Dioceses

Who was Protos. Iraclie Flocea: Survivor of the Stalinist Gulag proposed for canonization

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church approved, in its working session from October 25, 2023, the proposal of the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia for the canonization of Protosyncellus Iraclie Flocea (May 11, 1893 – August 16, 1964). The proposal had previously been approved by the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolis of Bessarabia. The…

Nov 1, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

PHOTOS: Romanian bishop of Sălaj pays official visit to Iraq

His Grace Bishop Petroniu of Sălaj officially visited Iraq on Monday. Reasons for interreligious and intercultural dialogue occasioned the trip. The Romanian delegation included Fr. Valentin Ilie from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest, a member of the Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Studies and Dialogue of the University of Bucharest, Apti Metin from…

Oct 21, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

450,000 pilgrims for feast of Saint Parascheva, Iași Archdiocese announces

This year, the Archdiocese of Iași announced that the number of believers participating in Saint Parascheva’s celebrations reached a new high of 450,000. Approximately 360,000 people participated in the extended pilgrimage to the relics of Saint Parascheva during the ten days of religious events, and over 90,000 people attended other events organised by the Metropolis…

Oct 21, 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

Over 300,000 pilgrims expected at Iasi for Saint Parascheva’s feast

The Archdiocese of Iasi is anticipating over three hundred thousand pilgrims in attendance at a 9-day-long pilgrimage at Iasi beginning this Saturday ahead of the principal celebration of Saint Parascheva, one of Romania’s most beloved saints, on October 14. Last year, in 9 days of pilgrimage, over 340,000 people participated in the events organised for…

Oct 6, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Petru prays for peace at tomb of Bassarabia’s first metropolitan

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia went to Cernica Monastery’s cemetery last Friday to pray and recollect at the tomb of one of his predecessors, Metropolitan Gurie Grosu, the first Metropolitan of Bessarabia after 100 years of Russian occupation. Metropolitan Petru officiated a memorial service for the rest of the soul of Metropolitan Gurie of…

Oct 3, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

You are responsible for how the Church is perceived today, Archbishop tells church communicators

Last week, media correspondents of the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău gathered at the Deanery of Bacau to discuss methods of improving online communication. Archbishop Ioachim addressed the participants, stressing the responsibility of those who write news articles and take photographs. The purpose of the meeting was to create the optimal framework for a unified…

Sep 27, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s first diocese established after fall of communism celebrates 30th anniversary

Seven hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church concelebrated at the Divine Liturgy at the Cathedral in Slobozia, in southern Romania, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Diocese of Slobozia and Calarasi. The diocese was the first to be established after the 1989 Revolution, culminating in the fall of communist rule in Romania. The weekend…

Sep 27, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Suceava Archbishop reveals intention to canonise local saints

His Eminence Archbishop Calinic of Suceava and Rădăuţi detailed several persons with a holy life who could be proposed for canonisation by the Archdiocese in the near future. “Bukovina has, thank God, enough saints. It is true they are not yet canonised but are in the attention of the Church: Metropolitans Teoctist and Anastasie Crimca,…

Sep 22, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Princess Sophie of Romania meets with Bessarabia Metropolitan Petru

HRH Princess Sophie of Romania met with His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia at the diocesan centre in Chisinau on Monday. Her Royal Highness was accompanied by Romania’s Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova Cristian-Leon Ţurcanu. Diocesan adviser Archdeacon Mihail Sturza briefed the Princess on the Metropolis’s most significant projects and prospects as part of…

Sep 22, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Martyrdom is a daily reality, Bp Benedict stresses at Slatina diocese patronal feast

“It’s optimal that we can express our faith freely,” said Assistant Bishop Benedict of Bistrița on the feast day of the Holy Brâncoveanu Martyrs, the spiritual protectors of the Diocese of Slatina and the Romanians. “But in other places, Christians are dying every day,” the hierarch continued, mentioning Egypt, Syria, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and other countries.…

Aug 23, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu