Romanian Patriarchate

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

5 key quotes from Patriarch Justinian’s first Christmas encyclical (1948)

In his first Christmas encyclical in 1948, Romania’s third Patriarch Justinian Marina emphasized that the news of the Nativity did not resonate in marble palaces, but in the pure hearts of the poor, of those who worked without rest. 1. As we prepare to honour, according to tradition, the great feast of the Incarnation of…

Dec 24, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

5 inspiring quotes from Patriarch Nicodim’s first Christmas encyclical (1939)

In his first pastoral letter on the Nativity of the Lord in 1939, at the beginning of the Second World War, Romania’s second Patriarch Nicodim Munteanu urged the faithful to remember the cave in Bethlehem in times of unrest and insecurity, because only through the One born in it they would find escape, tranquillity, and…

Dec 24, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

5 powerful quotes from Patriarch Miron’s first Christmas encyclical (1926)

Patriarch Miron Cristea, the first Patriarch of Romania, wrote his first Christmas pastoral letter in 1926. In the five selected quotes below, the Patriarch points to wealth and poverty as possible obstacles in fulfilling the Christian’s purpose, the real power of mastery, sacrifice, as well as the conditions in which social well-being can be achieved.…

Dec 24, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

New decisions of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church met on Thursday, December 16, 2021, for a working session at the “Patriarch Teoctist” Great Hall of the Palace of the Patriarchate under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. The Holy Synod elected by secret ballot His Grace Assistant Bishop Nestor of Hunedoara as new Bishop…

Dec 17, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod elects His Grace Nestor as new Bishop of Deva and Hunedoara

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church during its working session on Thursday elected by secret ballot His Grace Assistant Bishop Nestor Dinculeana as new Bishop of Deva and Hunedoara, succeeding Bishop Gurie Georgiu of blessed memory, who reposed in October. Since February, His Grace Nestor has been the Assistant Bishop to the Diocese…

Dec 16, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu