Dioceses

Romania: 75,000 pilgrims honour the Mother of God at Nicula Monastery

75,000 pilgrims participated in the Nicula Monastery patronal feast last week, according to the police forces. Many of the faithful came a few days before the feast of the Dormition of the Mother of God, to honour the Nicula Wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God and to participate in the services officiated at the…

Aug 22, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Târgoviște: Churches illuminated in red to raise awareness for persecuted Christians

Several churches whose history is linked to Wallachia’s holy prince Constantine Brâncoveanu were illuminated in red on August 16 in Târgoviște, a city situated 80 kilometres north-west of Bucharest, to mark the National Day of Remembrance of the Brâncoveanu Martyrs and of Awareness of Violence against Christians. In addition to lighting their churches in red, the…

Aug 21, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Timișoara: 500 volunteers make final preparations for the 7th International Meeting of Orthodox Youth

Approximately 500 volunteers are making the final preparations in Timișoara ahead of the 7th edition of the International Meeting of Orthodox Youth ITO 2023. At the beginning of August, the volunteers met with Metropolitan Ioan of Banat at a youth centre to discuss their duties for the upcoming International Meeting of Orthodox Youth. “All the volunteers…

Aug 14, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

4,000 young people march through streets of Târgoviște to open celebrations dedicated to St Niphon

Approximately 4,000 young people from Târgoviște took part last Thursday in the opening ceremony of the celebrations of St. Niphon, Patriarch of Constantinople and Metropolitan of Wallachia.  Thursday evening began with the Vespers service and continued with an award ceremony for the 19 students who obtained first place at the county stage of the National…

Aug 14, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Ignatie: A man of light thinks beautifully and can convert what is negative without spreading evil

His Grace Bishop Ignatie of Husi celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord at the Transfiguration Monastery in Huși. In his sermon, the bishop explained the importance of “Christian light” in the life of a believer, but also the significance of the moment when the apostles saw Christ enveloped…

Aug 8, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Justin suggests praying the supplicatory canon to the Theotokos every evening during Dormition Fast

His Grace Bishop Justin of Maramures and Satmar offered pastoral advice at the beginning of the Dormition Fast on August 1. The Bishop of Maramures recalled that the two weeks of fasting established by the Orthodox Church before the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos are an excellent occasion to thank God “with devotion,…

Aug 2, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Banat Metropolitan urges priests to visit and help seniors during Dormition Fast

In a message at the beginning of the Dormition Fast, His Eminence Metropolitan Ioan of Banat has urged priests and believers to visit older persons in hospitals, retirement homes or private homes because “they are often alone and marginalised.” The metropolitan reminded that the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church dedicated 2023 to the…

Aug 2, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Chapel dedicated to Saint John Maximovitch in Southern Romania

His Grace Bishop Ambrozie of Giurgiu performed the consecration ceremony for a new chapel dedicated to Saint John Maximovitch the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco for Sts Peter and Paul Parish in Palanca in southern Romania. The consecration ceremony occurred two days before the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church resolved to include…

Jul 14, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Replica of Kato Xenia Monastery to be built in Cluj-Napoca

His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj, Maramures and Salaj blessed the foundation stone for a new church that will replicate the architectural style of the Greek Monastery of Kato Xenia where a part of the Holy Cincture (Holy Belt) of the Mother of God is kept. The Metropolitan of Cluj officiated the blessing service on…

Jul 4, 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

30th anniversary of Bârsana Monastery’s revival: “A love story between God and His people”

Twelve hierarchs and thousands of believers gathered last week at the Synaxis of the 12 Apostles Monastery in Bârsana in northern Romania to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the ancient monastery’s revival. His Grace Bishop Justin of Maramureș and Sătmar described the re-establishment of the monastery as “a love story between God and His people.”…

Jul 3, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu