Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel says God meets repentant sinners through the Church, in sermon on the Prodigal Son

Patriarch Daniel said on Sunday that when a sinner turns back to God and takes the first steps of repentance, God Himself runs out to meet that person — and that the outstretched hands of God the Father are made visible in the saving and sanctifying work of Christ’s Church. “When a sinner returns to…

Feb 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam urges faithful to restore their bond of love with God the Father ahead of Lent

“May the good God grant us the wisdom that leads us back to Christ, and help us use the time of Great Lent with discernment, so that the feast of Pascha may truly become, for each of us, a return to the boundless love of our Heavenly Father,” said Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești…

Feb 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian lower house speaker meets Jerusalem Patriarch during official Israel visit

Sorin Grindeanu, Speaker of Romania’s Chamber of Deputies, met last Wednesday with His Beatitude Theophilos III of Jerusalem, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The meeting took place during an official visit to Israel by the Romanian parliamentary delegation, which also included Romania’s health minister and several members of parliament. “The first visit was to His Beatitude Patriarch…

Feb 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop of Bălți prays for hierarchs who shepherded Bessarabia at Bucharest cemetery

Bishop Antonie of Bălți prayed on Thursday for the hierarchs who once shepherded Bessarabia and who are buried at the cemetery of Cernica Monastery, near Bucharest. Bishop Antonie lit a vigil lamp at the graves of Metropolitan Gurie Grosu of Bessarabia (1928–1936), Metropolitan Tit Simedrea of Bukovina—who served in Bălți between 1935 and 1940—and Bishop…

Feb 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel says 16 Romanian Holy Women are the spiritual mothers of the nation

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel delivered an official address on Friday morning, 6 February, during the solemn proclamation of the canonisation of 16 Romanian Women Saints, held at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, in the presence of the members of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church. In his message, the Patriarch described the newly…

Feb 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s National Cathedral recreated in Minecraft on Orthodox-themed Orthocraft server

Romania’s National Cathedral of Romania has been recreated in a virtual environment as part of a project developed on the Orthocraft server within the video game Minecraft. “This build captures the immense scale of the real cathedral, from the vast interior and towering dome to the iconography, chandeliers, and architectural details, all recreated with accuracy…

Feb 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Holy Synod designates 2027 Church Year, approves youth summit and new liturgical texts

On Friday, 6 February 2026, the working session of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church was held in the “Patriarch Teoctist” Aula Magna of the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest, under the chairmanship of Patriarch Daniel. The Holy Synod adopted a number of decisions concerning pastoral and missionary activity, including the following: It declared…

Feb 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church proclaims canonisation of 16 Holy Women in Bucharest ceremony

The general proclamation of the canonisation of the 16 Romanian holy women took place on Friday at the Patriarchal Cathedral. The solemn ceremony was held towards the end of the Divine Liturgy celebrated by Patriarch Daniel, together with the members of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The official act of proclamation of…

Feb 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Last memorial service for 16 Romanian Holy Women: Holiness is open to every Christian, Bishop says

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti on Thursday evening officiated the final memorial service for the 16 newly canonised Romanian holy women, stressing that “holiness is accessible to every Christian who desires it and seeks it at any time”. The service was held at the Patriarchal Cathedral and was preceded by Great Vespers. Bishop Varlaam…

Feb 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox National Church Assembly holds annual session in Bucharest

The annual working session of the National Church Assembly of the Romanian Orthodox Church was opened on Thursday morning by Patriarch Daniel at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest. In his address, the Patriarch reviewed the main events that took place in 2025. The session was preceded by a Te Deum service officiated by Bishop Samuel…

Feb 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox National Church Council meets in Bucharest, Patriarch Daniel reviews 2025 activities

The National Church Council of the Romanian Orthodox Church met on Wednesday at the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest. On this occasion, Patriarch Daniel presented the activity report of the Romanian Orthodox Church for 2025. The summary report, entitled “The Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate, the New Romanian Saints and the Consecration of the Iconography of…

Feb 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu