International

Icons donated by Ecumenical and Bulgarian patriarchs arrive at Bulgaria’s Antarctic research base

An icon of Saint Demetrius the Myrrh-gusher, donated by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, and an icon of the Mother of God with the Child, donated by Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria, were placed on Tuesday in the new laboratory of Bulgaria’s “St. Clement of Ohrid” research base on Livingston Island, in Antarctica. The icon…

Feb 11, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian lower house speaker meets Jerusalem Patriarch during official Israel visit

Sorin Grindeanu, Speaker of Romania’s Chamber of Deputies, met last Wednesday with His Beatitude Theophilos III of Jerusalem, Patriarch of Jerusalem. The meeting took place during an official visit to Israel by the Romanian parliamentary delegation, which also included Romania’s health minister and several members of parliament. “The first visit was to His Beatitude Patriarch…

Feb 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Jerusalem Churches launch restoration of Nativity Grotto in Bethlehem

The Jerusalem Patriarchate, the Custody of the Holy Land, and the Armenian Patriarchate of Jerusalem announced the start of restoration work at the Grotto of the Nativity in Bethlehem. According to a joint statement, the works will be carried out by the Italian company that recently oversaw the rehabilitation of the Church of the Nativity,…

Jan 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Metropolitan Serafim attends installation of new Vienna Catholic archbishop

His Eminence Metropolitan Serafim of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Germany, Central and Northern Europe, attended the enthronement ceremony of the new Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Vienna, Josef Grünwidl, on Saturday. The installation took place at St. Stephen’s Cathedral in the Austrian capital, in the presence of around 3,000 people. The ordination and installation…

Jan 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Anastasios of Albania prayerfully remembered at Tirana Cathedral one year after his passing

Archbishop Anastasios of Albania was prayerfully remembered on Sunday at the Cathedral of the Resurrection of Christ in Tirana, one year after his passing. The memorial service was led by the Primate of the Albanian Orthodox Church, Archbishop John, together with members of the Holy Synod. Archbishop John stressed that the annual commemoration is a…

Jan 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

The Baptism of the Lord in the Holy Land: The Archbishop of Tomis concelebrated with the Patriarch of Jerusalem

The Baptism of the Lord was celebrated on Monday, according to the unrevised calendar, within the Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Archbishop Teodosie of Tomis concelebrated alongside Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem. From the Holy Land, further details were provided for Basilica.ro by Archimandrite Ioan Meiu, representative of the Romanian Patriarchate at the Holy Places and Superior…

Jan 20, 2026Ștefana Totorcea

Romanian Patriarchate envoy attends New Year reception hosted by Israeli President in Jerusalem

The Very Rev. Archimandrite Ioan Meiu, the representative of the Romanian Patriarchate to the Holy Places, attended on Monday the official New Year reception hosted by His Excellency Isaac Herzog, President of Israel, and First Lady Michal Herzog. The event took place at the Presidential Residence in Jerusalem, in the presence of the Director General…

Jan 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Greek Orthodox Synod urges honouring of newly canonised Romanian Athonite saints

The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece has called on all metropolises across the country to honour four Athonite Elders of Romanian origin, canonised this year by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. According to a document issued on Monday in Athens, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople proclaimed the saints “in full accordance with the practice and…

Dec 19, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch marks 50 years of Jewish–Orthodox dialogue: We encounter one another in a field of learning, trust, and hope

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said on the occasion of 50 years of dialogue between Judaism and Orthodox Christianity that relations between the two religious traditions are built in a space of learning, trust and hope. Speaking on December 8 at the opening of the 12th International Academic Consultation between Judaism and Orthodox Christianity, the Patriarch…

Dec 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Christian and Muslim leaders mark 10 years of Aqaba Process at Jordan Conference

Christian and Muslim religious leaders from the Balkans and the Middle East gathered last week in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to mark the 10th anniversary of the Aqaba Process, an international initiative aimed at promoting interreligious dialogue and peaceful coexistence. The international conference, titled “The Aqaba Process – Balkan Interreligious Dialogue,” was held on…

Dec 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Lutheran–Orthodox Joint Commission meets in Strasbourg ahead of 2026 Plenary

The Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the Orthodox Churches met in Strasbourg last week to prepare for its plenary session scheduled for May 2026. The meeting, held November 16–18, took place at the Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg, an institution of the Lutheran World Federation that…

Nov 26, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu