Society

Rapid growth: Romania and Moldova’s March for Life featured in prestigious pro-life podcast from across the Ocean

Alexandra Nadane, President of România pentru viață (“Romania for Life”), and Teodora Diana Paul, President of Studenți pentru viață (“Students for Life Bucharest”) – a Romanian pro-life student organization – were guests in the Wednesday edition of the Van Maren Show, a podcast featured on Canada-based pro-life website LifeSiteNews.com, the world’s largest pro-life website. They…

Mar 17, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Romania religious leaders urge Education Ministry to include Religion among Baccalaureate subjects

In an address initiated by the Romanian Patriarchate, thirteen representatives of religious denominations in Romania requested the inclusion of Religion in the list of subjects for which the Baccalaureate exam can be taken. The signatories also demand the removal from the new draft Law on pre-university education of some provisions related to the new ideologies.…

Mar 16, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Chess to be taught in Romanian schools as optional subject

Starting next academic year, chess will be taught in Romania as an optional subject. Over 50,000 primary school students will participate in the initial phase of the pilot project. By September, professional coaches will train over 3,000 teachers to prepare the children who opt for the course. Already, coaches at a chess academy in Bucharest…

Mar 10, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

The pro-life future starts now: The March for Life 2023 in Romania and Moldova is part of the Month for Life

Organizations from all over Romania and the Republic of Moldova have prepared a new edition of the Month for Life, which culminates on Saturday, March 25, with the March for Life. This year’s theme: “The Future Is Pro-Life”. “The pro-life future starts now,” is stated in the press release of the event. “Hope and determination…

Mar 9, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Greek Orthodox Music will feature in Coronation of King Charles III

The coronation of King Charles III will include Greek Orthodox chanting as a homage to the king’s late father, Prince Philip, who was born in Corfu and was a member of the former Greek royal family. The hymns will be chanted by the Byzantine Chant Ensemble led by Dr Alexander Lingas, who formed the ensemble…

Mar 7, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Theophany, Synaxis of St. John to become public holidays in Romania

Two more Church feasts are set to become public holidays in Romania starting next year. A draft law calling for January 6, the feast of the Theophany of the Lord, and the next day, the Synaxis of St. John the Baptist, to become state-recognised holidays easily passed through both the Senate and the Chamber of…

Feb 20, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Open Doors report: 2022 was the worst year for Christians worldwide

Open Doors releases its annual World Watch List 2023, confirming that one out of every seven Christians worldwide suffers high persecution and discrimination for their faith. According to the data reported, more than 360 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith.  Similar numbers were recorded last year. However, the score…

Feb 20, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Madrid: Inter-religious statement on the dignity of human life

Representatives of three Orthodox jurisdictions and other religious figures came together to sign a declaration on protecting the dignity of human life in Madrid on Wednesday. Among the signatories was Romanian Orthodox Bishop Timotei of Spain and Portugal. The document states: “That, as representatives of the main religious denominations: Islamic Commission of Spain, Federation of…

Feb 17, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

Exemplary aid: Romanian Orthodox Church spends 8,7 mln euro to support Ukrainian refugees in 2022

The annual report summarising the activities of the Romanian Orthodox Church in 2022 presents figures regarding the support offered to Ukrainian refugees: its value is equivalent to 8.7 million euros. “It was an exemplary humanitarian aid,” declared the Patriarch of Romania during the meeting of the National Church Assembly this week. “Of course, it would…

Feb 10, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchal Palace hosts International Military Conference of NATO, PfP Chief Chaplains

Delegations from 35 countries gathered for the first time in Romania at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest to discuss the role and mission of chaplains in the current geopolitical and religious context. On Monday, NATO and Partnership for Peace chief chaplains met at the church of Michael the Brave 30th Guards Brigade for a thanksgiving…

Feb 9, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Religious leaders call for increased support for refugees and host communities

Religions for Peace and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have assembled their Multi-Religious Council of Leaders for a two-day field mission to Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, calling for people of all faiths, across the globe, to increase their support of Ukrainian refugees and host communities. The event was attended…

Feb 7, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu