Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church to proclaim canonisation of 16 holy women in Bucharest: Schedule

The liturgical events at the Patriarchal Cathedral of “Saints Constantine and Helen” in Bucharest, marking the general proclamation of the canonisation of 16 Romanian holy women, will take place according to the following schedule: On Thursday, February 5, 2026, at 5:00 p.m., at the Patriarchal Cathedral, at the conclusion of Vespers, the final memorial service…

Jan 28, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Diocese in Australia and New Zealand reviews 2025 activity at Melbourne assembly

Clergy and lay representatives of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand met on Saturday at the diocesan centre in Melbourne—at the Life-giving Spring Monastery—to review the diocese’s activity. The meeting was preceded by a Te Deum service marking the anniversary of the Union of the Romanian Principalities. The Diocesan Assembly was chaired…

Jan 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Metropolitan Serafim attends installation of new Vienna Catholic archbishop

His Eminence Metropolitan Serafim of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Germany, Central and Northern Europe, attended the enthronement ceremony of the new Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Vienna, Josef Grünwidl, on Saturday. The installation took place at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the Austrian capital, in the presence of around 3,000 people. The ordination and installation…

Jan 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Southern Bessarabia diocese donates mobile hospital to Ukraine’s Odesa region

The Diocese of Southern Bessarabia donated a mobile hospital to Ukraine’s Odesa region, with the official handover ceremony taking place on Saturday, when Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia presented the vehicle to the regional administration. During the visit, the bishop was accompanied by Claudiu Tătaru, Romania’s Consul General in Odesa; Alexandrin Moiseev, a member of…

Jan 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Cross-border Orthodox liturgy held in Iași for Saint Joseph the Merciful

The feast of Saint Joseph the Merciful brought together Orthodox hierarchs from both sides of the Prut River on Monday in Iași. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Metropolitan Cathedral by Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina, together with Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia, Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia, and Assistant Bishop Nichifor of Botoșani…

Jan 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Bishop baptises Norwegian convert and newborn in Arctic Norway

Bishop Macarie of Northern Europe celebrated the Mystery of Holy Baptism on Sunday for a 22-year-old Norwegian man and his newborn daughter. The service took place at the Romanian Orthodox church on the island of Skjervøya, in northern Norway. The church is dedicated to Saints Leontius of Rădăuți, Jacob of Putna, and Pachomius of Gledin.…

Jan 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Anastasios of Albania prayerfully remembered at Tirana Cathedral one year after his passing

Archbishop Anastasios of Albania was prayerfully remembered on Sunday at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana, one year after his passing. The memorial service was led by the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, Archbishop John, together with members of the Holy Synod. Archbishop John stressed that the annual commemoration is a…

Jan 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Nectarie joins patronal feast of Limerick parish in Ireland

His Grace Bishop Nectarie of Ireland and Iceland joined the faithful of the Romanian Parish of Limerick, Ireland, for the community’s patronal feast on Sunday. The occasion also marked Bishop Nectarie’s first pastoral and liturgical visit to this parish. The festive day marked not only the meeting of the local community with its bishop but…

Jan 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Short biographies of Romanian Orthodox bishops who aided Jews during the Holocaust, 1941–1944

In observance of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, historian Dr George Enache presents a collection of short biographies documenting Romanian Orthodox bishops who supported and protected Jewish communities during the Holocaust, 1941–1944. Dr George Enache is a Professor at the Faculty of History, Philosophy, and Theology of the University of Lower Danube in Galați, Romania. Rooted…

Jan 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel urges unity and social peace on Holocaust Remembrance Day

Patriarch Daniel has issued a strong message calling for unity, social peace and the defence of human dignity as a representative of the Romanian Orthodox Church took part in ceremonies marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the commemoration of the anti-Jewish pogrom in Bucharest on Monday. The Patriarch underlined that authentic social harmony can only…

Jan 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Southern Bessarabia Diocese reports baptism growth and stronger youth engagement in 2025

The Diocese of Southern Bessarabia recorded visible pastoral growth throughout 2025, alongside greater involvement of young people in diocesan life. Figures in the diocese’s annual activity report point to an encouraging development: 889 baptisms, 350 weddings and 870 funerals were recorded, with the number of those entering the Church through the Sacrament of Baptism exceeding…

Jan 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu