Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel urges faithful to convert suffering into hope through repentance

During his homily delivered Sunday, April 29, at Tiganesti Monastery near Bucharest, Patriarch Daniel urged the faithful ‘to repent for our sins, to convert suffering into hope through repentance and to become the hands that help others.’ ‘Let us not be selfish as those who helped only their family members at the pool of Bethesda.…

May 2, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Theodoros of Alexandria to bless new cell on Holy Mount Athos

His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa will visit the Holy Mount Athos on May 14 – May 16, 2018. The Head of the African Church will attend the blessing of a new cell at St Paul’s Monastery, Amen.gr reports. The cell is dedicated to the founder of the Church of Alexandria,…

Apr 27, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem to visit Romania in November

His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem is expected to visit Romania this autumn to attend the first patronal feast of the National Cathedral only a few days after its consecration ceremony will be performed. His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos accepted Patriarch Daniel’s invitation to lead the festivities occasioned by the patronal feast of the Romanian…

Apr 27, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

95% of the Romanians believe in God, survey reveals

About 95% of the Romanian citizens believe in God, but only 21% go to church every week, says a survey on the religious belief in Romania, conducted by Friedrich Ebert Romania Foundation, cited by Agerpres. According to the same study, 27% of the Romanians say the referendum to re-define the family concept is necessary. The…

Apr 26, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

New feast of All Saints of Iberian Peninsula to be proclaimed in October

During their working session last week, the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops in Spain and Portugal decided to add a new pan-Orthodox feast of the Synaxis of Iberian Saints to the liturgical calendars of the local Orthodox Churches. The meeting that took place Friday, April 20, in Madrid, was attended by His Eminence Metropolitan Polycarp of…

Apr 26, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

German state orders crosses mounted in government buildings

Bavaria’s state premier, Markus Söder, has ordered that crosses be hung up in all state buildings in the southern German state. Söder called the move an “avowal of Bavarian identity.” Bavaria’s freshly-sworn-in state premier has stamped a Christian identity on the state’s public buildings as one of his first acts in office, reports Deutsche Welle.…

Apr 25, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Teofan urges believers to attend Romanian referendum on marriage definition

At the end of the Divine Liturgy celebrated Monday at St George Church in Botosani, Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina urged the believers to attend the Romanian referendum on marriage definition. ‘If God blesses us and the country’s authorities will listen to the people’s voice to organize the referendum on family protection, may none…

Apr 25, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Ordination date for Bishop-elect Atanasie of Bogdania

The Very Rev. Archimandrite Atanasie Rusnac will be ordained to the Episcopacy during a Divine Liturgy that will be celebrated Tuesday, May 1, 2018, at the Diocesan headquarters in Rome. The ceremony will be led by His Eminence Metropolitan Iosif of Western and Southern Europe. Bishop-elect Atanasie of Bogdania will be the first assistant bishop…

Apr 25, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Cyprus regains rare Orthodox Christian mosaic stolen in 70s

A rare 6th century mosaic depicting the St. Andrew that was taken from a looted church in the Cyprus’ breakaway north has been returned after four decades, His Beatitude Archbishop Chrysostomos said Monday. Archbishop Chrysostomos II said that the artistry that went into the mosaic coupled with its rarity made the work a symbol of…

Apr 25, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarchate to initiate dialogue with sister Churches on Ukrainian Autocephaly

Following its working session on April 19-20, 2018, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate released a communiqué stating that it has decided to begin a dialogue and coordination with its sister autocephalous Orthodox Churches on the matter of creating an autocephalous Ukrainian Orthodox Church.  The Ecumenical patriarchate noted it will examine the matter according…

Apr 25, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Syria: Joint statement issued in memory of abducted Aleppo bishops

A Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Patriarch John X at the Church of the Holy Cross in Damascus on April 22 on the 5th anniversary of the kidnapping of the Aleppo bishops, namely Bishop Youhanna Ibrahim and Bishop Paul Yazigi as well as for all the abducted people. The Liturgy was concelebrated by several bishops,…

Apr 24, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu