Society

Holy Synod issues guidelines ahead of European and local elections

At the beginning of the year, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church issued guidelines for clergy and believers regarding their participation in the 2024 European Parliament and local, legislative, and presidential elections. The guidelines reiterate the Romanian Orthodox Church’s stance on political life and electoral campaigns. Ultimately, the Synod offers ten guiding criteria…

Jun 6, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Mediterranean plant used to prepare Holy Chrism, acclimatised at Buzău Plant Genetic Resources Bank

Agerpres reports that the Plant Genetic Resources Bank (BRGV) in Buzău has acclimatised a Mediterranean plant, Cistus ladanifer, also known as the gum rockrose, from which one of the essential oils used in preparing the Holy Chrism is extracted. “We were afraid that the winter frost might affect it, but no, it adapted very well.…

May 23, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox photographers’ community OrthPhoto marks its 20th anniversary

OrthPhoto, an international organisation of Orthodox photographers, observed its 20th anniversary this month. The OrthPhoto community was established amidst the descent of the Holy Fire in Jerusalem on April 10, 2004. Over the past twenty years, the community has amassed a membership of over 120,000 individuals hailing from more than eighty countries. The gradual emergence…

Apr 26, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

2024 Romfilatelia Easter stamps showcase Stavropoleos monastery icons of Christ’s Passion and Resurrection

This year, Romfilatelia has released Easter-themed postage stamps featuring images that recount the narrative of Christ’s Resurrection and Passion. Romfilatelia selected Stavropoleos monastery for its Easter stamp issue because this year marks the 300th anniversary of the monastery’s consecration. On April 5, 2024, Romfilatelia distributed the stamps to post offices nationwide. The 2024 Holy Easter…

Apr 19, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Government, religious denominations consolidate their collaboration. Romania to establish Religious Freedom Day

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel and other representatives of religious denominations officially recognised in Romania met with state representatives at the National Art Museum on Wednesday, April 10. The participants discussed aspects related to consolidating their collaboration at a social level. “Today, the Romanian Orthodox Church is convinced that in cooperation with state institutions, it can…

Apr 16, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Bulgaria Vice President, Metropolitan Nifon explore collaboration ways to strengthen EU Orthodox presence

Last Saturday, while attending a traditional event in Dambovița County that was organised by the Bulgarian community, Vice-President of Bulgaria Iliana Iotova met with Patriarchal Exarch and Archbishop of Târgoviște His Eminence Hon Metropolitan Nifon. According to the Archdiocese of Târgoviște, the discussions spanned several subjects of mutual interest to the two nations and the…

Mar 28, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox chapel to be inaugurated inside Romania’s Parliament on March 25

The Romanian Parliament will have an Orthodox chapel that will be consecrated on March 25, on the feast of the Annunciation, the acting president of the Chamber of Deputies, Alfred Simonis, announced on Monday, the National Press Agency Agerpres reports. Orthodox chapel inside the Parliament “It is a space within the Parliament building. At my…

Mar 12, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church allocated 1 million euros to support Ukrainian refugees in 2023

The assistance extended by the Romanian Orthodox Church to Ukrainian refugees who sought refuge in Romania and the Republic of Moldova over the previous year exceeded one million euros and included a variety of services, products, and financial aid. Therefore, in 2023, the Filantropia Federation and the dioceses of the Romanian Orthodox Church provided measurable…

Mar 6, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Odesa Romanians advocate designating 2026 the Peter Mogila Intercultural Year for Ukraine, Romania and the Republic of Moldova

The “Bessarabia” Association of the Romanians from the Odesa region would like 2026 to be declared as “Peter Mogila Intercultural Year in Ukraine, Romania and the Republic of Moldova”. In December 2023, the association sent an open letter to the three countries’ presidents. On February 26, 2024, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) announced…

Mar 4, 2024basilica.ro

Athens to host int’l conference on Orthodox pastoral care in the age of AI

One of the subjects that will be discussed at the International Scientific Conference on Post-Humanism (PHAICON 24), which will be held in Athens from October 31 to November 3, is Orthodox pastoral care in the era of artificial intelligence. The conference is organised by Saint Maximos the Greek Institute, in partnership with the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s…

Feb 22, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Two saints already represented on Bulgarian currency to be featured on the country’s euro coins

Bulgaria aims to join the euro in 2025 and has created the design for the new money to be issued. The country’s euro coins will feature saints that are already depicted on the national currency leva. It is unique in the EU for saints to be represented on widely circulated coins. The Bulgarian 2-euro coin…

Feb 20, 2024Ștefana Totorcea