Anniversaries and commemorations

Romania marks National Day of Brâncoveanu Martyrs and of Awareness of Violence against Christians

August 16 marks Romania’s National Day of Remembrance of the Brancoveanu Martyrs and of Awareness of Violence against Christians. Romania’s President ratified the law proclaiming August 16 as “National Day of Remembrance of the Brancoveanu Martyrs and of Awareness of Violence against Christians” on July 16, 2020. The day of August 16 was chosen to coincide with…

Aug 16, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel turns 70

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania celebrates his 70th birthday on Thursday. He was born on 22 July 1951, to parents Alexe and Stela Ciobotea, in Dobreşti village, Bara commune, county of Timiş. He was baptised Dan-Ilie. Education and professional experience 1958 – 1962 – he attends the primary school in his native village Dobreşti, county…

Jul 22, 2021Iulian Dumitraşcu

The relics of Saint Demetrius the New have been protecting Bucharest for 247 years

July 13, 2021, marks 247 years since the holy relics of St. Demetrius the New, the most valuable treasure of the Patriarchal Cathedral, were brought to Bucharest. How did the relics of St. Demetrius arrive in Bucharest? The historical context in which the honourable relics arrived in the Romanian Capital was the Russo-Turkish War of…

Jul 13, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Elder Joseph of Vatopedi’s 100th birth anniversary, 12 years since his “smile from eternity”

A century has passed since the birth of Elder Joseph of Vatopedi and 12 years since his blessed repose in the Lord. One of the most beloved elders of the Holy Mountain, Father Joseph fell asleep in the Lord, on his birthday, on July 1, 2009. A miracle happened immediately after his passing into eternity:…

Jul 1, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate’s Basilica Media Centre marks its patronal feast on Pentecost Monday

All five institutions that are part of the Basilica Media Centre of the Romanian Patriarchate were placed under the protection of the Holy Trinity, having as a model and help the Divine Persons who “offer Themselves to each other and work together in perfect harmony, and Their glory shows the holiness and beauty of Their…

Jun 21, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Five year anniversary of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church

Five years ago, on June 16, began the writing of ‘a new chapter in the history of the Church’ as Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew called the meeting of the Local Orthodox Churches that took place on the island of Crete. The Council took place from June 16 to June 26, 2016, at the Orthodox Academy of…

Jun 16, 2021basilica.ro

For 13 years, the Basilica News Agency: Profile

In a world assailed by information, Patriarch Daniel saw the presence of the Orthodox Church in the Romanian media landscape as a primary necessity. Less than a month after his enthronement, on October 27, 2007, His Beatitude established the Basilica Media Centre, consisting of five components: Radio Trinitas, Trinitas TV, Lumina publications, Basilica News Agency,…

Jun 16, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

June 14, World Blood Donor Day. Around 19,000 liters of blood being harvested in Romanian Patriarchate campaign

Every year, on June 14, countries around the world celebrate World Blood Donor Day. The event serves to thank voluntary, unpaid blood donors for their life-saving gifts of blood and to raise awareness of the need for regular blood donations to ensure the quality, safety, and availability of blood and blood products for patients in…

Jun 14, 2021Iulian Dumitraşcu

World Oceans Day: June 8, 2021

World Oceans Day takes place every June 8. The concept was originally proposed in 1992 by Canada’s International Centre for Ocean Development (ICOD) and the Ocean Institute of Canada (OIC) at the Earth Summit – UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 2008, the United Nations General Assembly passed…

Jun 8, 2021Iulian Dumitraşcu

International Children’s Day: How it became an official holiday in Romania

The International Children’s Day was adopted by dozen of states as a celebration of children and childhood in 1925 and it was later established by the United Nations as the Global Day of Parents. In 2016, the Parliament of Children managed to obtain from the Parliament of Romania the approval for making Children’s Day a…

Jun 1, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Queen Mother Helen of Romania commemorated at Cernica Monastery on her 125th birth anniversary

Bright Monday marked the 125th birth anniversary of Queen Mother Helen, the grandmother of Her Majesty Crown Princess Margareta. On this occasion, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown and His Royal Highness Prince Radu attended a memorial service officiated at Cernica Monastery. The memorial service was officiated by the monastery’s abbot, Protosyncellys Vasile Pîrjol. Chanting…

May 5, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu