Ștefana Totorcea

Văratec Monastery is rebuilding two houses destroyed by a devastating fire

Văratec Monastery in Neamț County, Romania, will rebuild two monastic houses destroyed by a devastating fire late last month. The fire is believed to have started after an electrical short circuit in a sewing machine, said the Neamț County Emergency Response Unit officials. In a short time, most likely due to the wind, the flames…

May 22, 2024Ștefana Totorcea

New Romanian parish established in Great Britain

A new Romanian parish has been established in Aylesbury, UK. On Sunday, the Romanian Orthodox Auxiliary Bishop of Italy, His Grace Atanasie of Bogdania, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the new community. The parish is dedicated to the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women. His Grace Atanasie of Bogdania installed the priest Iulian Rusu as parish priest and…

May 22, 2024Ștefana Totorcea

Metropolitan Synod in Bucharest: Founders of Romanian Athonite Prodromou Skete proposed for canonization

The Synod of the Metropolis of Muntenia and Dobrudja met on Monday at the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest. On this occasion, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel announced that the founders of the Athonite Prodromou Skete, Venerable Nifon and Nectarie, have been proposed to be canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The most important item on the agenda…

May 22, 2024Ștefana Totorcea

The Week in Pictures: May 13 – 19, 2024

Sunsets, feasts and spiritual retreats are just a few topics illustrated in photos taken from 13 to 19 May 2024 and included in our Week-in-Pictures photo feature. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post:   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Basilica.ro (@basilica.ro) Do you want to be featured in our weekly selection…

May 21, 2024Ștefana Totorcea

J.C. Larchet: Christianity helps us assume the present limitations of our bodies, which we shall overcome in Heaven

Basilica.ro invited Jean-Claude Larchet to a dialogue on diseases of the body, mind and spirit. The theologian also spoke about the ideologies that undermine today’s society, explaining how Christianity teaches us to assume the limitations of our bodies and those imposed by disease. “Christianity’s distinction between original and fallen nature helps Christians to come to…

May 17, 2024Ștefana Totorcea

The Bright Week in pictures: May 6 – 12, 2024

Please see below our Bright Week 2024 photo feature presenting last week’s snapshots of Orthodox life. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post:   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Basilica.ro (@basilica.ro) Do you want to be featured in our weekly selection of photos? We would gladly include one of your photos depicting…

May 16, 2024Ștefana Totorcea

Romanian diocese proposes 18th-century abbot for canonization

The Synod of the Metropolis of Oltenia held a session on Bright Tuesday, May 7, during which it proposed a new monastic saint for canonization. Meeting at Lainici Monastery in Gorj County, the hierarchs discussed the events dedicated to the canonization of Venerable Ioan, the first abbot of Hurezi Monastery, founded in 1690 by St.…

May 13, 2024Ștefana Totorcea

Patriarch of Jerusalem, the City of Peace, proclaims Resurrection, calls for an end to hostilities in the Holy Land

Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem sent an Easter message on Wednesday proclaiming the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and calling for an end to all hostilities in the region – “primarily to Gaza, the entire Holy Land and the Middle East”. “Today, the Church of Christ proclaims the gospel of unspeakable joy to the…

May 3, 2024Ștefana Totorcea

In 2024, World Press Freedom Day invites journalists to raise awareness on environmental issues

Friday is World Press Freedom Day, marked annually on 3 May. It was established by the UN in 1993. The day’s purpose is to remind governments to live up to their promise to provide freedom of expression to the press and journalists. This year, the theme is environmental protection. This year’s theme is “A Press…

May 3, 2024Ștefana Totorcea

Patriarch Daniel sends irenic Easter letter to Ecumenical Patriarch and Primates of the Autocephalous Orthodox Churches

On Thursday, Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church sent an irenic Easter letter to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I and the Primates of the Autocephalous Orthodox Churches. Full text: Bucharest, Holy Easter 2024 Your Holiness/Your Beatitude, Christ is Risen! The Holy Feast of the Resurrection is the foundation of the Christian life and the foretaste…

May 2, 2024Ștefana Totorcea

Labour Day pays tribute to industrial workers’ efforts to gain due recognition of their rights

International Labour Day, marked annually on May 1, was established by dozens of nations in memory of the struggle of America’s industrial workers for the eight-hour workday. In the 19th century in the US, it was not uncommon for workers to spend up to 16 hours a day at their jobs, reports America’s National Public…

May 1, 2024Ștefana Totorcea