Aurelian 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

Basarabia Metropolitan Petru chairs Chișinău Archdiocese assembly, presents 2025 activity report

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia chaired on Monday the Diocesan Assembly, the deliberative body of the Archdiocese of Chișinău, during which the report on the archdiocese’s activities for the past year was presented. The meeting was preceded by prayer, with a Te Deum service celebrated in the chapel of Saint John the Theologian of…

Feb 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian theologian says mothers of the Three Holy Hierarchs show how families can raise faithful, educated children

Families in which the Three Holy Hierarchs were born show that, “regardless of the challenges one faces and the contexts one must navigate, there are solutions” for raising children who are faithful to the Church and well formed intellectually and socially, said Cosmin Pricop, Dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology “Patriarch Justinian” at the…

Feb 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Assistant Bishop Marc of Neamț leads patronal feast at first Romanian-built Orthodox church in France

His Grace Marc of Nemț, Assistant Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Western Europe, celebrated the Divine Liturgy last Friday for the patronal feast of the first Orthodox place of worship built by Romanians in France, in La Courneuve. The church is dedicated to the Three Holy Hierarchs, who were honoured by the clergy…

Feb 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate marks 101 years since its establishment

The Romanian Patriarchate marks Wednesday the 101st anniversary of its establishment. The founding act of the Romanian Patriarchate was approved by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church on 4 February 1925. The Holy Synod’s decision was communicated to the Parliament of Romania, and the establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate was unanimously recognised and…

Feb 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Church tops public trust rankings in Romania – INSCOP survey

The Church ranks first in the public trust league in Romania, according to the latest barometer published by Informat.ro and INSCOP Research. According to the survey data, 63.9% of respondents report having “quite a lot” or “very much” trust in the Church, up from 57.7% in July last year. The Church thus becomes the institution…

Feb 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu