Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Atanasie elevates abbot of Scotland’s only Orthodox male monastery during pastoral visit

Archbishop Atanasie of Great Britain and Northern Ireland elevated Father Seraphim Aldea, abbot of the Monastery of the “Dormition of the Mother of God and All Saints of the Isle of Iona,” to the rank of archimandrite. The monastery is the only Orthodox monastic brotherhood in Scotland. Between January 28 and January 30, Archbishop Atanasie…

Feb 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop of Gaborone and Botswana tells faithful in Iași Church calls believers to repentance born of humility

Bishop Mark of Gaborone and Botswana (Patriarchate of Alexandria) said on Sunday at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iași that the beginning of the Triodion period is a call to authentic repentance, stressing that “the Church calls us to repentance born of humility.” He warned that a true encounter with God does not come through displaying…

Feb 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel says God prefers a humble sinner to an arrogant righteous man, at start of Orthodox Triodion season

Romanian Orthodox Patriarch Daniel said on Sunday that, in the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector, the decisive criterion before God is not outward correctness, but humility of heart, stressing that “God prefers a humble sinner to an arrogant righteous man.” The Patriarch explained the meaning of the Gospel reading for the 33rd…

Feb 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Archbishop in UK calls Triodion season a “school of repentance and humility”

In a pastoral message issued at the beginning of the Triodion period, Archbishop Atanasie of Great Britain and Northern Ireland said that this liturgical season is “a true school of repentance and humility, a school of prayer, and also a school of spiritual asceticism, which reopens for us the doors of the Kingdom of Heaven.”…

Feb 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

UN marks first week of February as World Interfaith Harmony Week

The first week of February (1–7 February) is observed annually by the United Nations as World Interfaith Harmony Week. The initiative was proposed at the UN General Assembly on 23 September 2010 by King Abdullah II of Jordan and was adopted unanimously on 20 October 2010. The initiative is rooted in the 2007 A Common…

Feb 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Jerusalem Churches launch restoration of Nativity Grotto in Bethlehem

The Jerusalem Patriarchate, the Custody of the Holy Land, and the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem announced the start of restoration work at the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem. According to a joint statement, the works will be carried out by the Italian company that recently oversaw the rehabilitation of the Church of the Nativity,…

Jan 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Banat Metropolis sends Greek-speaking priest to support victims of Timiș road crash

The Metropolis of Banat announced that it will provide spiritual and material support to the victims of the road accident that occurred on Tuesday in Timiș County, with a Greek-speaking priest set to offer spiritual assistance to those hospitalised. Metropolitan Ioan of Banat expressed his profound sorrow over the tragic road accident that took place…

Jan 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian addiction specialist urges people to seek help, says recovery requires support

Father Liviu Burlacu, a specialist in addiction recovery, recently gave an interview to Euro TV, urging those struggling with addiction to ask for help. Alcohol, drug or gambling addiction can be overcome when the affected person has the courage to seek and accept support, he said. “It is an act of dignity and humility to…

Jan 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Diocese in Italy gathers 900 clergy and laity to assess diaspora mission

The Diocesan Assembly and Congress of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy brought together more than 900 clergy, monastics and lay representatives on Tuesday in Castel Gandolfo, near Rome. The proceedings of the Diocesan Assembly were presided over by Bishop Siluan, who presented the main directions of diocesan activity and oversaw the review of reports…

Jan 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel offers condolences after Greek football fans killed in Romania road crash

Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church has expressed deep sorrow and compassion following a tragic road accident in western Romania that claimed the lives of seven Greek citizens and left three others seriously injured. In a message released after the incident, the Patriarch of Romania conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and offered prayers…

Jan 28, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

First Romanian Orthodox parish in Netherlands marks 45 years with anniversary liturgy

The St Gregory the Theologian Parish in Schiedam/Rotterdam—the first Romanian Orthodox parish in the Netherlands—celebrated its patron saint and marked 45 years since its founding on Sunday. On this occasion, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Metropolitan Iosif of Western and Southern Europe, together with the parish priest, Ioan Dură, and Fr. Laurent Van Damme…

Jan 28, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu