Romanian Patriarchate

Patriarchate’s Spokesperson Bănescu comments on EU recommendations regarding Christmas ceremonies: They can’t impose anything

Vasile Bănescu, the spokesman of the Romanian Patriarchate, commented on the recommendations of the European Commission Christmas services should be replaced with online ceremonies. “The European Commission does not decide and cannot impose anything in the essential sphere of religion; it can only issue recommendations (!) related to encouraging and intensifying protection from the new…

Dec 3, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch of Romania: We have never received something as a gift in our history. Everything was obtained through sacrifice

‘The union of Romanians in a single national unitary state was accomplished after centuries of suffering, many spiritual and material sacrifices, sacrifices of human lives,’ Patriarch Daniel stressed during a Te Deum service at the Patriarchal Cathedral celebrating Romania’s National Day on Tuesday. The Patriarch underlined that Romania’s Great Union was not a random event,…

Dec 1, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

In brief: 10 things you need to know about the National Cathedral

The need to build a National Cathedral in Bucharest was considered after the War of Independence and the proclamation of Romania as a Kingdom. King Carol I passed a law on this endeavour in 1884. The original place of the Cathedral was established by Patriarch Miron in 1929: at the base of the Hill of…

Nov 26, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

2 years since the Romanians’ Cathedral was dedicated to the Union, the Ascension, the Heroes, the Saints

Wednesday, November 25, 2020, marks 2 years since the historic moment of the consecration of the National Cathedral. The consecration of the cathedral in the Centennial Year meant its dedication first to God and the Holy Apostle Andrew, then to the nation under their protection: the heroes who gave their souls for the country, the…

Nov 24, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Irinej memorial service: We remember him among the great hierarchs who served the Church

After the Sunday Divine Liturgy celebrated outside of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova officiated a memorial service for the late Patriarch Irinej of Serbia. “We pray, in the spirit of the fraternal ties that exist between all the Orthodox Churches, for the rest of his soul, for the forgiveness of…

Nov 23, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate urges people to donate blood and COVID-19 convalescent plasma

With the blessing of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, in 2012 the Archdiocese of Bucharest started a blood donation campaign called “A drop of blood for the life of his neighbour”. Starting with 2014, with the approval of the Holy Synod, this campaign was extended nationwide throughout the Romanian Patriarchate under the slogan “Donate blood, save…

Nov 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Assistant Bishop Timotei: Nectarios is becoming a popular child name in Romania. The Saint teaches us friendship with God

Hundreds of people from Bucharest and all across Romania flocked to Radu Voda Monastery to venerate the holy relics of Saint Nectarios of Aegina during a three-day celebration marking the 100th anniversary of the Saint’s blessed repose in the Lord. During the festive Divine Liturgy celebrated on St Nectarios’ feast day, Nov. 9, the assistant…

Nov 10, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

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