Aurelian Iftimiu

Memorial cross blessed at Romanian Parliament on site of church demolished under communism

A memorial cross was blessed on Tuesday near the Palace of Parliament in Bucharest on the site of the former “Spirea Veche” Church, which was demolished during the communist regime. The blessing service was officiated by Archimandrite Nectarie Șofelea, Exarch of the Monasteries of the Archdiocese of Bucharest. According to a press release, the monument…

May 14, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian diaspora parishes to host Children’s Day activities promoting language and faith

Romanian Orthodox parishes in the diaspora will organise educational activities in the Romanian language for Children’s Day, as part of a joint initiative supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Romanian Patriarchate aimed at promoting the cultural and spiritual identity of Romanians living abroad. The subject was discussed on Monday during the third…

May 14, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian deacon’s wife: ‘Motherhood helps us see ourselves as we truly are’

Theodora Moisescu is a deacon’s wife, a mother and a German language teacher. Born in Germany to a Romanian-German family, she came to Romania at 18 to pursue her studies and chose to remain in Timișoara. She graduated from the Faculty of Sociology and Psychology at the West University of Timișoara, specialising in Primary and…

May 14, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

First feast for newly canonised Romanian Athonite Saint Dionysius of Vatopedi held at Colciu Cell

Bishop Siluan of Hungary presided at the St George Cell – Colciu over the first feast in honour of Saint Dionysius of Vatopedi following the recent canonisation of the Romanian elder by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The all-night vigil began last Sunday evening and continued on Monday morning with the Divine Liturgy. The Romanian hierarch attended…

May 14, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Casian honours world champion robotics team from Brăila

“The students told us that they feel the presence of God in everything,” said Archbishop Casian of the Lower Danube during a festive event organised on Tuesday in honour of the “Velocity” robotics team from Brăila, world champions at the FIRST Tech Challenge held in the United States. The event took place at the Museum…

May 14, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox churches to ring bells nationwide on Heroes’ Day

On the Feast of the Ascension of the Lord, which will be celebrated on Thursday, 21 May 2026, the Romanian Patriarchate will also mark Heroes’ Day through a solemn moment of remembrance dedicated to those who sacrificed their lives for faith, freedom and national unity. At noon, the bells of all churches within the Romanian…

May 14, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox church in Maramureș style takes shape in Japan

The first Romanian Orthodox church built in the traditional Maramureș style in Japan is taking on an increasingly visible shape after the church’s tower was installed on Tuesday. The announcement of the tower installation was made by the parish priest of the Romanian Orthodox Parish of Tokyo, who expressed gratitude to all those who have…

May 14, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian pilgrims join feast of St Basil of Ostrog in Montenegro

Romanian pilgrims prayed on Tuesday at the patronal feast of Ostrog Monastery together with His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina. His Eminence celebrated the Divine Liturgy alongside Metropolitan Joanikije of Montenegro and the Littoral. The event marked the feast of Saint Basil the Wonderworker of Ostrog, the protector of the monastic settlement. Thousands…

May 14, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania marks National Day honouring victims of communist prisons

Romania’s National Day, honouring the martyrs of the communist prisons, is observed annually on 14 May in memory of the thousands of people arrested by the totalitarian regime, according to Agerpres. The date was chosen to commemorate the night of 14–15 May 1948, when the communist authorities launched one of the largest waves of political…

May 14, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

New Georgian Patriarch Shio III calls for Church to embrace those ‘outside its walls’

“We must open wide the doors of the Church to everyone. We must also embrace our spiritual children who are outside the walls of the Church and who, like the prodigal son, perhaps do not dare to come to us,” said Patriarch Shio III of Georgia on Tuesday during his enthronement ceremony. The service took…

May 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Assistant Bishop Teofil of Iberia marks 55th birthday

His Grace Teofil of Iberia, Assistant Bishop to the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Spain and Portugal, celebrates his 55th birthday on Wednesday. The hierarch was born on 13 May 1971 in Desești, Maramureș county, Romania, to Gheorghe and Maria. Between 1977 and 1985, he attended primary school in his native village, while from 1985 to…

May 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu