Ștefana Totorcea

Romanian state allocates yearly 960,000 € support for Athonite Prodromou Skete

The plenary of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies approved on Wednesday the law establishing the yearly amount of financial support from the state budget allocated for the Prodromou Skete on Holy Mt. Athos: 960,000 Euros. There were 258 votes in favour, 31 against, 19 abstentions, and 1 unexpressed vote. „Given the history of this place…

Feb 26, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

The Week in Pictures: February 15 – 21, 2021

Please find below beautiful sunsets, winterscapes, liturgical moments and other snapshots from the Orthodox world: it is our selection of photos taken between February 15 – 21, 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 to be featured in…

Feb 22, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

First liturgy after enthronment: Patriarch Porfirije offers the publican’s humility as a model of spiritual health

Serbian Patriarch Porfirije celebrated his first official Patriarchal Liturgy this Sunday at Saint Sava Cathedral in Belgrade. In his homily, he said that man’s natural state is illustrated by the publican’s humility. Only by following his model can we function healthily: “To be Christian means to be authentically human,” he said. “What seems great, powerful and…

Feb 22, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Bucharest Archdiocese spends EUR 2 mln on medical equipment, humanitarian aid in 2020

The Archdiocesan Assembly of the Archdiocese of Bucharest convened at the Palace of the Romanian Patriarchate to review last year’s activity and set new priorities for 2021. The activity slowed down compared to previous years, as a consequence of the pandemic restrictions. Nevertheless, most of the administrative-pastoral, economic-patrimonial, cultural-missionary and educational activities were continued. The…

Feb 17, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

The Week in Pictures: February 8 – 14, 2021

No matter where you are, Orthodoxy is lived with faith, prayer and love. Please find below our selection of photos taken in the Orthodox world between February 8 and 14, 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 to…

Feb 15, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Writer Paul Kingsnorth, baptized in the Romanian Orthodox Church, says he feels like arriving home

Paul Kingsnorth, one of the most important English writers alive, was baptized as a Christian Orthodox at the Romanian Monastery in Shannonbridge, Ireland. “As a Western newcomer to Orthodoxy, I have a lifetime’s learning journey ahead of me, but I already feel like I have arrived home,” said the writer. “I first discovered Christian Orthodoxy…

Feb 15, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Cluj Archdiocese spends EUR 3.3 mln on charity in 2020

The Archdiocese of Cluj spent 3.3 million Euros on philanthropy last year, offering aid or other forms of support to approximately 16,000 beneficiaries. The announcement was made at the Eparchial Assembly gathered on Saturday in central Romania’s Cluj-Napoca city.  The meeting began with a Te Deum service, after which His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj…

Feb 11, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Iași Archdiocese: Two candidates to be considered for episcopacy

Archimandrites Nichifor Horia and Ioan Harpa were nominated by the Metropolitan Synod of Moldavia and Bucovina for the position of Auxiliary Bishop of Iași. The proposals were approved on February 2 and were forwarded to the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Archimandrite Nichifor Horia is the Abbot of the “Holy Three Hierarchs” in the…

Feb 11, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Auxiliary Bishop for Deva and Hunedoara to be elected. Who are the two candidates

Archimandrites Nestor Dinculeană and Gherontie Ciupe were nominated for the position of Auxiliary Bishop to the Diocese of Deva and Hunedoara. The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church will vote one of them to fill the new position. The two nominations were approved on Monday by the Metropolitan Synod organized at the Diocesan Centre…

Feb 10, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

The Week in Pictures: February 1 – 7, 2021

Entering February, the Orthodox faithful celebrated the month’s most important religious feast, The Meeting of Our Lord. Please see below our selection of photos from the Orthodox world taken between February 1 and 7. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post:   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Basilica News Agency (@basilica.ro) Do…

Feb 9, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

IN PICTURES: #Themakingof the giant Platytera Mother of God mosaic icon at Romania’s National Cathedral

Painter Daniel Codrescu and his team are working tirelessly on the mosaic painting of Romania’s National Cathedral. They offered Basilica.ro a photo feature of the making of the Platytera Mother of God mosaic icon in the sanctuary. The name of the icon means in Greek “Higher than the heavens”. This icon is usually of great…

Feb 5, 2021Ștefana Totorcea