Society

Oltenia Metropolitan’s call to educators, parents, and students at the start of new school year

Metropolitan Irineu of Oltenia delivered a message at the beginning of the new school year, stating that the Church and School “unite in one heart, aiming to educate and train good Christians and future specialists by cultivating the authentic traditional values of our people.” The hierarch’s message is structured in three parts and explicitly appeals…

Sep 12, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

European Christian scholars gather in Warsaw to mark 1,700 Years since the First Ecumenical Council

Members of various Christian churches and denominations from across Europe gathered in Warsaw from September 5 to September 10 for the Academic Meeting of the European Society for Ecumenical Research—Societas Oecumenica. This year’s event commemorated the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council (Nicea, 325 AD). The meeting’s theme focused on the contemporary reception of…

Sep 11, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox parishes in the US show strong post-pandemic recovery, outperforming other denominations

A recent study published by the Hartford Institute for Religion revealed that Orthodox parishes in the US experienced a smaller decline in congregational numbers during the pandemic than other religious denominations and have been more successful in attracting new members during this period. Nationally, all liturgical communities in the US, regardless of denomination, lost an…

Aug 28, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Most migrants in Europe are Christian, recent study shows

According to the latest study published by Pew Research Center, most migrants in European countries originate from within the European continent and are predominantly Christian. In 2020, 53% of the non-native population living in Europe was born in another European country. The rest were born in South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa. Due…

Aug 26, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Kenyan students experience Romania: Cultural and educational trip

Forty young Kenyans visited the Cultural-Missionary Centre of the Archdiocese of Târgoviște at the Peștera Ialomiței Monastery on Monday, along with other landmarks in the Bucegi Mountains. The students are from two schools in Kenya that won an inaugural football tournament organized on Europe Day. The students received a specialized training camp in Romania, fully…

Aug 21, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Representatives of different monastic traditions gather in Romania under the theme “Blessed are the peacemakers”

In the serene mountain setting of Sambata de Sus Monastery, near Sibiu, Romania, a significant ecumenical and inter-monastic gathering took place from July 3 to 9. Organized by the Orthodox Archdiocese of Sibiu, the event brought together young disciples from various nations and representatives of monastic communities from across Europe. The theme “Blessed are the…

Jul 24, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Georgian Ambassador attends St Anthimos Monastery patronal feast: Georgia and Romania have a common saint

Her Excellency Tamar Beruchashvili, Georgia’s Ambassador to Romania, attended the patronal feast of St Anthimos Monastery in Bucharest last Sunday. The ambassador posted photos on her X.com profile. “I attended the Sunday service at the historic St Anthimos Monastery in Bucharest dedicated to All Saints Day.” pic.twitter.com/gbDrzTLmuY — Tamar Beruchashvili – თამარ ბერუჩაშვილი (@tberuch) June…

Jul 3, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Cambridge Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies marks 25th anniversary

On Sunday, June 9, the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies (IOCS) in Cambridge celebrated its 25th anniversary since it officially registered as a company in the UK. Fr. Dragoș Herescu, a Romanian, currently serves as the educational institution’s director. On this occasion, the Institute commissioned an anniversary icon of the Saviour Jesus Christ, which includes…

Jun 11, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

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