Anniversaries and commemorations

Romanian Orthodox Church highlights support for families on Christian Family Sunday

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church instituted in 2009 a Sunday dedicated to the Christian family. It is observed on the Sunday closest to 15 May, which the United Nations designated as the International Day of Families. This year, Christian Family Sunday fell on 17 May, the feast day of the Holy Apostles…

May 18, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania marks first National Day of Religious Freedom and contribution of religious denominations

Romania on Saturday marked for the first time the National Day of Religious Freedom and the Contribution of Religious Denominations to Romanian Society. The observance was established in 2025 following a proposal by Romania’s religious denominations during a meeting held on 10 April 2024 with representatives of the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs and other…

May 18, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania marks National Peony Day as flower gains status as symbol of Romanian soldiers’ heroism

Romania’s national flower is celebrated annually on 15 May, with the peony recognised as a symbol of Romanian soldiers’ heroism. Efforts to secure official recognition for the peony were supported by the community “Bujorul Românesc – The Romanian Peony”, founded in 2015 by Cristina Turnagiu Dragna and Andreea Tănăsescu, creator of the “La Blouse Roumaine”…

May 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

International Day of Families highlights social inequality and child wellbeing in 2026

The International Day of Families is observed annually on 15 May. The theme for 2026 highlights the impact of social and economic inequalities on family life and child development. The International Day of Families is marked under a resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993. The UN warns that many families face…

May 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania marks National Day honouring victims of communist prisons

Romania’s National Day, honouring the martyrs of the communist prisons, is observed annually on 14 May in memory of the thousands of people arrested by the totalitarian regime, according to Agerpres. The date was chosen to commemorate the night of 14–15 May 1948, when the communist authorities launched one of the largest waves of political…

May 14, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Assistant Bishop Teofil of Iberia marks 55th birthday

His Grace Teofil of Iberia, Assistant Bishop to the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Spain and Portugal, celebrates his 55th birthday on Wednesday. The hierarch was born on 13 May 1971 in Desești, Maramureș county, Romania, to Gheorghe and Maria. Between 1977 and 1985, he attended primary school in his native village, while from 1985 to…

May 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian women in history: Natalia Manoilescu Dinu proved that women can substantially contribute to theological thought

106 years ago, on March 14, Natalia Manoilescu Dinu was born in Bucharest. Her father, Mihail Manoilescu, made a notable contribution to international economic thought, but her calling was in theology. She followed the spiritual and academic footsteps of Saint Dumitru Stăniloae. As a young woman residing in Bucharest, she concurrently undertook studies in theology…

May 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Mount Athos Elder Saint Dionysius of Colciu commemorated 22 years after repose

Monday marks 22 years since the repose of Saint Dionysius of Colciu, one of the great Romanian spiritual elders of Mount Athos. Saint Dionysius was born on 22 September 1909 in Vorniceni, Romania, into a large, devout family, the youngest of eight children. At baptism, he received the name Dumitru. His childhood was marked by…

May 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Atanasie marks first year leading Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

His Eminence Atanasie Rusnac marked on Sunday the one-year anniversary of his enthronement as the first Romanian Orthodox Archbishop of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a recently established eparchy created to address the pastoral needs of the large Romanian community in the United Kingdom. The anniversary was marked in London through a series of cultural…

May 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Historic Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest marks 368 years since consecration

Three hundred and sixty-eight years have passed since the consecration of the historic Patriarchal Cathedral of Saints Constantine and Helen in Bucharest. Construction of the Patriarchal Cathedral began in the mid-17th century at the initiative of Prince Constantin Șerban Basarab and his wife, Lady Bălașa, as an offering of thanksgiving to God for the restoration…

May 8, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian women in history: 20 years since the repose of Mother Benedicta, scholar who embraced monastic life

Tuesday marks 20 years since the repose of Mother Benedicta — academician Zoe Dumitrescu-Bușulenga — who, during the communist period, urged her students to read the Bible and, after its fall, rose to become Vice-President of the Romanian Academy before choosing the path of monastic life. She was born on 20 August 1920 in Bucharest…

May 5, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu