International

Romania’s Ambassador to Bulgaria meets with His Beatitude Patriarch Neophyte

Romania’s Ambassador to Bulgaria, Brândușa Predescu, met on Tuesday with His Beatitude Patriarch Neophyte at the headquarters of the Orthodox Metropolis in Sofia, the Bulgarian Patriarchate announced. The meeting was also attended by Bishop Gerasim of Melnik, Secretary of the Holy Synod, Bishop Polycarp of Belogradchik, Vicar of the Metropolis of Sofia, and Father Neluțu…

Jan 13, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian church to be built in Dubai: It will not have high towers, but it will be welcoming

Romanians in Dubai could have their own church, Patriarch Daniel said at the end of the Christmas Divine Liturgy. The church plan has been submitted to the authorities in the United Arab Emirates and involves a holy place adapted to the cultural context of this country: it will not be very tall but small and…

Jan 12, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate’s Order of St. John Jacob of Neamț handed over to Patriarch of Jerusalem

His Beatitude Daniel Patriarch of Romania awarded the Patriarch of Jerusalem the “St. John Jacob of Neamț, the New Chozebite” Order during a ceremony on December 22, 2021.  The Order was brought to Jerusalem by the representative of the Romanian Orthodox Church to the Holy Land, Archim. Teofil Anăstăsoaie. The Romanian Patriarchate’s order was bestowed…

Jan 12, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

OrthPhoto releases new photo album exploring European Orthodoxy

The best photographs submitted in the OrthPhoto Awards contest organised last summer were included in a new photo album published by the Publishing House of the Orthodox Metropolis of Warsaw. The album titled “Colours of Orthodoxy. Europe” presents 179 photographs by 109 authors from 18 countries, making it a journey through all of European Orthodoxy.…

Jan 3, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Restoration of Church of the Nativity nears completion

The restoration of the ancient stone church of the Nativity in Bethlehem is nearing completion, although there is still important work to be done. Due to delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the project to restore this treasured church will take another year to complete. During a recent tour of the church before Christmas, Mazen…

Jan 3, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

France Orthodox Bishops pray for Orthodox unity, encourage affirmation of true faith

The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of France (AEOF) resumed its regular meetings on December 14, under the chairmanship of His Eminence Metropolitan Demetrios of France (Ecumenical Patriarchate). The bishops prayed for Orthodox unity and encouraged the affirmation of the true faith. After the introductory speech of Metropolitan Demetrios, the new chairman of the AEOF,…

Dec 25, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Father Ioan Sauca visits Patriarch of Antioch in Lebanon

Fr. Ioan Sauca, Acting General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), visited, on December 15, Patriarch John X of Antioch and All the East at His Beatitude’s residence in Balamand, Lebanon. Patriarch John X is one of the WCC presidents. His Beatitude shared the situation of the people and churches from his Patriarchate.…

Dec 23, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

New Metropolitan of Aleppo enthroned 8 years after abduction of former hierarch

Patriarchal Vicar Ephraim (Maalouli) of Seleucia (Antiochian Patriarchate) was enthroned last Friday as the new Metropolitan of Aleppo in a ceremony presided by Patriarch John X of Antioch at Aleppo’s “Prophet Elijah” Cathedral. The new metropolitan honoured his mother at the end of the ceremony by offering her his archimandrite cross. Accompanied by the cheers…

Dec 16, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Relics of Elder Joseph of Vatopedi exhumed on Mt. Athos (VIDEO)

The holy remains of one of the great Athonite elders of the 20th and 21st centuries were exhumed on Wednesday October 20 at Vatopedi Monastery on the Holy Mountain. Elder Joseph of Vatopedi spent 13 years as a disciple of the great St. Joseph the Hesychast. He remained at New Skete after the repose of…

Oct 22, 2021Sorin Ioniţe

Romanian Prodromos Skete denies existence of Covid outbreak on Mount Athos

The Romanian Skete of the Honourable Forerunner (Prodromos) denies the existence of an outbreak of Covid-19 in Mount Athos. “All the Romanian monks with whom we consulted, but also those of other nationalities, stated that no one is sick with Covid-19,” the abbot of the monastic settlement, Archimandrite Atanasie, wrote in an official document. It…

Sep 17, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Newly-established Romanian parish in Dubai celebrates its first patronal feast

The newly-established Romanian Orthodox parish in Dubai celebrated its patronal feast of the Nativity of the Theotokos for the first time. Father Alexandru Truşcan was presented as parish priest of the Romanian community. The delegate of the Romanian Patriarch at the events held in Dubai between September 7-11, 2021, was Protosyncellus Iachint Vardianu from Radu…

Sep 16, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu