Society

Putna Monastery prays for Romanians killed in Ukraine war as numbers double in 2025

The Very Rev. Archimandrite Melchisedec Velnic, abbot of Putna Monastery, led a memorial service on Sunday together with his monastic community in remembrance of ethnic Romanians who have lost their lives in the war in Ukraine. While last year’s memorial listed 130 ethnic Romanians killed in the conflict, this year the number has risen significantly,…

Dec 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Over 100 million people live where Bible access remains restricted — new report

A new international report finds that more than 100 million people live in countries where access to the Bible is limited or risky. Yet the analysis also signals hope: needs are now more clearly identified than ever, allowing global support to reach those seeking Scripture more effectively. The report, published on the Bible Access List…

Dec 4, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian academics urge “authenticity” and discernment amid rapid rise of artificial intelligence

A conference on artificial intelligence was held last week at the PRECIS Centre of the Faculty of Automatic Control and Computers at the National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest. On this occasion, Professor Adrian Lemeni from the “Patriarch Justinian” Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest spoke about the courage to embrace authenticity in…

Nov 25, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s Ukrainian Union marks 35th anniversary with Parliament event, prayers for war victims

The Palace of the Parliament hosted, on 19–20 November, the anniversary event “35 Years Since the Establishment of the Union of Ukrainians in Romania”. Religious leaders of Ukrainians in Romania, MPs, and members of the Ukrainian community in the country took part. The event opened with a solemn moment of prayer and commemoration for the…

Nov 25, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Church media journalists attend training on combating antisemitism and hate speech

Journalists from the Basilica Media Centre of the Romanian Patriarchate participated from November 10 to November 13 in a training course aimed at combating antisemitism, racism, xenophobia, and hate speech in the public sphere. Organised by the Department for Interethnic Relations of the Romanian Government in collaboration with the State Secretariat for Religious Affairs, the…

Nov 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania opens new honorary consulate in Ruse, strengthening bilateral ties with Bulgaria

Romania inaugurated a new honorary consulate on Friday in the city of Ruse, the fourth of its kind in Bulgaria after those in Burgas, Silistra, and Plovdiv, reports Agerpres. The event marks a new stage in strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries, said Romania’s ambassador to Sofia, Brândușa Predescu, who attended the ceremony. “This…

Oct 20, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Neurosurgeon Iustinian Simion says God is present in the operating room

Neurosurgeon Iustinian Simion believes that God is present in the operating room, saying he has witnessed moments that cannot be explained by science alone. In an interview with Q Magazine, Dr Simion said he had experienced several medically inexplicable cases, which he attributes to divine intervention. “I couldn’t quantify how much is human and how…

Oct 9, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Microsoft to digitally recreate Notre-Dame Cathedral using AI

Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris will be digitally recreated using artificial intelligence, U.S. tech giant Microsoft announced through its president, Brad Smith. The project will be developed by Microsoft’s AI for Good division in partnership with French start-up Iconem and the French Ministry of Culture, according to Euronews. The initiative aims to produce a digital “clone”…

Aug 5, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Nifon: National anthem calls Romanians to unity, faith, and responsibility

On National Anthem Day, His Eminence Hon Metropolitan Nifon, Archbishop of Târgoviște, emphasised the spiritual and historical significance of Romania’s national anthem, describing it as a call to unity, solidarity, collaboration, and a deepening of the country’s Christian heritage. “Through its lyrics and melody, the national anthem invites us to unity and solidarity, to cooperation…

Jul 29, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Over 85% of Romanians identify as religious; Nearly half attend church monthly – INSCOP survey

More than 85% of Romanians consider themselves religious, and nearly half attend church at least once a month, according to a public opinion poll conducted by INSCOP and cited by Agerpres. According to the survey, only 14% of respondents said they do not consider themselves religious, while 1% did not know or refused to answer.…

Jul 22, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Mel Gibson visits Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos, praises deep spiritual experience

Renowned American actor, director, and producer Mel Gibson, best known for his film The Passion of the Christ, arrived last Friday at the Serbian Hilandar Monastery on Mount Athos, where he was set to spend several days. The information and accompanying photo were shared on the Friends of Hilandar Monastery (Пријатељи манастира Хиландара) Facebook page,…

Jul 1, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu