Dioceses

Bessarabia Metropolitan meets with US Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova

His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia welcomed His Excellency the Ambassador of the United States of America to the Republic of Moldova, Dereck J Hogan, at his residence in Chișinău, on Wednesday, January 23, 2019. This was the first time when Ambassador Hogan met with Metropolitan Petru after taking up his diplomatic mission in the…

Jan 26, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania President commemorates Ruler Prince Alexandru Ioan Cuza in Iasi

Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis on Wednesday, January 23, attended a memorial service for Alexandru Ioan Cuza, one of the founders of the 1859 Union of the Romanian Principalities who contributed to the modernization of Romanian society and of state structures. The service was officiated by the local Metropolitan Teofan at the Three Holy Hierarchs Monastery…

Jan 25, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Postage stamp issue dedicated to the 160th anniversary of Romanian Principalities’ Union

On the anniversary of Moldavia with Wallachia Union, in 1859, Romfilatelia introduces into circulation the postage stamp issue Union of the Romanian Principalities, 160 years. The perforated souvenir sheet of the issue, with a face value of 28.50 lei, is illustrated with a lithography showing the opening of the works of the Legislative Assembly of the United Principalities (February…

Jan 23, 2019Gheorghe Anghel

Southern Bessarabia Bishop Veniamin officiates Great Blessing of Waters in Cahul

His Grace Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia on Saturday officiated the Great Blessing of Waters at St Panteleimon Church in Cahul, Moldova, celebrating the Theophany of the Lord according to the old calendar. The believers of the Autonomous Metropolis of Bessarabia under the jurisdiction of the Romanian Patriarchate observe the church feasts according to the…

Jan 21, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Church of Bucur the Shepherd celebrates patronal feast of Sts Athanasios and Cyril of Alexandria: In pictures

The old small Church of Bucur the Shepherd, which formerly served as the chapel for the Radu Voda Monastery, marked on Friday, Jan. 18, its patronal feast in honour of Saints Athanasios and Cyril of Alexandria. Particles of the holy relics of the Patron Saints are enshrined in the small church dedicated to Saints Cyril…

Jan 21, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

In pictures: Bucharest believers commemorate National Poet Mihai Eminescu on his 169th birthday anniversary

Romania’s National Poet Mihai Eminescu was prayerfully commemorated during a memorial service officiated Tuesday at the poet’s tomb at Bellu Cemetery in Bucharest on his 169th birth anniversary. Mihai Eminescu, born on January 15, 1850, in the village of Ipotesti, near Botosani, in North-Eastern Romania, is considered Romania’s greatest poet. He was also a novelist…

Jan 17, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Vorona Monastery Abbess Teofana Scântei receives Patriarchal Cross on 50th enthronement anniversary

She is 85 and has been living in a monastery since the age of 8. On Thursday, January 10, 2019, the abbess of Vorona Monastery, Eldress Teofana Scântei was honoured with the highest distinction in the Romanian Patriarchate on her 50th enthronement anniversary. Being born in the village of Chișcăreni, Botosani County, the eight-year old…

Jan 14, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Theology Professor Paul Gavrilyuk explaines meaning of IOTA acronym

The internationally respected historian of early Christianity and Orthodox theologian Dr. Paul L. Gavrilyuk explained the IOTA acronym chosen for the International Orthodox Theological Association at the inaugural conference held in Iasi. In his presidential address delivered at the opening ceremony on Wednesday, January 9, the Association’s President and Founder Paul Gavrilyuk noted that IOTA…

Jan 11, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

1st IOTA Conference starts in Iași

The Inaugural Conference of the International Orthodox Theological Association began on Wednesday, January 9, 2019, with a Te Deum Service officiated by the Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iași. The overarching theme of the Inaugural Conference is Pan-Orthodox Unity and Conciliarity. The Opening Ceremony took place at the National…

Jan 9, 2019Gheorghe Anghel

Funeral service to farewell Romanian engineer who saved churches during communist regime

Engineer Eugeniu Iordachescu, who devised an ingenious method to save Romanian churches threatened with destruction during the communist era, was farewelled on Sunday, January 6, 2019. Engineer Eugeniu Iordăchescu, whose building relocation method rescued 12 churches that would have been otherwise slated for demolition by order of Nicolae Ceauşescu in the 80s, died on January…

Jan 9, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan expresses hope that villages may revive, Romanians return home

At the end of the Great Blessing of Waters on Sunday, Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj expressed his hope that the Romanian village will be revived and that “Romanians living abroad will return home”. His Eminence noted low birth rates and emigration among the main causes of rural depopulation. “Almost five million Romanians went to other…

Jan 8, 2019Gheorghe Anghel