Aurelian Iftimiu

St George relic to be brought from Mount Athos to Romania in April 2026

Pantocrator Monastery in Teleorman County, southern Romania, will again mark its patronal feast in a special way this year, as the honourable skull of the Great Martyr George the Trophy-Bearer will be brought from the Athonite Xenophontos Monastery. The holy relic will be displayed at the Romanian monastery from April 22 to April 28, 2026,…

Feb 10, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Teoctist remembered at Putna as a defender of monasticism as a vital force of Orthodoxy

Archimandrite Melchisedec Velnic, abbot of Putna Monastery, said last Saturday that Patriarch Teoctist viewed monastic life “not as a relic of the past, but as a vital, regenerating force of Romanian Orthodoxy”, as the monastery’s brotherhood officiated a memorial service marking 111 years since the former patriarch’s birth. “He loved monasticism, because he himself remained,…

Feb 10, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian neurosurgeon Leon Dănăilă honoured with Patriarchal Cross in Bucharest

An event dedicated to the life and academic career of Leon Dănăilă, an emblematic figure of Romanian neurosurgery and medical research, brought together leading figures from the scientific, cultural, academic and religious fields last Thursday at the National Theatre in Bucharest. During the ceremony, the renowned Romanian neurosurgeon received several honours and awards, including the…

Feb 10, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church designates 2027 as year of remembrance for Patriarchs Justinian and Teoctist

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church announced that 2027 has been designated a Commemorative Year in honour of the Patriarchs Justinian Marina (1948–1977) and Teoctist Arăpașu (1986–2007). The decision was approved on the eve of the 111th anniversary of the late Patriarch Teoctist’s birth. The two Primates led the Romanian Orthodox Church during…

Feb 10, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Paisie of Sinaia says God restores, not humiliates, the repentant believer

Speaking on Sunday at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Paisie of Sinaia said that the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son does not reproach his child, does not humiliate him and does not demand explanations. “His gaze does not fall on the sin, but on the suffering that needs healing.…

Feb 10, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox and Catholic groups launch child protection and domestic violence prevention project in Bessarabia

The Diaconia Social Mission of the Metropolis of Bessarabia has partnered with Catholic Relief Services to prevent the separation of children from their families and to combat domestic violence under a nine-month project titled “Community and Communion.” Child protection and prevention of domestic violence Implemented in the Republic of Moldova between January and September 2026,…

Feb 10, 2026Aurelian 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