‘The Life-Giving Spring is a celebration of joy,’ His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said on Bright Friday at Jercalai Monastery, ‘because the Mother of God, who is the living icon of the praying Church, becomes a healing spring for us through the grace bestowed upon her from Christ.’ Value the gift of health ‘We are often…

May 4, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel at Agape Vespers: Peace and joy are two gifts that bring gladness to human soul

During his homily at the Agape Vespers on Pascha Sunday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel reflected on the gifts offered by the Saviour Jesus Christ after his resurrection, saying that ‘peace and joy are two gifts that bring gladness to the human soul.’ ‘People who lack peace, who are always troubled and concerned, always feel unsafe,…

Apr 29, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Easter is the feast of forgiveness

At the Easter Vigil celebrated Saturday night, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel stressed that the Resurrection of Christ is a feast of forgiveness, recalling that before Christ breathed his last on the Cross He prayed for His enemies, for those who sentenced Him to death and for those who crucified Him. ‘This humble, crucified love became…

Apr 28, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Photo gallery: Thousands attend Paschal midnight office at Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest

Thousands of believers attended the Paschal midnight office led by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel at the Sts Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Bucharest on Saturday night, April 27-28, 2019. Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu

Apr 28, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Chrism is the foundation and the source of the sanctification of Church life, Patriarch Daniel says

After leading the sanctification of the Holy Chrism on Maundy Thursday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel spoke about its meaning and use in the Orthodox Church, noting that the Holy Chrism is ‘the foundation and the source of the sanctification of Church life’. On Thursday, April 25, 2019, the Patriarch of Romania together with other hierarchs…

Apr 26, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch blesses new reliquary for holy relics of St Philothea of Argeș

On Thursday, April 25, 2019, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel blessed the new silver reliquary where the holy relics of Saint Philothea of Argeș will be kept. During a service held at the All Romanian Saints Hall of the Patriarchal Residence, Patriarch Daniel offered prayers and sprinkled with holy water the shrine in the presence of…

Apr 26, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Basilica Photos: Vesperal Divine Liturgy on Maundy Thursday & Sanctification of Holy Chrism

The members of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church gathered on Maundy Thursday at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest to celebrate the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil, during which the Holy Chrism was sanctified. Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu

Apr 26, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Chrism sanctified on 134th anniversary of autocephaly of Romanian Orthodox Church

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel together with the members of the Holy Synod officiated the sanctification of the Holy Chrism at the Patriarchal Cathedral on Maundy Thursday, marking the 134th anniversary of autocephaly of the Romanian Orthodox Church. On April 25, 1885, Ecumenical Patriarch Joachim IV issued the patriarchal tomos by which the Romanian Orthodox Church…

Apr 26, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania Patriarch Easter Pastoral Letter: Persecuted Orthodox Romanians received power from the Eucharist

In his Easter pastoral letter, the Patriarch of Romania has explained that Eucharist always offered to the persecuted Orthodox Romanians the power to love in a sacrificial way and to remain united with the crucified and risen Christ in history and in eternity. Given that in 2019 the Romanian Patriarchate commemorates the Solemn Year of…

Apr 26, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

In Easter message, Ecumenical Patriarch rejects conception that Orthodoxy is “introverted, unworldly and indifferent”

In this year’s patriarchal encyclical for Holy Pascha, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew rejected the conception that ‘Orthodoxy is introverted, unworldly and indifferent to history and civilization’, saying that this is ‘a complete misinterpretation of Orthodox self-consciousness as well as of the social and charitable work of the Church’. Pascha is not only the greatest feast of…

Apr 26, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Land Easter message: lasting peace in Jerusalem and the world

Thirteen Patriarchs and Heads of Christian Churches in Jerusalem have issued an Easter Message praying for lasting peace throughout the world and urging that the multi-religious and multi-cultural status of Jerusalem be maintained. The 13 spiritual leaders in Jerusalem have expressed their Easter greeting to the people of the Holy Land, the larger Middle East…

Apr 25, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu