Anniversaries and commemorations

Patriarch Teoctist remembered 19 years after his repose

The Romanian Orthodox Church commemorates Patriarch Teoctist Arăpașu on 30 July, marking 19 years since his repose in the Lord. Patriarch Teoctist of blessed memory reposed in the Lord on 30 July 2007, after 21 years as Patriarch of Romania and 57 years of episcopal ministry. Born Theodor Arăpașu on 7 February 1915 in the…

Jul 30, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania marks 70 years of UNESCO membership, highlighting its rich religious heritage

Romania marks 70 years of UNESCO membership on Monday. On 27 July 1956, the country became a member of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), joining the international effort to protect and promote the world’s cultural and natural heritage. Over the past seven decades, Romania has strengthened its presence within UNESCO through…

Jul 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

113 years since the birth of St. John Jacob of Neamț, the Romanian ascetic who sanctified the Holy Land

Thursday marks the 113th anniversary of the birth of St. John Jacob of Neamț, the New Chozebite, who continued the tradition of ascetic life in the Holy Land at the very places where the Prophet Elijah, St. Anne, the Mother of the Theotokos, and St. George of Chozeba had lived as hermits. Born on July…

Jul 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

St John Maximovitch, missionary Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, remembered 60 years after his repose

The Orthodox Church on Thursday marks the 60th anniversary of the repose of St John Maximovitch, Archbishop of Shanghai and San Francisco, one of the twentieth century’s most revered Orthodox saints whose missionary ministry extended across Asia, Europe and North America. St John was added to the Romanian Orthodox Church’s calendar in 2023, with his…

Jul 2, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada celebrates 20th anniversary of episcopal ordination

His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada marks the twentieth anniversary of his episcopal ordination on Thursday. He was ordained to the episcopate on 2 July 2006 at the Cathedral of the Holy Emperors Constantine and Helen in Chicago. He initially served as Assistant Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of the Americas. Biographical Background…

Jul 2, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

On This Day: Metropolitan Nicodim Munteanu elected Patriarch of Romania in 1939

Eighty-seven years ago today, Metropolitan Nicodim Munteanu was elected Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, succeeding Patriarch Miron Cristea. Nicodim Munteanu was born Nicolae on 6 December 1864 in the village of Pipirig, Neamț County, into a devout farming family. At the age of fourteen, he entered the monastic community of Pocrov Skete near Neamț…

Jun 30, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s Senate marks 162 years since establishment; Orthodox Metropolitan was first president

Romania’s Senate marks 162 years since its establishment on Tuesday, June 17. The institution’s first president was Metropolitan Nifon Rusailă of Hungro-Wallachia, who later became Romania’s first Primate Metropolitan. The upper chamber of Parliament was created in 1864 at the initiative of Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza through the “Developing Statute of the Paris Convention,” according…

Jun 17, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Basilica News Agency marks 18 years since publishing its first news report

Basilica.ro, the official news agency of the Romanian Patriarchate, marks its 18th anniversary on Tuesday since publishing its first news report online, an event that marked the beginning of its editorial activity. The Basilica News Agency is part of the Basilica Media Centre of the Romanian Patriarchate, established on October 27, 2007, at the initiative…

Jun 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Churches mark 10th anniversary of historic Holy and Great Council of Crete

Tuesday, June 16, marks the tenth anniversary of the Holy and Great Council of Crete, the only gathering of its kind held by the Orthodox Church in the 21st century. The Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church brought together hierarchs from ten of the fourteen autocephalous Orthodox Churches on the island of Crete.…

Jun 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania Marks First National Day of Remembrance for Victims of 1990 Mineriad

Romania on Monday marked for the first time the National Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the June 13–15, 1990 Mineriad and Anti-Democratic Repression, according to the national news agency Agerpres. The observance was established under Law No. 93/2026, promulgated on June 10 by Romania’s president, the Presidential Administration said in a press release.…

Jun 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Schema-nun Siluana Vlad remembered five years after her repose

A few days after her 77th birthday, Schema-nun Siluana Vlad reposed in the Lord on 8 June 2021. Shortly before her death, she left a message to her spiritual children: “My dear children, I ask you to call upon the name of the Lord, and know that if I pass into eternal life, I will…

Jun 8, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu