Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Holy Land Representation donates icon of St John Jacob of Neamț to Chozeva Monastery

The Romanian Settlement in Jerusalem has offered Chozeva Monastery an icon of St John Jacob of Neamț, whom Patriarch Daniel has described as “the Romanian saint of the Holy Land”. The gesture reflects the spiritual bond between Romania and the Holy Land. This connection is closely associated with the life and ministry of St John…

Mar 6, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox priest in Corby balances parish ministry with construction work

Father Nicolae Bulat combines weekend pastoral ministry with building site work during the week. He serves the parish of St Joseph the Merciful in Corby, UK, which brings together Romanian and Moldovan communities living in the area. The priest told Basilica.ro that the experience helps him better understand the lives and challenges faced by Romanians…

Mar 6, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Church opens Romania’s first pediatric palliative care centre in Cluj

The “Saint Christopher” Pediatric Palliative Care Centre of the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj—the first facility of its kind in Romania—welcomed its first patients in mid-February. The moment was marked in the center’s chapel, where the Archdiocese’s Assistant Bishop Samuel of Bistrița met with Father Lorand‑Emanuel Komives and the medical team, offering them a…

Mar 6, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Relics of newly canonised St Maria Brâncoveanu exhumed in Bucharest: A luminous example of living the faith

“Princess Maria Brâncoveanu remains a luminous example of living the Christian faith,” said Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova on Wednesday at St George the New Church in Bucharest, where the relics of the newly canonised saint were exhumed. “What did this way of life mean? First of all, patience until the last day of her…

Mar 6, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Remembering Romania’s first Patriarch Miron Cristea, 87 years after his repose

Eighty-seven years have passed since the repose of Miron Cristea, the first Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church. He distinguished himself through intense efforts to organise and develop church and cultural life. Amid profound social and political transformations, he participated in the Great Union of 1918, contributed to the administrative consolidation of the Romanian Orthodox…

Mar 6, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate marks March 9 as day of remembrance for anti-communist political prisoners

On March 9, Romania commemorates both the Feast of the Forty Martyrs of Sebaste and the Day of Remembrance for Anti-Communist Political Prisoners from the period 1944–1989. Each year on this date, Romanians have a moral duty to remember those who resisted the totalitarian communist regime, confessing the Orthodox faith against state-imposed atheism. Many were…

Mar 6, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia congratulates Patriarch Daniel on 36 years of episcopal ministry

Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia sent a congratulatory message to His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on the occasion of the 36th anniversary of his episcopal ordination. “Your Beatitude’s episcopal ministry has become for the Romanian people and for the entire Orthodox world a benchmark of pastoral vision, right confession of faith, and the active building of a…

Mar 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Banat Metropolitan Ioan urges faithful to turn to icons, not television, in times of trouble

His Eminence Metropolitan Ioan of Banat urged the faithful on Sunday to turn their attention to the holy icon rather than to television when facing difficulties. Speaking on the Sunday of Orthodoxy about the importance of venerating icons, the metropolitan noted that they are a sign of the victory of the true faith. “During the…

Mar 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian pilgrims return home safely after evacuation from Israel via Egypt

Romanian pilgrims from the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău returned home safely on Tuesday morning after being evacuated from Israel amid rising regional tensions, the group’s escort said. Father Valentin Chircu, who accompanied the pilgrims, told Basilica.ro that the tense moments began on the final day of the planned pilgrimage. “While we were attending the…

Mar 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian parish in Leeds approved to establish first Romanian Orthodox cemetery in England

The Romanian Orthodox parish “Saint Macarius the Great” in Leeds has received official approval from local authorities to establish the first Romanian Orthodox cemetery in England. The cemetery is located at Upper & Lower Wortley Cemetery. It lies near the parish church. Additionally, it includes a section designated for the Romanian community with approximately 200…

Mar 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian priest in Dubai urges calm as Middle East tensions raise concerns among diaspora

Father Alexandru Cristian Truşcan, parish priest of the Romanian community in Dubai, has issued a message of reassurance and caution amid the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, saying the community is closely monitoring developments. “We are following the evolution of the situation responsibly,” the priest told Basilica.ro. Amid recent geopolitical tensions in the region…

Mar 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu