Society

Republic of Moldova offers free Romanian language courses for adults

President Maia Sandu announced that adults who belong to national minorities in the Republic of Moldova would benefit from free Romanian language courses starting in 2023. This will be achieved by expanding the Ministry of Education’s National Program for teaching the Romanian language to non-native speakers, until now only intended for children from national minorities.…

Jan 9, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Basilica News Agency Director meets with Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem

Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem received on Monday Aurelian Iftimiu, Director of the Basilica News Agency of the Romanian Patriarchate, who travelled to the Holy City to attend the Christian Media Summit 2022. “We spoke of the mission of the Basilica News Agency and His Beatitude referred to the good relations with the Romanian Orthodox…

Dec 13, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

On Romania’s National Day, UNESCO recognizes Romanian blouse as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

UNESCO has decided to inscribe the Romanian blouse on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The application was made by Romania in cooperation with the Republic of Moldova, because the cultural practice is common to both territories. An amazing coincidence was that the decision was made in a session which started on…

Dec 1, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

Romania’s central bank issues coin marking Kretzulescu Church’s 300th anniversary

The Romanian National Bank (BNR) has issued a gold coin to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the building of Kretzulescu Church in Bucharest. The obverse of the coin features Bucharest’s Kretzulescu Church, the year of issue “2022,” the coat of arms of Romania, the denomination “100 LEI,” and the word “ROMANIA.” On the coin’s reverse…

Nov 29, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Annual report on intolerance against Christians in Europe draws attention to chilling effect

The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe (OIDAC) released its annual report in the context of the International Day of Tolerance (Nov. 16). It focuses on three main developments of intolerance against Christians in European countries: Anti-Christian hate crimes, self-censorship and negative stereotypes and treatment of Christians in the media. OIDAC provides…

Nov 23, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel officiates Doxology at Alba Iulia marking Coronation Centennial of King Ferdinand, Queen Marie

On October 15, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel presided over a Te Deum service at the Cathedral of Alba Iulia commemorating the 100th anniversary of the coronation of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie. The celebration began with the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the centennial of the Coronation on the west side of the cathedral’s bell…

Oct 24, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s National Bank releases coin featuring famous Romanian, Georgian Monasteries

The National Bank of Romania has announced the release of an anniversary coin depicting Bucharest’s Saint Anthimos Monastery and a sixth-century Georgian Orthodox monastery near Mtskheta. The coin is 60 mm in diameter and composed of patinated copper alloy. The church of St Anthimos Monastery, founded by the Hieromartyr Anthimos the Iberian, a native Georgian,…

Oct 20, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Suceava Archbishop’s anti-human trafficking decalogue

Marking the European Anti-Trafficking Day, His Eminence Archbishop Calinic of Suceava and Rădăuţi published a decalogue for preventing and combating this social phenomenon with profound adverse effects on children, women, families and communities. “God, today, more than ever, needs Levites and priests, faithful people, to protect the old, the young, the women, the girls and…

Oct 18, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Anti-human trafficking message read out in Romanian Churches

As part of the partnership between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Romanian National Agency Against Human Trafficking to raise awareness of this serious problem and educate people on how to avoid risky situations, a statement was developed that was read out in Romanian churches on Sunday. The message was timed to EU Anti-Trafficking Day…

Oct 18, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Long-distance trail Via Transilvanica, officially inaugurated in Romania

Via Transilvanica, the 1,400 km long-distance trail that crosses Romania from Putna to Drobeta-Turnu Severin, was officially inaugurated this past weekend. The grand opening event took place in Alba Iulia on Saturday, October 8. In addition to a variety of events, such as exhibitions, fairs and live music, the event also included the official opening…

Oct 12, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Peony, symbol of the heroes’ blood, declared national flower of Romania

A bill supported by horticulture experts from Bucharest’s University of Agronomic Sciences and Veterinary Medicine was voted by the Parliament of Romania, declaring the peony the national flower of Romania. “Peony, from the Paeoniaceae family, is declared the National Flower of Romania. To mark this, national and local events may be organized yearly, also a…

Sep 30, 2022Ștefana Totorcea