Romanian Patriarchate

State Secretary Oana Ursache: Inside the church abroad, the Romanian feels at home

The new State Secretary for Romanians Abroad, Oana Ursache, met with the patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti at the Patriarchate’s Palace on Monday, March 29, 2021. The meeting aimed at implementing future projects for the benefit of Romanians abroad and took place at the “Sanctus Iohannes Cassianus” Room. Fr. Nicolae Dascălu, coordinating patriarchal counsellor…

Apr 1, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod calls faithful “to be triumphant over passions of greed and pride” in Sunday of Orthodoxy pastoral letter

In a pastoral letter for the First Sunday of Great Lent, also called the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the Holy Synod members of the Romanian Orthodox Church said that the feast is a call to victory. “On the Sunday of Orthodoxy or the Triumph of the True Faith we are also called to be triumphant, with…

Mar 19, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate’s Trinitas TV receives silver play button from YouTube

The Romanian Patriarchate’s Trinitas TV station received the Silver Play Button from YouTube for exceeding the threshold of 100,000 subscribers. Trinitas TV’s YouTube account has now over 127,000 subscribers and over 31,000 videos. Since its creation in December 2015, the YouTube channel has recorded 47.8 million views with a duration of 6.4 million hours. “It…

Mar 18, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

A tear from the bottom of the heart could blot out many of our sins: Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova

“The Great Canon is a treasure to which we must reflect for hours and days in a row,” His Grace Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova said on the first evening of Lent at the Patriarchal Cathedral. “Tears” is one of the themes of this treasure that the bishop spoke about in his sermon. The Assistant…

Mar 18, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Canonization 2025: Bishop Varlaam reveals first three names

On Anti-Communist Political Prisoners Day, His Grace Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, general secretary of the Holy Synod, revealed some of the names proposed for canonization in 2025. They are priests and monks persecuted or martyred by the communist regime. In its February 25 meeting, the Holy Synod decided to prepare the canonization of twelve priests…

Mar 10, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian state allocates yearly 960,000 € support for Athonite Prodromou Skete

The plenary of the Romanian Chamber of Deputies approved on Wednesday the law establishing the yearly amount of financial support from the state budget allocated for the Prodromou Skete on Holy Mt. Athos: 960,000 Euros. There were 258 votes in favour, 31 against, 19 abstentions, and 1 unexpressed vote. „Given the history of this place…

Feb 26, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Romanian Church’s philanthropy increases during pandemic year: EUR 38 mln

On Tuesday, the National Church Council approved the General Activity Report of the Romanian Orthodox Church for 2020, entitled: “In the fight against the pandemic, the Church has intensified prayer, philanthropy and the protection of human health.” The Church invested 38 million euros to provide support in the pandemic year: an increase of 17.6% (5.7…

Feb 25, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod elects assistant bishop to Deva Diocese

During its working session on Thursday, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church elected an assistant bishop for the Diocese of Deva and Hunedoara. Assistant bishop-elect Nestor Dinculeană, who until now was a vicar at the Diocese of Deva, will bear the title of His Grace Bishop Nestor of Hunedoara. Archimandrite Gherontie Ciupe, Diocesan…

Feb 25, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod elects Archim. Nichifor Horia as assistant bishop to Iași Archdiocese

The Holy Synod on Thursday elected, by secret ballot, the Very Rev. Archimandrite Nichifor Horia as new Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Iași. Father Nichifor Horia is 53 years old and was born in Brăila. He is the abbot of the Three Holy Hierarchs Monastery in Iași and the Administrative Exarch of the monasteries…

Feb 25, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Justinian’s 120th birthday anniversary: “A sailor’s mastery is seen in times of storm”

“Saint John Chrysostom says that a sailor’s mastery is seen in times of storm,” said on Monday Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova referring to Romania’s former Patriarch Justinian Marina. “His pastoral ministry took place in a time of storm when adverse waves threatened the Church’s ship,” the bishop added. The Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese…

Feb 25, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Feast of St Charalampos, protector against the plague, celebrated in Bucharest

The feast of Saint Charalampos began at Oţetari Church in Bucharest with a procession with the hieromartyr’s relics, led by Dean Rev. Mihai Popescu and Parish Priest Cătălin Ciocan. The relics of the saint, considered a protector against the plague, were donated in 1866 by Primate Metropolitan Nifon, who was baptized at Oţetari Church. “I…

Feb 18, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu