Spirituality

2024 Solemn Year Icon: Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, the Physician of our souls and bodies

The representative icon of the Solemn Year of the pastoral care of the sick in the Romanian Patriarchate depicts our Lord Jesus Christ carrying a lamb on His shoulders. The icon includes the inscription “IC XC (Jesus Christ), the Good Shepherd, the Physician of our souls and bodies” and was exhibited for veneration inside the…

Jan 8, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Transylvania Metropolitan urges frequent participation in Divine Liturgy, in Nativity Fast message

During the initial days of the Nativity Fast, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurențiu of Transylvania issued a pastoral message suggesting that forty Divine Liturgies be reenjoined, as was the customary practise among the earliest Christian communities. “The Christians of the first centuries knew that every Divine Liturgy is the eternal Last Supper in the Kingdom of…

Nov 17, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Gifts of the Three Magi arrive in Romania for first time this December

This Christmas season will be memorable at Pantocrator Monastery in Dragănești-Vlașca, in Romania’s southern county of Teleorman. The gifts presented to Baby Jesus by the three wise men from the East will be brought to Romania for the first time on December 22 and remain until December 28. “The three magi who came to worship…

Nov 16, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Suceava Archbishop urges rich people to be merciful in decalogue for businessmen

In a Decalogue for Businessmen, His Eminence Archbishop Calinic of Suceava and Rădăuți urged entrepreneurs to practise benevolence and strive to attain the Kingdom of Heaven. During the Divine Liturgy on the 22nd Sunday following Pentecost, the parable involving the avaricious wealthy man and Lazarus was proclaimed. A Decalogue was composed by His Eminence Archbishop…

Nov 7, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Who was Protos. Iraclie Flocea: Survivor of the Stalinist Gulag proposed for canonization

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church approved, in its working session from October 25, 2023, the proposal of the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia for the canonization of Protosyncellus Iraclie Flocea (May 11, 1893 – August 16, 1964). The proposal had previously been approved by the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolis of Bessarabia. The…

Nov 1, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

From the Synaxaria: Saints who fought against human trafficking

At the European level, October 18 is dedicated to the fight against human trafficking. On this occasion, we remember that harming human dignity, exploitation, or abuse were not absent even from the lives of the saints, people whom we currently honour as role models. The best-known example is that of Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra…

Oct 18, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Fr Dumitru Staniloae’s last words

Father Dumitru Stăniloae of blessed memory reposed in the Lord on the evening of October 4-5, 1993. His daughter, Lidia Stăniloae, recounted the last words spoken by the great Romanian theologian before his death. “… Let us get out of here, let us get out of here, let us get out of here, let us…

Oct 6, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Spain: Relic of St Thecla offered to Romanian Orthodox community in Sabadell

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Tarragona, Mons. Juan Planellas offered the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Spain and Portugal a fragment of the relics of the Holy Protomartyr and Equal-to-the-Apostles Thecla, protector of the city of Tarragona. The relic will be kept at the Sabadell Romanian Orthodox Parish in Spain, which is placed under the patronage…

Sep 26, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Brought by Virgin Mary to the Romanian Settlement in Jericho: “My home is here,” Sister Elena says

The national news agency AGERPRES published an article about Romanian women living in the Holy Land. Along with those who got there after marriage, the journalists also included Sister Elena, a former educator who aspires to become a nun. She said that the love of the Mother of God called her to the Romanian Settlement…

Aug 21, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

I was born under the curse of survival, and Jesus freed me from it, Chinese convert Kenan Dionisie Wang confesses

Journalist Cristian Curte published in the weekly Formula As an interview with Kenan Dionisie Wang, a PhD student in History at the University of Bucharest and a first-year student in Orthodox Theology. Kenan was born in China and converted to Orthodoxy in Romania. He dreams of becoming an Orthodox priest. “Priesthood is the lifestyle of…

Aug 17, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

7 short prayers to the Most Holy Theotokos

During the period of fasting dedicated to preparing for the Dormition of the Mother of God, let us not neglect to offer her praise, gratitude, and even our most fervent petitions as often as possible. In addition to the simplest and most frequently recited prayer – “Most Holy Theotokos, save us!” – we offer seven…

Aug 11, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu