Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Archbishop says Aiud martyrs turned prison hell into spiritual ascent

Archbishop Irineu of Alba Iulia said on Sunday at Aiud Monastery that the martyrs of the communist prison in Aiud transformed their prison hell into a spiritual ascent. Speaking on the monastery’s patronal feast, the archbishop recalled the sacrifice of those who endured persecution in communist prisons. “Today we remember with reverence all Romanians who…

Mar 17, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Actor Aris Servetalis to portray Athonite Saint Joseph the Hesychast in Greek TV series

Aris Servetalis, who portrayed Saint Nectarios of Aegina in the film Man of God, will play Saint Joseph the Hesychast in a biographical television series to be broadcast in Greece by Mega Channel, according to ope.gr. The role of the Athonite saint will be portrayed at two stages of life: the younger Joseph will be…

Mar 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanians lay foundation for wooden church at Japan’s first Orthodox cemetery

Members of the Romanian Orthodox Parish of Tokyo have begun building a wooden church in Maramureș style in Minami-Alps, Yamanashi Prefecture, after purchasing land and establishing the first Orthodox cemetery in Japan at the site. The foundation stone was blessed at the end of last week. The service was officiated by the parish priest, Daniel…

Mar 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Athens to host International Symposium honouring Athonite Elder Aimilianos of Simonopetra

The St Maximos the Greek Institute of Vatopedi Monastery and the Ormylia Foundation of Simonopetra Monastery on Mount Athos will organise the International Theological Symposium “In Memory and Honour of Elder Aimilianos of Simonos Petras: A Witness to the Glory of God and a Guide in the Spirit” in Athens from 8–10 May 2026. The…

Mar 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Swedish deacon ordained to the priesthood in Romanian Orthodox parish in Sweden

Bishop Macarie Drăgoi of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe ordained Swedish deacon Serafim Lundqvist to the priesthood on Sunday during the Divine Liturgy at the parish of Sts Theodore the Viking Martyr and his son John, in Leksand, Sweden. Fr Serafim Lundqvist said the moment of his ordination was both a great blessing…

Mar 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

1,000 Greek pupils chant hymns to Virgin Mary at Thessaloniki Cathedral service (video)

Around 1,000 pupils from 37 schools at all levels of education in Thessaloniki chanted hymns to the Virgin Mary at the city’s Hagia Sophia Church. The pupils, together with the choir of the Hellenic Army Officers’ School and the Eirmos Byzantine Children’s Choir of the Metropolis of Thessaloniki, provided the liturgical responses on Friday, 13…

Mar 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Religion teacher urges youth to strengthen faith to face life’s challenges

Denis Vlad, a religion teacher and parliamentary adviser, has urged young people to recognise the importance of faith in God for coping with life’s challenges and for healing. He said there are numerous examples showing that a strong faith in God provides not only emotional resilience but also physical strength. “We have many examples, books…

Mar 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

South Korean medical student baptised into Orthodox Church in Romania

Kim Hyeonwoo, a 25-year-old medical student from South Korea, was baptised into the Orthodox faith last Thursday at a church in Vaslui County, in eastern Romania. The sacrament was officiated by Archpriest Andrei Mereuță, dean of Bârlad, while the young man’s sponsors were Fr Sabin Apopei and his wife Maria, who guided him on the…

Mar 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarch: Self-denial and taking up the Cross lead to salvation

“Self-denial, taking up or accepting the cross and following Christ are the three conditions for being Christians and attaining salvation or eternal life through the union of man with God, the source of eternal life,” said Patriarch Daniel of Romania on Sunday. The head of the Romanian Orthodox Church explained that Christian life cannot be…

Mar 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ukrainian community in Romania marks 36 years since restoration of Orthodox Vicariate

The Ukrainian community in Romania marks 36 years since the re-establishment of the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate in Romania on Monday. Following the fall of the communist regime, Orthodox Ukrainians in Romania initiated steps to obtain the blessing of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church for the restoration of the Ukrainian Vicariate, which had…

Mar 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian University hosts conference on history of Georgian Church

The Faculty of Orthodox Theology and Educational Sciences of Valahia University of Târgoviște hosted an academic conference on Thursday, attended by professors from Tbilisi and members of the university’s teaching staff. The discussions focused on the theme “The Church of Georgia in the 19th–20th Centuries”. Among the invited speakers were Dimitry Gegenava, vice-rector of Sulkhan-Saba…

Mar 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu