Ștefana Totorcea

Consecration of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Tokyo

The Romanian Orthodox Church in Tokyo was consecrated on Tuesday, on the feast of the transfer of St George’s relics to his church in Lydda. The service was officiated by Romanian Metropolitan Iosif of Western Europe and Metropolitan Daniel of Tokyo and Japan. The consecration concluded the restoration works which took several years. The Romanian…

Nov 6, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Romanian films at Byzanfest feature St. Nicholas and the children from Valea Plopului as main characters

Two Romanian films are registered in the Byzanfest Orthodox Film Festival, which is unfolding online between October 23 and November 8: a psychological drama where the main character turns out to be St Nicholas and a documentary showing an educational game with the children from the Orthodox Valea Plopului settlement. “500” is nominated for the…

Nov 6, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Timișoara Orthodox nuns sew 2,600 towels for hospitals in one night

The nuns from the Diocesan Centre of the Archdiocese of Timișoara sew 2,600 disposable towels overnight and offered them to the Intensive Care Units (ICU) of local hospitals. 1,400 towels were delivered to the County Hospital and other 1,200 to the “Victor Babeș” Infectious Diseases Hospital. “We wish to thank the Metropolis of Banatului for…

Nov 4, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Fire destroys Romanian-language church in Prague. The Municipality pledges to restore the wooden historical monument

A fire with unknown author consumed on Wednesday the Romanian-language Orthodox church in Prague. The flames caused the collapse of its 17-meter tower. Parish Priest Andrei Ioan Danciu declared for Radio Free Europe Moldova that Prague Municipality, who owns the building, will reconstruct it. “We need to keep on going, we cannot give up. I…

Nov 4, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

The Week in Pictures: October 26 – November 1, 2020

Last week was marked by the feast of St Demetrios the New at the Patriarchal Cathedral, the feast of St Hyacinth of Vicina, Metropolitan of Wallachia, and the commemoration of the Colectiv club fire victims. Please see below our photo selection for the week October 26 – November 1, 2020. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post:…

Nov 3, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Dăeni Parish Priest was a rebel child: “My ‘religion’ was football.” Read how St Parascheva chose him as her servant

The life and work of Father Alexandru Octavian Balaban from St Parascheva Parish in Dăeni, county of Tulcea, unfolds under St Parascheva’s protection. The priest, whose story has been recently featured in Libertatea daily, told Basilica.ro how he transitioned from the “religion of football” to the ministry of priesthood. He grew up in the village…

Nov 3, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Putna Monastery Hieromonk appointed abbot of St Demetrios the New Monastery in Middletown, NY

Metropolitan Nicolae of the two Americas installed Protosyncellus Ieremia Berbec as the abbot of the Middletown Monastery, in the state of New York. The ceremony was held on October 24, when the patronal feast of the monastery was celebrated. The celebration was held in advance of the saint’s feast (October 27) to allow participation of…

Nov 2, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

The Week in Pictures: October 19 – 25, 2020

The Week in Pictures culminated with the start of events dedicated to St. Demetrius the New’s feast at the Patriarchal Cathedral. We invite you to see our photo selection for October 19 – 25, 2020. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post:   View this post on Instagram   *RO: Moaștele Sfântului Dimitrie au fost scoase pentru…

Oct 30, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

13 years of journalism for the Church celebrated in the field, among the faithful

The Basilica Media Center of the Romanian Patriarchate celebrates its 13th anniversary on October 27, on the feast of St Demetrius the New. This celebration always finds Church journalists at work. During the religious service, from the Patriarchate Hill, or from behind the computer screens, they report their whispered, yet firm “breaking news”. Although this…

Oct 27, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Newly-discovered underwater ruins point to Christian past on Turkey’s Black Sea coast

The authorities of Ordu province, in northern Turkey, announced on Monday that experts from the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology found the ruins of a church on the bottom of Lake Gaga, submerged 15 meters below the surface. The age of these vestiges is yet to be determined. The 15-acre lake is the most important…

Oct 22, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

“Passage to the Light” | The digitized heritage of the Holy Mount Athos goes on display in Athens

An interactive digital exhibition with codices, illuminated manuscripts and objects from the heritage of the Holy Mount Athos is open for the public at the Concert Hall in Athens. The event presents the digitalization work made by the Athonite monks. The visitors can also see a day from a monk’s life – a very welcome…

Oct 22, 2020Ștefana Totorcea