Romanian Patriarchate

Holy Synod General Secretary officially announces solemn and commemorative themes for 2020

The New Year Day marked the beginning of the Solemn Year of Pastoral Ministry of Parents and Children and the Commemorative Year of Romanian Orthodox Philanthropists. Following the New Year Divine Liturgy presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, the general secretary of the Holy Synod, His Grace Bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti, read out the…

Jan 2, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Hundreds pack Patriarchal Cathedral for New Year 2020 watch night service

Hundreds of people spent the New Year eve attending the watch night service at the Holy Emperors Cathedral in Bucharest. Bucharest’s Patriarchal Cathedral was crowded by those who wanted to offer prayers of thanksgiving together with the Patriarch of Romania for the turn of the year. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel celebrated the 23.30 p.m. service.…

Jan 1, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

The Holy Synod’s biggest decisions in 2019

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church gathered at the patriarchal residence for several times this year under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel to analyze topical issues concerning Orthodoxy in Romania and worldwide. Here are some of the year’s most important decisions. The Holy Synod considered the ecclesiastical situation in Ukraine and…

Dec 30, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchate’s annual Christmas carol concert opens with moment of silence for victims of Romanian Revolution

‘The over 1,000 heroes who died 30 years ago are spiritual founders of the National Cathedral. For them and for all national martyrs, the Romanian Orthodox Church offers prayers with gratitude. In their remembrance, we invite you to have a moment of silence,’ presenter Catalin Sava said opening the Romanian Patriarchate’s annual Christmas carol concert…

Dec 20, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate holds solemn moments to honour December 1989 Revolution heroes

The Romanian Patriarchate on Monday organized several solemn events to mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of communism and the remembrance of the heroes who fell during the Romanian Revolution of December 1989. The Patriarch of Romania, members of the Holy Synod, the President of the Former Political Prisoners Association, state officials, professors and…

Dec 20, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam at Chapel of National Cathedral: Follow the spiritual courage of Saint Andrew!

The patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti on Saturday presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Chapel of the National Cathedral in Bucharest urging the believers to honour Saint Andrew the First-called as a spiritual father and to follow his spiritual courage (manhood). “This holiday has a true national importance because we celebrate our spiritual…

Dec 2, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Remembering the historic consecration ceremony of the National Cathedral in Bucharest

On Monday, November 25, 2019, we marked one year since the historic consecration of the Romanian People’s Salvation Cathedral, the most important national project dedicated to Romania’s Great Union Centennial, a symbol of the unity of faith and of nation of Romanians. Although the Cathedral was consecrated as ‘shell and core,’ over 150,000 Romanians came…

Nov 26, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Over 1,400 New Testaments to be sent to Romanian soldiers abroad by Christmas

The Romanian Patriarchate will give away 1,410 copies of the New Testament with Psalms to the Romanian soldiers abroad. The New Testaments will be distributed in the near future through the Religious Assistance Section of the Ministry of National Defence, Fr. Ciprian Ioniţă from the Social-Philanthropic Department of the Patriarchal Administration told the Basilica News…

Nov 25, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Nativity Fast Begins: Let us receive Christ in the cave of our souls

The Nativity Fast is one of four main fast periods throughout the ecclesiastical year. Beginning on November 15 and concluding on December 24, the Nativity Fast gives individuals the opportunity to prepare for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour in the Flesh on December 25. By abstaining from certain food and…

Nov 15, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Tens of pilgrims travel across Romania to attend celebrations of St John Chrysostom in Bucharest

For the sixth year in a row, tens of pilgrims travel across Romania from the northern parts of Maramures and Satu Mare to attend the celebrations of Saint John Chrysostom at the Chapel of the National Cathedral in Bucharest. Children and adults dressed in colourful folk costumes attended the all-night vigil and the Divine Liturgy…

Nov 14, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Church and Colectiv club. What the mainstream media didn’t tell you in 2015

Four years have passed since a deadly blaze killed 64 and wounded 147 at the Colectiv rock club in Bucharest in 2015. The mainstream media wrote many stories about a lack of involvement of the Church in helping the victims, but there are several important details omitted until today. Among the first to arrive at…

Oct 31, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu