Ștefana Totorcea

HG Ioan Casian: Romanian faithful should confess their faith as the patron saints of the Romanian diaspora did

In his Easter Pastoral Letter, Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada called upon the faithful to follow in the footsteps of the patron saints of the Romanian diaspora, taking them as their models. “Let us also become steadfast confessors of the Orthodox faith, outstanding representatives of our traditional Christian values proven by time and experience, and…

May 4, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

The Week in Pictures: April 26 – May 2, 2021

Please find below our Week in Pictures selection with photos from the Holy Week and the Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post:   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Basilica News Agency (@basilica.ro) Do you want to be featured in our weekly selection of photos?…

May 4, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Easter 2021: How many countries sent planes to Jerusalem for the Holy Fire?

There were 11 countries sending planes to Jerusalem for the Holy Fire, most of them with a Christian Orthodox majority population. They flew back home with the Holy Fire on Holy Saturday. Although Ben Gurion Airport is still closed due to COVID restrictions, Israel allowed several countries to send delegations to receive the Holy Fire…

May 2, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

The Patriarch received the Holy Fire: Christ is the Joyful light, Who shows His love to those who look for Him

The Holy Fire reached the Patriarchate Hill on Saturday, at 19:30 and it was handed to Patriarch Daniel. His Beatitude said the Holy Fire is the Joyful light from one of the oldest hymns of the Church. “Christ the Lord is the Joyful Light,” he said. “God, Who is Himself inaccessible light, made Himself Joyful…

May 1, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Through the Holy Baptism we are chosen to witness and proclaim the Resurrection: Metropolitan Nicolae

“Only those chosen by Christ to be the witnesses of His Resurrection can also be the preachers of this miracle. Christ appeared to the myrrh-bearers, the apostles, the disciples and lastly to St. Paul,” writes the Romanian Metropolitan of the two Americas in his Easter Pastoral Letter. “We too are following in the footsteps of…

May 1, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Patriarch of Romania on Palm Sunday: “A foretelling of Easter”

“Our Saviour Jesus Christ triumphally enters into Jerusalem. That is why today’s feast is a foretelling of Christ’s victory over sin and death, it is a foretelling of Easter,” said Patriarch Daniel on Palm Sunday, April 25, 2021. “They say that the weather on Palm Sunday predicts the weather on Easter,” added the Patriarch, but,…

Apr 29, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Nun who served as abbess of Romanian Tismana Monastery for more than 50 years reposes in the Lord

The stavrophore nun Mother Jerusalema (Gligor), who labored in monasticism for 75 years, including more than 50 years as abbess of Tismana Monastery, was solemnly laid to rest on Saturday at the monastery she led for so many years. The service was officiated by His Grace Bishop Nicodim of Severin and Strehaia, who recalled that…

Apr 29, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Report: Epicenter of persecutions against Christians has moved from the Middle East to Africa

A report made by the Russian Orthodox Church concludes that African Christians are the most exposed to persections at present. The epicenter of persecutions against Christians has moved from the Middle East to Africa. “Situation in Nigeria causes the greatest concerns. This country holds the first place in the world for its level of anti-Christian…

Apr 29, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Bogota: The first ever divine liturgy celebrated in Romanian during the first visit of a Romanian priest in Colombia

Father Daniel Ene, Diocesan Secretary and Dean of New York, New England and US East Coast, visited Colombia at the beginning of the month. It was the first visit of a Romanian Orthodox priest in this country. On this occasion, Romanians from Bogota heard for the first time the Divine Liturgy in their native language.…

Apr 27, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

The Week in Pictures: April 19 – 25, 2021

The last week of the Great Lent and the feast of the Entrace of the Lord to Jerusalem are reflected in our selection of photos captured between April 19 and 25, 2021. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post:   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Basilica News Agency (@basilica.ro) Do you want…

Apr 27, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

In pictures | Palm Sunday on Bucharest’s Patriarchate Hill

His Eminence Varlaam of Ploiești celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday, April 25, 2021, at the open-air altar on Bucharest’s Patriarchate Hill. Photo credit: Basilica.ro / Mircea Florescu

Apr 27, 2021Ștefana Totorcea