Aurelian Iftimiu

Irish Ambassador visits Giurgiu Diocese, highlights role of Romanian Orthodox Church in Ireland

Ireland’s Ambassador to Romania, Brendan Ward, visited the Social and Pastoral Centre of the Diocese of Giurgiu on Friday. His Excellency was received by Bishop Ambrozie of Giurgiu. The guest expressed appreciation for the diocese’s activities and emphasised the importance of the Romanian Orthodox Church’s presence in Ireland. “Thank you for the invitation, and I…

Feb 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop receives Bishop of Gaborone, highlights mission cooperation in Africa

His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, general secretary of the Holy Synod, received His Grace Bishop Mark of Gaborone and Botswana at the Patriarchal Palace last Thursday, Feb. 12. “I conveyed the greetings of His Beatitude Patriarch Theodoros II of Alexandria and All Africa to His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel,” the visiting hierarch said.…

Feb 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian nun urges simplicity and prayer, recalls life of her sister who became Saint Elizabeth of Pasărea

“Let us seek simplicity and strive to acquire prayer, so that in times of trial we may be able to fight,” says Nun Nectaria Lazăr of Pasărea Monastery in Ilfov County, the biological sister of Saint Elizabeth of Pasărea, in a feature report for the newspaper of the Romanian Patriarchate. The nun recalled her childhood…

Feb 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox bishop in Canada offers condolences after deadly school shooting in British Columbia

Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada on Thursday addressed a message of condolences and compassion following the shooting attack at a school in Tumbler Ridge, Canada. According to The Canadian Press, 10 people were killed in Tuesday’s attack, including the sole suspect. “We extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their…

Feb 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Italy’s lower house unanimously backs law regulating ties with Romanian Orthodox Diocese

Italy’s lower house on Thursday unanimously approved legislation regulating relations between the Italian state and the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, marking a major step toward formal recognition of the legal status and public role of one of the country’s largest religious communities. The Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy thanked the Chamber of Deputies for…

Feb 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch meets Greek metropolitan in Bucharest to promote pilgrimage and church cooperation

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church welcomed on Friday His Eminence Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veria, Naoussa, and Kampania of the Church of Greece at the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest. Metropolitan Panteleimon is in Bucharest to take part in the Romanian Tourism Fair and in the launch of the documentary “The Nectar of…

Feb 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Digital Matericon: Women Saints of February (II)

Digital Matericon: Women Saints of February (II) continues our monthly series dedicated to the lives of women saints commemorated throughout the Church year, highlighting a remarkable group of holy women remembered in the second half of February. This instalment presents the spiritual portraits of Saint Scholastica, Saint Theodora the Empress, Saint Priscilla, Saint Mariamne, Saint…

Feb 12, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate’s Basilica Media Centre nominated for journalism special award

The Basilica Media Centre of the Romanian Patriarchate has been nominated for the Special Award granted by the Union of Professional Journalists of Romania (Uniunea Ziariștilor Profesioniști din România) at the “Excellence in Journalism” gala. The ceremony will take place on February 16, starting at 7:00 p.m., at the Ion Creangă theatre in Bucharest. Other…

Feb 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Social media etiquette guide urges focus on conversation, not on winning arguments

Diana Coman, a social media specialist who posts on Instagram under the name @ProfaDeSocialMedia, has published a practical guide to responsible online communication, stressing that “social media is about conversations, not about who has the last word – about how we choose to speak, not only about what we say.” In a post addressed to…

Feb 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Icons donated by Ecumenical and Bulgarian patriarchs arrive at Bulgaria’s Antarctic research base

An icon of Saint Demetrius the Myrrh-gusher, donated by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, and an icon of the Mother of God with the Child, donated by Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria, were placed on Tuesday in the new laboratory of Bulgaria’s “St. Clement of Ohrid” research base on Livingston Island, in Antarctica. The icon…

Feb 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox parish in Malta hosts school visit to introduce students to Orthodox tradition

The Romanian Orthodox parish in Malta’s capital, Valletta, was visited earlier this month by a group of 70 pupils from Pembroke Secondary School as part of an educational programme to familiarise students with Malta’s Christian traditions. The group was accompanied by their religion teachers. For nearly an hour, the parish priest, Fr Alexandru Popescu, presented…

Feb 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu