Dioceses

Orthodox Priest rescues two people from fire in Constanța

An Orthodox priest rescued two people from a building engulfed in flames in Constanţa. Assisted by two off-duty firefighters, father Gică Silitră took a 60-year-old woman in his arms and evacuated a 65-year-old man. The two people are parishioners of the church pastored by Fr Silitră, which is in the vicinity of the buildings on…

Apr 16, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

The pandemic is a significant examination for us all, Transylvania Metropolitan says

“This pandemic is a significant examination for all of us, in which the fear of death and the legal rigours of isolation must be overcome by trusting in God’s help,” His Eminence Metropolitan Laurenţiu of Transylvania said in an interview for a local publication. “Through this examination,” the Metropolitan explained, “we realized once again how…

Apr 15, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Assistant Bishop Benedict celebrates Int’l Roma Day with Romanian-Romani bilingual liturgy

“We are delighted that you are many and you are young. It’s a big deal in a world where there are fewer and fewer children. It is a great thing that you give birth, that you are concerned with doing this order of being God’s helpers and of bringing healthy babies to life. And we,…

Apr 9, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Cluj Cathedral’s chanters, sextons receive ecclesiastical awards as recognition from Metropolitan Andrei

The lay chanters and sextons of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Cluj received ecclesiastical awards from His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei on Sunday. The awards were given at the end of the Divine Liturgy “as a sign of appreciation and gratitude for active involvement in Church life.” The chanters Vlad Zurgalău, Raul Lăcătuș and Vlăduț Sărmaș received…

Apr 7, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Pătrăuţi Monastery reopens after more than 200 years

Pătrăuţi Monastery was reopened after being abolished by the Habsburg Monarchy more than two centuries ago. On the Sunday of the Holy Cross, His Grace Assistant Bishop Damaschin of Dorna installed Mother Alexandra (Bădragan) as the new abbess of Pătrăuti-Elevation of the Cross Monastery. His Grace also celebrated the first Divine Liturgy at the newly-reopened…

Apr 7, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian priest offers bicycles to children: “I come from a family of priests, and I saw my family giving all the time”

In two years, 25 children from Râpa de Jos and surroundings received a bicycle as a gift by Fr Dacian Oprea’s help. He thinks he’s not doing anything special. “That is the purpose of a priest and a man, to help.” He saw the example of generosity in his family. “I am very compassionate, and…

Apr 6, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Damaschin: It was unfair and improper that 50 out of 80 years since the Fântâna Albă Massacre were years of silence

“It was unfair and improper that 50 out of the 80 years since the Fântâna Albă massacre were years of silence,” said His Grace Assistant Bishop Damaschin of Dorna on Thursday during a memorial service held in memory of the approximately 3,000 Romanians killed on April 1, 1941, in the Varnița forest. The Assistant Bishop…

Apr 3, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Transylvania Metropolitan Laurentiu: Young people who stay chaste before marriage give birth to blessed children

The Metropolitan of Transylvania said that the Christian family is in crisis. The solution is to resist sin through love and solidarity. He urged parents to encourage young people to keep chaste until marriage and called on mothers “to honour the blessed status God has given them at creation, namely to give birth to children.”…

Apr 1, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Let us remain confident that we can survive in one Romanian breath: Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia

In a message occasioned by the 103rd anniversary of the Union of Bessarabia with Romania, on March 27, 2021, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru stressed that the example of the forerunners who accomplished the Union in 1918 “encourages us to remain steadfast and confident, that we can last forever in one Romanian breath, despite the (hopefully…

Mar 29, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Ioan offers 8 tons of food to local hospitals

Metropolitan Ioan visited last Thursday the Psychiatry Hospitals of Jebel and Gătaia, in the Archdiocese of Timișoara, where he offered almost eight tons of food. Thus, in addition to comfort and prayer, staff and patients also received 7,720 kilograms of vegetables and fruit. “I don’t have enough words of thanks and appreciation for the help…

Mar 23, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Romanian Priest who owns mini-zoo: I wanted to give young people an incentive to return to the countryside

Father George Ouatu from Văleni, a parish within the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacau, set up in the parish house’s courtyard a mini-zoo that can be visited. The priest discovered his passion for raising animals, including exotic animals, in 2008 when he was transferred to the parish where he currently serves from the Archdiocesan Centre,…

Mar 23, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu