Aurelian Iftimiu

Georgia to bury Patriarch Ilia II on March 22 at Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi

His Beatitude Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia will be laid to rest on Sunday, 22 March, at the Sioni Cathedral of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Tbilisi, the Georgian Orthodox Church announced. The decision was presented by Metropolitan Jobi of Urbnisi and Ruisi, who described the late patriarch as “an epochal figure” with immeasurable…

Mar 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Serbian Orthodox Saint Nikolai Velimirović marked 70 years after blessed repose

March 18 marks 70 years since the blessed repose of Saint Nikolai Velimirović, a Serbian Orthodox hierarch whose life was defined by sacrifice, witness and devotion to the Serbian people and the Orthodox Christian faith. He was born on 23 December 1880 in Serbia. His early education began in the family and continued at Ćelije…

Mar 18, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ukraine establishes Romanian Language Day on Aug. 31 by presidential decree

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has officially established Romanian Language Day in Ukraine, to be celebrated annually on 31 August, according to a presidential decree. The decision was taken during the Ukrainian president’s visit to Romania on 12 March. The decree states that the holiday was introduced “to promote mutual understanding, mutual respect and cooperation in Ukrainian-Romanian…

Mar 18, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Macarie begins mission among glaciers in Greenland

Bishop Macarie Drăgoi of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Northern Europe arrived in Greenland on Monday, where he will spend a week celebrating the Divine Liturgy and baptising local people who wish to enter into communion with the Church. In a message posted on the diocese’s Facebook page, the bishop said the mission is taking…

Mar 17, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s National Cathedral project competes for best façade in Europe

Baumit, a leading construction materials company, has entered the National Cathedral of Romania project into the Life Challenge 2026 competition, in the non-residential buildings category, which rewards the most striking Baumit façades across Europe. “The National Cathedral is a landmark of Romanian religious architecture, combining Byzantine tradition with local elements. Its façades, structured with arches…

Mar 17, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Bishop warns Cross offers no magical protection without Gospel life

His Grace Assistant Bishop Teofil of Iberia of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Spain and Portugal warned on Sunday that the Holy Cross does not offer a magical protection if a Christian’s life contradicts the Gospel. He delivered a sermon during the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Cross Parish, Alcalá del Júcar – Casas-Ibáñez in…

Mar 17, 2026Aurelian 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