Romanian Patriarchate

Dăeni Parish Priest was a rebel child: “My ‘religion’ was football.” Read how St Parascheva chose him as her servant

The life and work of Father Alexandru Octavian Balaban from St Parascheva Parish in Dăeni, county of Tulcea, unfolds under St Parascheva’s protection. The priest, whose story has been recently featured in Libertatea daily, told Basilica.ro how he transitioned from the “religion of football” to the ministry of priesthood. He grew up in the village…

Nov 3, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Church and Colectiv club: Hearsay versus Facts

The tragedy at Colectiv nightclub directly affected several hundred families but caused injuries – many still open – at the level of the entire Romanian society. The Church was not left untouched by the accusations either, some partially real and assumed, others totally unfounded that hover in the public space even 5 years after the…

Nov 2, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Bust of Romania’s First Patriarch Miron Cristea unveiled in Ploiești

A bust of the first Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Miron Cristea, was unveiled on an Alley dedicated to the Founders of the 1918 Great Union in Ploiești’s Bucov Park during a ceremony on Saturday, October 24, Q Magazine reports. The bronze bust was made by the sculptor George Dumitru, with the support of…

Oct 30, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Thank you, beloved pilgrims. We regret other believers could not participate: Patriarch Daniel

Patriarch Daniel Tuesday warmly thanked the ‘beloved pilgrims’ for coming to the feast of Saint Demetrios the New and attending the divine services at the Patriarchal Cathedral with patience and ‘exemplary order’. ‘In the warmest way, we thank you, beloved pilgrims, who participated in the all-night vigil services, in the Divine Liturgies. Thank you for…

Oct 29, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

PHOTOS | All-night vigil service in honour of Saint Hyacinth of Vicina, Metropolitan of Wallachia, at the Patriarchal Cathedral 2020

Saint Hyacinth of Vicina, Metropolitan of Wallachia, was celebrated on Tuesday evening, October 27, 2020, during the all-night vigil service at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest.  October 27 was the last of the three days of pilgrimage organized this year in honour of Bucharest’s Patron Saint Demetrios the New. Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Raluca…

Oct 29, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam reminds that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world

At the all-night vigil service held in honour of St. Demetrios the Myrrh-gusher, a great martyr of the 4th century, the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploieşti spoke about the current persecutions against Christians and stressed that Christianity is the most persecuted religion in the world. “Usually when we talk about persecution we refer to…

Oct 27, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Relics of Saint Demetrios the New placed for veneration outside Patriarchal Cathedral for three-day celebration

Marking the beginning of a three-day celebration in honour of Bucharest’s Patron Saint, four priests led by a bishop carried the relics of Saint Demetrios the New outside the patriarchal cathedral during a small procession on Sunday morning. The reliquary was placed in a baldachin next to the cathedral where pilgrims from Bucharest are expected…

Oct 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

For 5 years on social media: Five good reasons to follow us, one reason you should not

On October 20, 2015, the Basilica News Agency joined Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. A bit late, indeed. But we made up for it. We have tens of reasons to invite you to join the Basilica.ro community. We’ve chosen only five reasons, hoping to be sufficient. If you’re not convinced, please write to us, wherever you…

Oct 22, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox students pray for power and strength to profess true faith at Fr Dumitru Staniloae’s tomb

Marking Father Dumitru Staniloae’s 27 year memorial anniversary, the members of the Romanian Orthodox Christian Students Association (ASCOR) gathered at Cernica Monastery ‘to pray for the rest of the soul of the reverend professor and his generation, but also to receive power and strength to profess the true faith and fulfil our role in society,…

Oct 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

When images meet holiness: The holy relics of Saint Demetrios the New

The Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest keeps a very important gift of Romanians: the holy relics of Saint Demetrios the New, Protector of Bucharest. Received from General Pyotr Saltykov, the holy relics have been blessing Romanians for over 240 years. In 1786, the relics of St. Demetrios were placed in a wooden reliquary, clad in silver…

Oct 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchate Spokesperson demands respect for most of the good and faithful people of the country: Pilgrimage is the expression of responsible religious freedom

The Romanian Patriarchate’s Spokesperson Vasile Bănescu commented on the decision to ban this year’s pilgrimage from Bucharest, on the patronal feast of the Patriarchal Cathedral. The spokesman reminded that the pilgrimage is a manifestation of religious freedom and that pilgrims and the Romanian Orthodox Church deserve more respect and trust from the authorities. “The rigorously…

Oct 15, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu