Romanian Patriarchate

PHOTOS: Works resume at Romania’s National Cathedral after holiday pause

After a pause for the feasts of the Nativity and the Baptism of the Lord, works were resumed on the construction site of the National Cathedral at the beginning of January. Due to unfavourable weather conditions caused by strong winds and very low temperatures, the works outside the cathedral were temporarily suspended. At the interior,…

Jan 28, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

They protect us in 2022: The Saints who prayed unceasingly to God

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church has decided that 2022 will be the Commemorative Year of the Holy Hesychasts Symeon the New Theologian, Gregory Palamas and Paisius Velichkovsky of Neamț in the Romanian Patriarchate. Hesychasm is an ascetic practice of monastic origin that involves the constant repetition of the Jesus prayer: “Lord, Jesus…

Jan 11, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

2021 Year in Review: Significant decisions of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church

In 2021, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church had three working sessions. In February, the first meeting took place when two assistant bishops were elected for the Archdiocese of Iasi and the Diocese of Deva and Hunedoara. Also, in February, the Synod approved the solemn and commemorative themes for 2022. Last year, one…

Jan 11, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

PHOTOS: The Theophany of the Lord at the Patriarchal Cathedral 2022

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel officiated the great blessing of the waters on the porch of the patriarchal residence in Bucharest on the feast of the Theophany of the Lord, January 6, 2022. Before the blessing service, the festal Divine Liturgy was celebrated by the patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiești at the Patriarchal Cathedral. Photography…

Jan 7, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

A look back at the Romanian Patriarchate’s main philanthropic work in the second year of the pandemic

Father Ciprian Ion Ioniţă, Coordinating Patriarchal Adviser at the Social-Philanthropic Sector of the Patriarchal Administration, spoke at Radio Trinitas about the philanthropic activities carried out by the Romanian Patriarchate in the second year of the pandemic. Father Ciprian Ioniţă said that throughout this period, “support has been maintained for the medical units involved in the…

Jan 4, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel proclaims 2022 Solemn Year of Prayer, Commemorative Year of Hesychast Saints

The first Divine Liturgy in 2022 at the Patriarchal Cathedral ended with the proclamation of the solemn and commemorative themes of the New Year. Therefore, 2022 was proclaimed a Solemn Year of prayer in the Church’s life and the Christian’s life and a Commemorative Year of the Hesychast Saints Symeon the New Theologian, Gregory Palamas…

Jan 1, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Protopsaltes Archdeacon Mihail Bucă welcomes Holy Synod decision to commemorate church chanters in 2023

The year 2023 will be an occasion to commemorate hymnographers and church chanters (psaltes) in the Romanian Patriarchate, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church decided this December. The Reverend Archdeacon Mihail Bucă, founder and conductor of the Tronos Byzantine Choir of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, welcomed this decision. “I feel that the…

Dec 25, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod declares 2023 a Solemn Year of the pastoral care of the elderly and a Commemorative Year of hymnographers and church chanters

During its working session on December 16, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church declared 2023 a Solemn Year of the pastoral care of the elderly and a Commemorative Year of hymnographers and church chanters in the Romanian Patriarchate. “These grandparents who have worked all their lives must also be remembered in the Church’s…

Dec 25, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch of Romania awards Patriarch of Jerusalem the “St. John Jacob of Neamț” Order: Recipients list

The Patriarch of Romania awarded on Wednesday the Patriarch of Jerusalem the “St. John Jacob of Neamț, the New Khozevite”. The distinction was granted in the context of the Solemn Year 2021 in the Romanian Patriarchate and it was transmitted to Jerusalem by Archim. Teofil Anăstăsoaie, Representative of the Romanian Patriarchate in the Holy Land.…

Dec 24, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

5 encouraging quotes from Patriarch Teoctist’s first Christmas encyclical (1986)

In his first Christmas encyclical in 1986, Romania’s former Patriarch Teoctist Arapasu noted that the Nativity shows how much God loves us and how much the price of human life is before God. 1. What can give wings to the mind towards the deep and mysterious meaning of life; what can inflame the heart towards…

Dec 24, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

5 motivational quotes from Patriarch Iustin’s first Christmas encyclical (1977)

In his first pastoral encyclical on the Nativity of the Lord in 1977, Romania’s fourth Patriarch Iustin Moisescu stressed the joyful way Christians need to welcome the Baby Jesus in their lives. 1. Listening to Christmas hymns, let us all now bow our heads before the icon of the Nativity, thanking God for the saving…

Dec 24, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu