Diaspora

Metropolitan Serafim: Great Lent is a journey with Christ through His Passion

“With a kind and forgiving heart that does not hold on to resentment, we can begin Great Lent—a journey alongside our Savior Jesus Christ on the path of His Passion,” explains Metropolitan Serafim of Germany, Central, and Northern Europe in his pastoral letter at the start of Great Lent 2025. In his Lenten pastoral letter,…

Mar 3, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian officials discuss Orthodox pastoral care and Christian solidarity in Italy

The President of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, MP Ionuț Vulpescu, and Romania’s Ambassador to the Holy See, His Excellency George Bologan, were received on Monday by Bishop Siluan at the headquarters of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy. During their meeting with Bishop Siluan, the discussion emphasized and appreciated the spiritual and social assistance…

Feb 25, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

UK’s Romanian Orthodox Archbishop-elect bids farewell to Italy after 17 years of ministry

His Grace Atanasie, recently elected as the first Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, bid farewell to the Romanian Orthodox community in Italy on Sunday after 17 years of ministry. The archbishop-elect celebrated his final Divine Liturgy at the Eparchial Center in Rome, where he urged the faithful to…

Feb 25, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

First Romanian Orthodox Bishop in North America commemorated at Mono Monastery

Bishop Policarp Morușcă, the first hierarch of Orthodox Romanians in North America, was commemorated Sunday at the Romanian Monastery of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and St. Ephraim the New in Mono, Canada. The monastery’s abbot, Hieromonk Policarp Atenagora, officiated the memorial service after the Divine Liturgy. The service reflected that Romanians in the…

Feb 25, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Ioan Casian visits Assumption University in Canada for future collaboration

On Tuesday, His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada visited Assumption University, a Catholic institution in Windsor, Ontario, to discuss potential collaborations and partnerships in light of the 1700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. During his meeting with John Cappucci, President of Assumption University, the two discussed global Christianity and the challenges…

Feb 20, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Glasgow’s Romanian parish moves educational programs to new location

Non-formal educational activities for Romanian children in Glasgow have begun in a new parish school location, which was blessed last week by Archbishop-elect Atanasie of Great Britain and Northern Ireland during the patronal celebrations of the “Presentation of the Lord to the Temple” Parish. The event was attended by Andreea Ioana Berechet, Romania’s Consul General…

Feb 14, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

4,750 baptisms and expanding parishes: Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy thrives in 2024

The Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy concluded 2024 with an intensive pastoral effort, reflected in the remarkable number of religious services conducted across its 295 parishes. Over the year, the diocese recorded 4,750 baptisms, 167 conversions or re-conversions to Orthodoxy, 1,171 weddings, and 393 funerals. These figures underscore both the vibrancy of the Romanian Orthodox…

Feb 13, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian community restores church near Paris in historic Van Gogh village

Eight years after being acquired by the Romanian Orthodox community, the Church of Saint Anthimos the Iberian in Auvers-sur-Oise, a commune 30 km from Paris, is undergoing extensive restoration. Currently, restoration efforts focus on the interior frescoes and the renovation of the courtyard. Ongoing Restoration Efforts Shortly after its acquisition, the church was adapted to…

Feb 6, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox community in Ireland honours Saint Brigid of Kildare with liturgy and pilgrimage

On Saturday, the Romanian Orthodox faithful from “The Descent of the Holy Spirit and Saint Colman” Parish in Newbridge, Ireland, celebrated Saint Brigid of Kildare, one of Ireland’s patron saints. The community was honoured by the presence of His Grace Bishop Nectarie, the recently enthroned Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Ireland and Iceland, who presided over…

Feb 3, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas visits Dacula, Georgia, to celebrate 25 years of service by local clergy

His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae of the Two Americas visited Dacula, Georgia, on January 25–26, where the Romanian Orthodox community celebrated their shepherds: Parish Priest Nicolae Clempuș and Father David Hudson, who marked 25 years of service. The visit began on Saturday evening with the Great Vespers, followed by a sermon delivered by Metropolitan Nicolae. His…

Jan 31, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand convenes annual Assembly in Melbourne

The “Lifegiving Spring” Monastery in Melbourne hosted the annual meeting of the Diocesan Assembly of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand last weekend. On Saturday, Bishop Mihail led the clergy of the two deaneries in celebrating the Divine Liturgy and a Te Deum service to celebrate the Union of the Romanian Principalities.…

Jan 31, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu