Anniversaries and commemorations

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

80th anniversary of the Fântâna Albă Massacre

April 1 became by law, adopted in 2011, a National Day honouring the memory of Romanians who were the victims of the massacres at Fântâna Albă and other areas, deportations, famine and other forms of repression organized by the totalitarian Soviet regime in Hertza region, northern Bukovina and the whole of Bessarabia. After signing the…

Apr 1, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel has 31 years of episcopal ministry and 1 main priority: spiritual life

“The priorities are multiple, but, first of all, we must think about the spiritual life,” is the thought with which Patriarch Daniel came to the leadership of the Romanian Orthodox Church, a moment he already fulfilled 17 years of episcopal ministry. We mark today 31 years since Fr Daniel Ciobotea was ordained to the episcopate…

Mar 4, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Justinian’s 120th birthday anniversary: “A sailor’s mastery is seen in times of storm”

“Saint John Chrysostom says that a sailor’s mastery is seen in times of storm,” said on Monday Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova referring to Romania’s former Patriarch Justinian Marina. “His pastoral ministry took place in a time of storm when adverse waves threatened the Church’s ship,” the bishop added. The Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese…

Feb 25, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania marks International Greek Language Day with Vasilopita cutting, online event

The celebration of the International Greek Language Day began in Romania three years ago. The legislative initiative belonged to Dragos Gabriel Zisopol, chairman of the Hellenic Union in Romania. February 9 has been selected as the day to celebrate the Greek language because it coincides with the Commemoration Day of Greece’s “national poet” Dionysios Solomos.…

Feb 16, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

13 February: World Radio Day, the most widely consumed medium

World Radio Day 2021 (WRD 2021) celebrates radio as part of humanity’s history by following the various developments in our society and adapting its services. As the world changes, so does radio. Thus, during the Covid-19 pandemic, radio made it possible, for example, to ensure continuity of learning, to fight against misinformation, and to promote…

Feb 13, 2021Iulian Dumitraşcu

Orthodox high school students lay garland of red carnations on Eminescu’s shoulders to mark National Culture Day

The students of the Orthodox Pedagogical High School “Anastasia Popescu” in Bucharest continued this year the tradition of placing a garland of red carnations on the shoulders of the statue of Mihai Eminescu in front of the Romanian Athenaeum to mark Romania’s National Culture Day. Prof. Monica Șerbănescu, the director of the high school, posted…

Jan 21, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

11 December: International Mountain Day

Mountains are home to 15% of the world´s population and host about half of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. They provide fresh water for everyday life to half of humanity. Their conservation is a key factor for sustainable development and is part of Goal 15 of the SDGs. Unfortunately, mountains are under threat from climate change and overexploitation.…

Dec 11, 2020Iulian Dumitraşcu

5 December: International Volunteer Day

International Volunteer Day (IVD) mandated by the UN General Assembly, is held each year on 5 December, UN informs. Over the last months, as the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged across the world, volunteers have been at the forefront of medical, community, and societal responses. Headlines in the world’s media have paid credit to volunteers for all kinds…

Dec 5, 2020Iulian Dumitraşcu

22 years since the death of Elder Cleopa Ilie

Elder Cleopa Ilie passed away on 2 December 1998. Considered by many people a unique “Avva” of the Romanian spirituality, as inspiringly Rev. Prof Dr. Dumitru Staniloae called him, Elder Cleopa was born in Suliţa commune, Botoşani county, on a spring day. His parents, Alexandru and Ana Ilie, called him Constantin, and he was the fifth child…

Dec 2, 2020Gheorghe Anghel