Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox composer Arvo Pärt awarded 2026 Goethe Medal for contribution to contemporary culture

Estonian composer Arvo Pärt has been awarded the 2026 Goethe Medal for his outstanding contribution to contemporary culture. Orthodox spirituality is an essential part of his creative work, with his music deeply connected to faith and sacred texts. The distinction was presented at the end of August during a ceremony in Weimar and was accepted…

Sep 10, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

International Orthodox spirituality conference at Bose focuses on St Pachomius

A new edition of the International Ecumenical Conference on Orthodox Spirituality is taking place at Bose Monastery in Italy from 8 to 11 September. This year’s conference is entitled Abba Pachomius: At the Origins of Community Life. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel sent a message to the conference on Wednesday, while Patriarch John X of Antioch…

Sep 10, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Nativity of the Mother of God offers encouragement to parents and couples hoping for children

“The feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God should be an encouragement to all parents who have children and to those who do not, but hope to have them,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said on Tuesday at the historic St George the Great Martyr Chapel of the Patriarchal Residence. The Patriarch of Romania…

Sep 10, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bucharest Central Detention Centre opens chapel dedicated to Sts Moses the Ethiopian and Demetrius the New

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești consecrated a chapel on Saturday at the Central Detention Centre of the Bucharest General Directorate of Police (DGPMB). Concelebrating were Archimandrite Ciprian Grădinaru, ecclesiarch of the National Cathedral Chapel; Fr Ciprian Ion Ioniță, patriarchal adviser; Fr Mihai Hau, honorary patriarchal adviser; Fr Ionuț Bărbulescu, Archpriest of Bucharest’s Sector 4;…

Sep 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Ioan Casian urges Romanian families in Gatineau to pass faith on to future generations

“What, then, does the Church mean? It is the community of believers in which God’s work and His grace dwell, and in which the Holy Trinity is reflected,” Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada said on Saturday during the patronal feast of the Romanian Orthodox parish in Gatineau, Quebec. The occasion marked the completion of an…

Sep 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Assistant Bishop Maxim of Danubius ordained in Italy, pledges ministry of ‘unity and obedience’

Assistant Bishop Maxim of Danubius of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy was ordained on Tuesday at the Forty Holy Martyrs of Sebaste Parish in Moncalieri, Italy. “I want the ministry I am beginning to be one of working together, in unity and obedience, for the good of the clergy and faithful,” the new hierarch…

Sep 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Assistant Bishop Iachint of the Pacific: Holiness is cultivated within the family

Assistant Bishop Iachint of the Pacific of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand emphasised on Tuesday, the feast of the Nativity of the Mother of God, that “holiness is cultivated within the family, and the Mother of God was born into the family of two faithful people who prayed together”. Bishop Mihail…

Sep 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Râmnic Archdiocese dedicates September to St Anthimos the Iberian and Romanian-Georgian fellowship

The Archdiocese of Râmnic has dedicated September to St Anthimos the Iberian and to fellowship between the Romanian and Georgian peoples. Cultural, sporting and artistic events, as well as pilgrimages, are being organised throughout the month. According to the diocese, the events held during this period recognise St Anthimos’ spiritual, cultural and administrative contribution as…

Sep 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Calinic to couples hoping for children: Become ‘gateways through which grace may pass’

On the feast of Sts Joachim and Anne, Archbishop Calinic of Suceava and Rădăuți urged families hoping to have children to pray and cultivate patience in humility. “Make your family and your home a place of prayer, remembering that peace, faithfulness and the good tears born of humility bring down the Kingdom of Heaven into…

Sep 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam: Every child is a gift and blessing from God

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești emphasised the value of the gift of life and the family’s role in raising children at the Patriarchal Cathedral on Tuesday: “Every child who is born is a gift and a blessing from God.” The Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop spoke about the veneration of the Most Holy Virgin from the…

Sep 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: The ‘garment of light’ is God’s gracious presence within us

“The luminous garment of the faithful and pure soul is the very presence of God’s grace within human beings,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said on Sunday at St George Chapel of the Patriarchal Residence, where he explained the Parable of the Wedding Feast. The Patriarch of Romania highlighted four main teachings drawn from Sunday’s Gospel.…

Sep 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu