Diaspora

Germany’s Romanian hierarchs meet with Bavaria Minister President

Metropolitan Serafim of the Romanian Metropolis of Germany and his assistant bishop Sofian of Brașov were part of a delegation of the Romanian community in Bavaria invited to the residence of Bavarian Minister President Dr Markus Söder. Her Excellency Adriana-Loreta Stănescu, the Romanian Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, accompanied the Romanians to the…

Feb 22, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

NATO Deputy Secretary General visits Munich church centre: The most significant Romanian foundation in Bavaria

On Monday, the Deputy General Secretary of NATO, Mircea Geoană, attended the Divine Liturgy held in the Hall of Crosses at the Munich Church Centre. The distinguished guest was given a tour of the establishment, after which he posted a message of appreciation on his Facebook and Instagram profiles. Mircea Geoană wrote that the Church…

Feb 22, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian diaspora in figures: More baptisms, weddings and conversions to Orthodoxy in 2022

The yearly report of the Romanian Patriarchate detailed the development of Romanian Orthodox dioceses abroad. Outside of the existing borders of Romania, the Romanian Patriarchate holds jurisdiction over four archdioceses and nine dioceses. Additionally, archdioceses serve as metropolitan centres. In these dioceses, there were a total of 1,483 parishes and non-parochial churches at the end…

Feb 14, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Diocese of Spain and Portugal’s 2022: charity, 3783 baptisms, 95 conversions

The Diocesan Assembly of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Spain and Portugal has presented the relevant figures for its activity in 2022. The Diocesan Assembly of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Spain and Portugal met for its working session in Madrid on January 19. Before the meeting, assistant bishop Teofil of Iberia celebrated the Divine…

Jan 26, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

France: Assembly of Orthodox Bishops speaks out against initiative to legalise euthanasia

His Grace Marc of Neamț attended last week the meeting of the Assembly of Orthodox Bishops of France (AEOF). The hierarchs spoke against a bill that would allow “active assistance in dying” – specifically euthanasia for people. This goes against all fundamental Christian and human values, the hierarchs said in a Statement clarifying the theological…

Jan 16, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Germany’s Romanian Metropolis to open first Orthodox kindergarten in Leipzig

This year, the Romanian Metropolis of Germany, Central and Northern Europe will open Leipzig’s first Orthodox kindergarten inside the compound of St George Parish. The institution will be able to admit 105 children, including 30 nursery children and 75 kindergarten students. The kindergarten will probably start its operation in April, but pedagogical staff is needed.…

Jan 13, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop of Canada’s Christmas Pastoral Letter: Christ fulfills restoration of human nature in His Person

“Christ accomplishes the restoration of the humanity in His Person. Man’s nature becomes the temple and house of the Word of God,” Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada says in his Pastoral Letter on the Nativity of our Lord. “Each person fulfils its purpose by growing from the image of God to its likeness. This growth…

Dec 26, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

The Nativity of the Lord shows humility is a path that leads to things above: Metropolitan Nicolae’s Pastoral Letter

“God the Creator, God Almighty, did not remain in His majesty, did not look down indifferently on His creation, nor did He wait for the creature to humble itself and return, but He came Himself, emptying Himself of glory, clothing Himself in humility so that He might save lost mankind,” His Eminence Nicolae writes in…

Dec 26, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

Children of the Romanian Orthodox parish in Valletta sang carols to the President of Malta

The children’s choir of the Romanian Orthodox parish in Valletta sang Christmas carols to the President of Malta on Thursday. It was the second time Romanian children sang carols at the Presidential Palace in Malta. The concert was preceded by a short presentation by Father George-Alexandru Popescu, who thanked the Presidential couple and mentioned that…

Dec 24, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

Romanian Bishop of Australia and New Zealand urges faithful to welcome the New Year with persistent prayer

In his Christmas pastoral letter, His Grace Mihail, the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Australia and New Zealand, urges the faithful to greet the New Year with persistent prayer. “We can say that through Christ’s coming into the world, the Kingdom of God was opened to the world,” the bishop wrote. “It is important to emphasise…

Dec 24, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Benelux Orthodox Bishops concerned over the lack of Orthodox religious education teachers

The canonical Orthodox bishops of the Benelux Union voiced worry about the unavailability of instructors for Orthodox religious education during their 25th assembly last week and invited applications. The hierarchs also addressed methods to increase the quality of religious education curricula. On behalf of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Iosif of Western and Southern Europe…

Nov 21, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu