Dioceses

Metropolitan Antonie reflects on Soviet-era ‘deportation’ of Romanian Orthodox Church from Bessarabia

“Those of us who belong to the Metropolis of Bessarabia know the injustice that was done to our institution. It was deported just as so many of our fellow countrymen were deported,” Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia said in an interview with TVR Moldova. Against this historical background, the official recognition of the re-established Metropolis of…

Jul 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Basarabia’s Metropolitan Antonie pledges partnership with Republic of Moldova’s new government

The inauguration of the Republic of Moldova’s new government signifies a new beginning that coincides, providentially, with a new phase in the life of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, following the election of its new Primate, as stated by Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Vasile Tofan. “We regard this convergence as an opportunity…

Jul 28, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian ambassador, Metropolitan Antonie discuss joint education, heritage and social projects

His Eminence Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia met on Tuesday with His Excellency Cristian-Leon Țurcanu, Romania’s Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, at the Metropolitan Residence in Chișinău. During the meeting, the two discussed joint projects in education, culture, heritage preservation, social and charitable work, and support for Romanian communities on both sides of the Prut…

Jul 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Damaschin warns against hasty judgement: We never know the whole context

“Let us be careful not to rush into judging an event or a person, because, on the one hand, much escapes us and we do not know everything,” His Grace Damaschin of Dorna, Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți, warned on Sunday. His Grace celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Protection of…

Jul 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Victorin Ursache commemorated at Putna Monastery 25 years after his repose

Archbishop Victorin Ursache, who led the Romanian Orthodox Missionary Archdiocese in America and Canada from 1966 to 2001, was commemorated at Putna Monastery on Saturday, 18 July, marking 25 years since his repose in the Lord. His Grace Damaschin of Dorna, Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți, officiated a memorial service in…

Jul 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Antonie calls for recovery of Basarabia’s heritage on Chișinău’s 590th anniversary

Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia issued a message on the 590th anniversary of Chișinău’s first documented mention. His Eminence called for the recovery of the historic heritage of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, saying: “We have a duty to restore this legacy to the public consciousness.” The Metropolitan recalled that the earliest known document mentioning the name…

Jul 22, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

7,000 akathists of St Demetrius the New distributed in Romanian prisons

The blessing of St Demetrius the New was brought to prisons throughout the Archdiocese of Bucharest on 13–14 July 2026 during a pilgrimage with a vestment that once covered the saint’s relics. At the same time, 7,000 copies of the saint’s Akathist were distributed to inmates and prison staff. On 13 July, the vestment and…

Jul 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia new Metropolitan Antonie chairs first meeting of Chișinău Archdiocese leadership

On Monday, July 13, just a day after his enthronement as Archbishop of Chișinău, Metropolitan of Bessarabia, and Exarch of the Territories, Metropolitan Antonie led the inaugural working session of the Standing Committee of the Archdiocesan Council of Chișinău. The meeting took place at the Diocesan Centre in Chișinău and marked the beginning of the…

Jul 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia enthroned in Chișinău, calls for unity and shared mission

His Eminence Metropolitan Antonie of Bessarabia was enthroned on Sunday, July 12, in Chișinău in the presence of several hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Romanian Secretary of State for Religious Affairs Ciprian Olinici, and senior officials from the Republic of Moldova, who attended the Divine Liturgy and enthronement ceremony held at the Church of…

Jul 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Hierarchs celebrate patronal feast at Halmyris Monastery, site of Saints Epictetus and Astion’s martyrdom

Archbishop Casian of the Lower Danube and Bishop Visarion of Tulcea celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Wednesday at Halmyris Monastery in Tulcea County on the patronal feast of Saints Epictetus and Astion. Archbishop Casian highlighted the decisive role the witness of the two holy martyrs played in the spread of Christianity, noting that “through their…

Jul 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Adult catechumen received into Romanian Orthodox Church through baptism

An adult catechumen was received into the Romanian Orthodox Church through the Mystery of Holy Baptism last Saturday at the Church of Sts Constantine and Helen in Comănești, Bacău County. “Such an occasion reminds us that every baptism is first and foremost the victory of God’s love over human estrangement and the beginning of a…

Jul 8, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu