Bucharest Archdiocese

Relics of St Demetrius the New to tour Bucharest Archdiocese on 250th anniversary of their translation to Romania

The Archdiocese of Bucharest is preparing to mark the initial church celebration honouring the transfer of Saint Demetrius the New Relics to Bucharest. The observance, which the Holy Synod has scheduled for July 13 in the calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church, will be headed by a procession with the relics of the saint that…

Feb 20, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Two theologians become monks on St Nicholas’ feast

Two theologians were tonsured monks on the eve and the feast day of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. The postulants were known to the public for their work: Mihai Grigoriu, now Monk Macarie, is sexton of the Patriarchal Cathedral, while patriarchal advisor Aurelian Iftimiu, who became Monk Nicolae, is the director of the Basilica News Agency.…

Dec 20, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

“Mount Athos Nightingale” Nectarios Protopsaltes is considered for sainthood, Patriarch Daniel announces at Bucharest Archdiocese Monastic Synaxis

During his speech at the Monastic Synaxis of the Bucharest Archdiocese on Thursday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel referred to the desire to canonize Nectarios Protopsaltes, an Athonite monk of Romanian origin who was the disciple of the newly-glorified Saint Macarios Protopsaltes. Regarding the Commemorative Year of hymnographers and church chanters (psaltai), His Beatitude recalled that…

Nov 24, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

2023 St Demetrius the New celebrations begin at dawn, first pilgrims venerate relics of Bucharest Patron Saint

The celebrations of Bucharest’s Patron Saint Demetrius the New began on Saturday morning when the Saint’s holy relics were taken out of the patriarchal cathedral and placed in an outdoor baldachin to facilitate access to pilgrims from across Romania. Although usually kept inside the patriarchal cathedral, the reliquaries with the relics of Saint Demetrius the…

Oct 21, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s former ambassador to Holy See Bogdan Tataru-Cazaban ordained a priest

Romania’s former ambassador to the Holy See, Bogdan Tataru-Cazaban, was ordained a priest during the Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul at Radu Voda Monastery in Bucharest. The ordination to the priesthood was officiated by the patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti. The newly-ordained priest will serve at Bucur…

Jul 3, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Influential hymnographer, folklorist Anton Pann’s remains reburied with honour: We owe him many church hymn books printed in Romanian

The remains of Protopsaltis Anton Pann were reburied last week in a new tomb at St. Stylianos – Lucaci Church in Bucharest. Our culture owes him numerous church hymn books printed in Romanian. “He was a chanter at many churches in Bucharest. He chanted at many monasteries in Wallachia and Transylvania. He wrote enormously for…

Jun 13, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Palliative care values persons beyond their social or material efficiency

Addressing the clergy of the Bucharest Archdiocese earlier this week, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel offered the example of many countries in Central and Eastern Europe where there is “a reluctance towards palliative care centres because they do not contribute so much to recovery but to the reduction of pain or suffering.” A similar approach can…

Jun 2, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel offers three pastoral priorities for the spiritual care of the elderly

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel opened the spring session of the pastoral-missionary Conference of the Archdiocese of Bucharest with a message about the spiritual significance of the presence of the elderly in the lives of young people. The pastoral-missionary Conference gathered clergy members from throughout the Archdiocese of Bucharest at the Patriarchal Palace on May 29-30,…

May 31, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Bp Timotei: Follow the example of St Lydia, the first European who opened her heart to the Word of God

“St. Lydia represents the woman of today and of always being open to the words of God. And she represents the people who love and seek the light, those who have confessed Him Who is the Light of the world, but also those who today persistently seek the light,” His Grace Assistant Bishop Timotei of…

May 23, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: The Palm Sunday procession reminds us we are transient

Hundreds of clerics and believers participated last weekend in Bucharest’s traditional Palm Sunday procession. The event started at Radu Vodă Monastery and ended at the Patriarchal Cathedral. The pilgrims, led by the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, were welcomed on the Patriarchate’s Hill by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, who blessed the festal icon of…

Apr 11, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Doing School Differently: Over 1,000 students visit Patriarchal Palace

As part of the “Doing School Differently” program, over 1,000 students visited the Patriarchal Palace in March. The groups of students came from Bucharest and throughout Romania. The young people study at schools such as Bucharest’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, The Three Holy Hierarchs High School, “Mihai Viteazul” National College, “Mihai Eminescu” National College and “Tudor…

Apr 6, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu