Society

Romanian physicist cites St Gregory Palamas in reflection on science and faith

Physicist Cristian Presură reflected on the relationship between science and faith in a Facebook post, starting from a definition of scientific knowledge formulated by St Gregory Palamas: “It is the most beautiful definition of science that I know, and the finest praise that can be given to it.” The researcher begins with a passage by…

Jan 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop urges prayer and action to heal divisions at Christian unity service

“Our world still bears the deep scars of division which, without prayer and without God’s help, lead to an increasingly alarming rise in misunderstanding and a sense of spiritual disconnection,” Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Paisie of Sinaia said on Sunday. The hierarch represented Patriarch Daniel at the final prayer gathering of this year’s Week of Prayer…

Jan 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Signs a member of a faith community may be a victim of human trafficking: Guide

Human trafficking is a scourge affecting tens of thousands of people worldwide, and victims can come from any social background, regardless of age, ethnicity or economic status. In Romania, the National Agency Against Trafficking in Persons (ANITP) reported in its 2024 review that the number of victims rose compared with the past five years. Against…

Jan 22, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Open Doors says persecution hits 388 mln Christians worldwide, families face growing pressure

According to the World Watch List 2026 report published by Open Doors, religious persecution targeting Christians has a direct impact on family life, with converts facing pressure, abuse and marginalisation even from their own relatives. The report points to a worsening of anti-Christian persecution worldwide, both in scale and intensity, with direct consequences for family…

Jan 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Timotei says Christ’s peace runs deeper than worldly calm at ecumenical prayer service

“The peace the Lord offers is different from the peace we observe, or that is presented to us in various forms. It is not the apparent quiet of cemeteries, nor the fragile balance of powers that neutralise one another,” Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova said on Tuesday. The assistant bishop of the Archdiocese of Bucharest…

Jan 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian churches open Week of Prayer for Christian Unity in Bucharest

The Week (Octave) of Prayer for Christian Unity opened on Monday at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saint Joseph in Bucharest. Representing the Patriarch of Romania, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești attended the event, accompanied by Archimandrite Augustin Coman, Patriarchal Adviser in the Department for Christian Relations, Interreligious Affairs and Romanian Communities Abroad of…

Jan 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Banat Metropolitan calls for prayer for families, end to violence against women

His Eminence Metropolitan Ioan of Banat on Sunday urged prayer for families and called for an end to violence against women. “I would raise a prayer to God to bless our country, Banat and the whole world,” the metropolitan said. “To you, my brothers, I have one request: let us pray for families, because in…

Jan 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s religious leaders and Government meet to tackle antisemitism and hate speech

Representatives of the religious denominations officially recognised in Romania and government officials met on Friday to discuss the prevention and combating of antisemitism and other forms of intolerance. The delegate of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church, was His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, the Holy Synod’s general secretary.…

Jan 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Over 5 billion live under religious discrimination, interfaith dialogue seen as remedy

More than two-thirds of the world’s population lives in countries where religious freedom is restricted or violated, according to a 2025 report published by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN International). The document notes that interreligious dialogue and cooperation between communities can help reduce discrimination and promote social peace. Analysing the situation in 196…

Jan 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Anti-Christian hate crimes remain high across Europe, rights groups say

European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ) and the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe (OIDAC) have published a new annual report showing that hate crimes and violence targeting Christians remain at persistently high levels across Europe. The report finds that ideological motivations are increasingly driving such incidents, alongside religiously motivated attacks…

Dec 24, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop of Australia and New Zealand calls for peace and interreligious dialogue after the tragedy in Sydney

The Romanian Orthodox Bishop Mihail of Australia and New Zealand has issued a message of solidarity and prayer following the tragedy at Bondi Beach, Sydney, calling for peace, mutual respect, and interreligious dialogue within Australian society. In his message delivered after the armed attack that left 15 people dead and more than 20 injured, His…

Dec 18, 2025Mihail Pătrășcanu