Diaspora

1904 consecration document found in church tower during Vienna renovations

A consecration charter and other documents dating back to 1904 have been discovered at the base of a cross atop one of the towers of the Romanian church “Saint Anthony” in Vienna during renovation works. The discovery was made by Fr Ioan Moga and his wife Patricia, together with representatives of the company restoring the…

Apr 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox parish in Vienna marks 120 years with multi-church ceremony

The “Holy Resurrection” Parish, Vienna’s first Romanian Orthodox liturgical community, celebrated its 120th anniversary on Bright Tuesday with a ceremony attended by leaders from various Christian Churches. Among those present were His Eminence Metropolitan Serafim of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Germany, Central and Northern Europe; Metropolitan Arsenios of Austria (Ecumenical Patriarchate); Armenian Bishop Tiran Petrosyan;…

Apr 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox parish in Verona partners with food bank to support vulnerable

The Romanian Orthodox Parish Verona 2 in Italy has formed a partnership with the local food bank to assist socially vulnerable members of its community. Through this collaboration, the parish will function as a distribution centre for essential food supplies. The partnership with Banco Alimentare—one of Italy’s largest charitable networks—will enable the collection and redistribution of…

Apr 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Bishop holds first liturgy at English-language parish in Dublin

Bishop Nectarie of Ireland and Iceland officiated on Bright Tuesday for the first time at the English-language parish “Saint Brendan the Navigator and Saint Joseph the New of Partoș” in Dublin. In his sermon, the bishop explained the Gospel passage of the Road to Emmaus, highlighting that although Christ set the disciples’ hearts aflame through…

Apr 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox priests bring Easter light to inmates in Italian prisons

Romanian Orthodox clergy and faithful in Italy visited inmates at two Italian prisons on Bright Tuesday, causing tears to flow for several detainees. The Romanian Orthodox parishes of Fonte Nuova, Monterotondo, Roma 3, and Marcellina in Italy’s Lazio region visited the Rebibbia Nuovo Complesso penitentiary in Rome. Visit to Rome’s largest prison The visit required complex…

Apr 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian ambassador thanks Patriarchate for sending priest to serve diaspora in Tunisia at Easter

His Excellency Valentin Ciprian Muntean, Romania’s ambassador to the Republic of Tunisia, expressed his gratitude on Tuesday to the Romanian Patriarchate for temporarily assigning a Romanian priest to serve during Easter alongside Metropolitan Meletios of Carthage and North Africa (Patriarchate of Alexandria) and local Orthodox clergy. “I place great importance on Romanian spirituality, and I…

Apr 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Archbishop celebrates Divine Liturgy at UK prison, offers Paschal message of hope

Archbishop Atanasie of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Bright Tuesday, at Maidstone Prison in Kent. Attendees included Romanian nationals and detainees of various nationalities. The archbishop explained that salvation is not limited by external circumstances, and that Christ brings peace and a new beginning to…

Apr 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Iosif urges diaspora to live the Resurrection, not just proclaim it

“We are called not only to say ‘Christ is risen’, but to show through our lives that Christ is alive. Let us become people of the Resurrection—people of light, peace, forgiveness and love,” Metropolitan Iosif of Western and Southern Europe said in his Easter pastoral letter to Romanians in the diaspora. He stressed that the…

Apr 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Ioan Casian: ‘Joy is the first gift Christ offers the Myrrh-bearing Women’

“The first thing Christ wishes to share with the Myrrh-bearing Women early in the morning is joy,” writes Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada in his pastoral message for Holy Pascha. “Joy springs from the encounter with the Son of God, who grants us salvation. It is the shared joy of communion once lost and restored…

Apr 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Atanasie says Resurrection is ‘true life’, calls for faith and stability in families

“The Resurrection is not merely a consolation for the soul, not just a beautiful thought that comforts us for a moment, but is life itself—the true life,” said Archbishop Atanasie of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in his Easter pastoral letter. In his message, the archbishop emphasised that the Resurrection transforms and gives meaning to…

Apr 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Mihail urges faithful in Australia, New Zealand to follow example of ‘heroes of the faith’ in Easter message

“Let us follow the faith of these heroes of the faith in Christ the Lord,” Bishop Mihail said in his Easter pastoral message addressed to Romanian Orthodox believers in Australia and New Zealand. His Grace stressed that the Resurrection of the Lord stands at the centre of Christian faith and represents the fulfilment of the…

Apr 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu