Dioceses

Patriarch Teoctist remembered at Putna as a defender of monasticism as a vital force of Orthodoxy

Archimandrite Melchisedec Velnic, abbot of Putna Monastery, said last Saturday that Patriarch Teoctist viewed monastic life “not as a relic of the past, but as a vital, regenerating force of Romanian Orthodoxy”, as the monastery’s brotherhood officiated a memorial service marking 111 years since the former patriarch’s birth. “He loved monasticism, because he himself remained,…

Feb 10, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop of Bălți prays for hierarchs who shepherded Bessarabia at Bucharest cemetery

Bishop Antonie of Bălți prayed on Thursday for the hierarchs who once shepherded Bessarabia and who are buried at the cemetery of Cernica Monastery, near Bucharest. Bishop Antonie lit a vigil lamp at the graves of Metropolitan Gurie Grosu of Bessarabia (1928–1936), Metropolitan Tit Simedrea of Bukovina—who served in Bălți between 1935 and 1940—and Bishop…

Feb 7, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Basarabia Metropolitan Petru chairs Chișinău Archdiocese assembly, presents 2025 activity report

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia chaired on Monday the Diocesan Assembly, the deliberative body of the Archdiocese of Chișinău, during which the report on the archdiocese’s activities for the past year was presented. The meeting was preceded by prayer, with a Te Deum service celebrated in the chapel of Saint John the Theologian of…

Feb 4, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian archbishop meets UK ambassador to discuss cultural and spiritual ties

On Tuesday, His Eminence Hon Metropolitan Nifon, Archbishop of Târgoviște and Patriarchal Exarch, received at the diocesan residence the visit of His Excellency Giles Portman, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to Romania. The meeting provided the opportunity for a cordial dialogue on the spiritual, cultural and historical links between…

Feb 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop of Gaborone and Botswana tells faithful in Iași Church calls believers to repentance born of humility

Bishop Mark of Gaborone and Botswana (Patriarchate of Alexandria) said on Sunday at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iași that the beginning of the Triodion period is a call to authentic repentance, stressing that “the Church calls us to repentance born of humility.” He warned that a true encounter with God does not come through displaying…

Feb 3, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Banat Metropolis sends Greek-speaking priest to support victims of Timiș road crash

The Metropolis of Banat announced that it will provide spiritual and material support to the victims of the road accident that occurred on Tuesday in Timiș County, with a Greek-speaking priest set to offer spiritual assistance to those hospitalised. Metropolitan Ioan of Banat expressed his profound sorrow over the tragic road accident that took place…

Jan 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Southern Bessarabia diocese donates mobile hospital to Ukraine’s Odesa region

The Diocese of Southern Bessarabia donated a mobile hospital to Ukraine’s Odesa region, with the official handover ceremony taking place on Saturday, when Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia presented the vehicle to the regional administration. During the visit, the bishop was accompanied by Claudiu Tătaru, Romania’s Consul General in Odesa; Alexandrin Moiseev, a member of…

Jan 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Cross-border Orthodox liturgy held in Iași for Saint Joseph the Merciful

The feast of Saint Joseph the Merciful brought together Orthodox hierarchs from both sides of the Prut River on Monday in Iași. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated at the Metropolitan Cathedral by Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina, together with Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia, Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia, and Assistant Bishop Nichifor of Botoșani…

Jan 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia Metropolitan marks Romanian Principalities Union Day, hopes “brothers will live together again”

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia expressed hope that “brothers will live together again” in a message issued on the occasion of the Day of the Union of the Romanian Principalities. According to Metropolitan Petru, the day represents “a work of divine Providence through which history was set on the natural path of unity”. “24…

Jan 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania marks 1859 Principalities Union as metropolitan Teofan urges faith and unity for future

His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina said on Saturday that the 1859 Union of the Romanian Principalities was made possible with God’s help and through the vision of courageous people. However, he noted that the landmark event was also marked by sadness, because Moldavia was not whole when it united with Wallachia. “Where…

Jan 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian bishop links family unity to national strength on Principalities Union Day anniversary

“Without united families there can be no strong nation, and without an awareness of national unity there can be no shared future,” Assistant Bishop Teofil of Trotuș said on Saturday. The assistant bishop of the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău led a Te Deum service at the Archdiocesan Cathedral in Roman, marking 167 years since…

Jan 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu