Romanian Patriarchate

Ecumenical Patriarch arrives in Romania for historic consecration of National Cathedral

His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople has arrived in Bucharest to lead the historic consecration ceremony of Romania’s National Cathedral, a memorial church built in honor of all the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the country’s independence. Born Demetrios Archondonis in 1940 on the island of Imvros (today, Gökçeada, Turkey), His All-Holiness Bartholomew…

Nov 23, 2018Gheorghe Anghel

Holy Synod issues pastoral letter at the beginning of Nativity Fast

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church has issued a pastoral letter on the first Sunday of the Nativity Fast recalling that the Romanian people bears the ‘seal of the mystery of Christ’s Cross and Resurrection.’ ‘The luminous fruit-bearing of Christ’s Gospel in the history and culture of the Romanian people is observed in…

Nov 20, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Week in pictures: November 12-18, 2018

A selection of the best pictures from last week’s events in the Orthodox world.  

Nov 19, 2018Raluca-Emanuela Ene

National Cathedral largest bell installed on metallic headstock

One of the most difficult stages and an engineering challenge was accomplished on Tuesday, November 13, on the construction site of the Romanian People’s Salvation Cathedral. The Cathedral’s largest bell weighing 25 tons was hung onto the metallic headstock inside the bell tower. ‘I can’t tell I was nervous,’ Grassmayr representative eng. Corneliu Revencu told…

Nov 15, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești urges believers to read works of St John Chrysostom

The Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești on Tuesday urged the believers present at the National Cathedral’s Chapel to read the works of Saint John Chrysostom. His Grace Bishop Varlaam celebrated the Divine Liturgy on the feast of St John Chrysostom and told the faithful that they should join the veneration of St John’s relics…

Nov 15, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Relics of St John Chrysostom carried in procession at National Cathedral Chapel

The reliquary containing a particle of the holy relics of Saint John Chrysostom were carried in procession around the National Cathedral’s Chapel on Monday evening, Nov. 12, during the All-night Vigil in honour of the Saint. Hundreds of believers attended the festivities dedicated to St John Chrysostom in Bucharest. The chapel of the National Cathedral…

Nov 14, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

October 2018 Basilica.ro Review available for download

We released this year’s tenth issue of the Basilica.ro monthly review. The October 2018 edition is now available in colour pdf format for downloading and local distribution. Each monthly edition will feature select articles that had been published on the Basilica News Agency website during the previous month. Feel free to download, read and distribute the Good to Know! Foto credit: Basilica.ro

Nov 9, 2018Sorin Ioniţe

Metropolitan Teofan explains why our prayers remain unanswered

His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina on Sunday explained that ‘not every man who asks God to solve his problems finally receives a solution.’ ‘Many of us go to church, many of us venerate icons, partake of the Holy Mysteries, many say that we have a genuine Christian life, but our requests remain…

Oct 30, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Thousands flock to venerate Bucharest Patron Saint Demetrius the New

Thousands of believers flocked to venerate Bucharest’s Patron Saint Demetrius the New at the patriarchal Divine Liturgy presided over by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel last Saturday, October 27. Concelebrants for the Divine Liturgy included several Romanian hierarchs, but also Metropolitan Naum of Ruse as representative of Bulgaria, St Demetrius’s homeland, and Bishop Qais of Erzurum…

Oct 30, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod glorifies 20th century Bessarabian Bishop Dionysius Erhan

During its autumn regular session, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church resolved to glorify the 20th century Bessarabian Bishop Dionysius Erhan whose relics were found incorrupt earlier this year during the consolidation works at Suruceni Monastery in the Republic of Moldova. The canonization proposal was submitted by the Bishops’ Synod of the Metropolis…

Oct 30, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

‘Let us love the Saints and venerate their relics, even when we are mocked for it’: Transylvania Metropolitan at Bucharest

‘Let us love the Saints and venerate sacred things, and holy relics, even when we are mocked for doing this,’ the Metropolitan of Transylvania on Friday urged the believers present at the Divine Liturgy on the Patriarchate’s Hill, offering his reflections on the Gospel reading of the day. ‘All this I have told you so…

Oct 29, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu