Dioceses

Romanian Bishop warns drugs lure youth with ‘quick highs’ but lead to depression

His Grace Bishop Sofronie of Oradea warned in an interview with Agerpres that drugs pose a major danger to young people because they promise “quick highs” but deliver “inner collapse and depression” in return. According to the bishop, narcotic substances are a substitute for authentic good, sought by people to replace the love and meaning…

Jan 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Relics of Saint Eulogia of Samurcășești exhumed, Bishop calls her an example of service

Venerable Evloghia Țârlea is, for the nuns of this monastery and for nuns throughout the Orthodox Church—especially within the Romanian Orthodox Church—“an example of service,” Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova said last Thursday as the relics of St Eulogia were exhumed at Samurcășești-Ciorogârla Monastery in Ilfov County. The saint, canonised last year by the Holy…

Jan 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Petru meets Romanian-Moldovan parliamentary delegation in Chișinău

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia met on Friday in Chișinău with a joint parliamentary delegation from Romania and the Republic of Moldova. The delegation from Bucharest included Laurențiu Plăeșu, Vice-President of the Romanian Senate, who led the group of lawmakers from the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies, while representatives of the authorities in…

Jan 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Veniamin warns of demographic crisis, urges support for Christian family in Republic of Moldova

Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia drew attention during his homily last Sunday to the challenges posed by the demographic crisis, highlighting the essential role of the Christian family in the birth, upbringing and education of children. His Grace emphasised the need to encourage women and mothers in order to strengthen the family and promote childbirth,…

Jan 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Banat Metropolitan marks name day with psychiatric patients, lays foundation stone for hospital church

Metropolitan Ioan of Banat marked his patronal feast last week alongside patients at the Psychiatric Hospital and Security Measures Facility in Jebel, where he also laid the foundation stone for a new church. On Wednesday, January 7, His Eminence brought the patients more than 300 items of clothing, food, and other essential goods needed for…

Jan 12, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Time is a life between ‘Passing’ and ‘Coming’: Banat Metropolitan reflects on youth in God’s Kingdom

Metropolitan Ioan of Banat told worshippers gathered at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Timisoara on New Year’s Eve that time is like a life lived between two verbs: “to pass” — which denotes biological ageing and the sombre perception of years slipping away — and “to come”, a verb referring to the way a person responds…

Jan 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Saint Andrew relic brought to Bessarabia as Metropolis dedicates 2026 to Metropolitan Antonie Plămădeală

The Metropolis of Bessarabia has dedicated the year 2026 to Metropolitan Antonie Plămădeală (1926-2005). The announcement was made on Saturday, December 13, at Durlești Monastery, which marked the patronal feast of the Apostle Andrew, according to the unrevised calendar. Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia celebrated the Divine Liturgy together with Archbishop Casian of Lower Danube and…

Dec 23, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Teofan urges unity and responsibility in Christmas encyclical

His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina calls on the faithful in his Christmas Pastoral Letter to cultivate unity, patience and responsibility towards one another. His Eminence reflected on the mystery of the Incarnation of the Son of God as the foundation of Christian life and as the source of a way of living…

Dec 22, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Memorial service held in Bucharest to honour heroes of Romania’s 1989 revolution

A memorial service was held on Sunday in University Square in Bucharest in remembrance of the heroes who died in December 1989 for the dignity, freedom and faith of the Romanian people. The service was officiated by Rev. Dean Nectarie Busuioc, who spoke about the sacrifice of those who lost their lives on those very…

Dec 22, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Benedict reflects on ‘theology of the cave’, linking Bethlehem to communist prisons

Bishop Benedict of Sălaj has proposed in his first Christmas Pastoral Letter a reflection on what he calls the “theology of the cave,” drawing a parallel between the humility of the manger in Bethlehem and the “cave” of suffering experienced in communist prisons. He stresses that no human suffering is too dark to be illumined…

Dec 22, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Ignatie warns ‘Herod is among us’ as society drifts from Christ

Bishop Ignatie of Huși reflects in his Christmas Pastoral Letter on the atmosphere surrounding the Nativity of the Lord in the modern world, warning that contemporary society appears to be “suffering from many defects and countless spiritual fractures.” According to the bishop, the root cause of this condition lies within each individual. Without Christ, he…

Dec 22, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu