Spirituality

Presbytera Petronela Bărăscu: We have received life as a gift; we owe to cherish it as time of salvation

Presbytera Petronela Bărăscu has expressed her gratitude for all the good things she received from God, the most precious of which are life and family. Before the one year memorial of her husband, the former parish priest of Parava parish in Bacău County, she wrote on Facebook: “We have received life as a gift, we…

Aug 11, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

The Dormition Fast | Resources

The Feast of the Dormition of Our Most Holy Lady, the Theotokos and Ever-Virgin Mary is celebrated on August 15 each year. The Feast commemorates the repose (dormition and in the Greek kimisis) or “falling-asleep” of the Mother of Jesus Christ, our Lord. The Feast also commemorates the translation or assumption into heaven of the…

Aug 5, 2020Gheorghe Anghel

A 1938 homily by St. Nikolai Velimirovic was discovered in Serbian monastery

St. Nikolai (Velimirović) is revered as one of the greatest saints of the 20th century. His gift for fiery and inspiring preaching earned him the moniker of “Serbia’s Chrysostom.” Now, another example of his eloquence has been unearthed, as a manuscript of a previously unknown homily was discovered in Studenica Monastery in Brezova, Serbia, reports…

Jul 31, 2020Gheorghe Anghel

20,500 Euros and the icon of the Mother of God “Protectress of the Unborn” for St Helen Pregnancy Helpcenter

The campaign to fund a new pregnancy crisis helpcenter in Bucharest has almost reached its target last week, raising 96.5% of the 20,500 Euros needed for the center to be set up and operate for two months. In addition to money, a donor offered a copy of the icon of the Mother of God “Protectress…

Jul 9, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada: The saints’ life and the prerequisites for the Kingdom of God

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy…

Jun 25, 2020Sorin Ioniţe

Blessed Relics of St Gregory the Teacher carried in procession for first time in history

Priests and believers carried a wonderworking icon of the Theotokos and the blessed relics of the Wallachian Metropolitan Saint Gregory the Teacher during a 162 km long procession that passed through 17 localities on Saturday. This was the first time when the holy relics of Saint Gregory the Teacher were taken out of Caldarusani Monastery,…

Jun 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

15 immortal quotes by Archbishop Pimen: Let us take care, but do not worry

Christian life means happiness, even in tribulations. We live our lives with much anxiety and much pain because of our sins according to God’s providence. God calls us to Him through both troubles and sorrows, because in this way we can become wise, we better understand the will of God, which is the sanctification of…

May 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

7 verses from the Book of Job to meditate on

The Orthodox Church celebrates the Righteous Job the Long-Suffering on Wednesday, May 6. In the context of this day, we have selected a few verses from the Old Testament book that we must meditate on at any time in our lives. Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return there. The Lord gave,…

May 6, 2020Iulian Dumitraşcu

Stavropoleos Monastery launches virtual tour

Stavropoleos Monastery located in Bucharest’s old city centre has partnered with Scanbox Integrated visual solutions to build a complete virtual tour of the Monastery, giving unprecedented access to monastery church, courtyard and facilities. Now available on the Stavropoleos Monastery’s website, the Virtual Tour takes users on a digital tour of the church, library, refectory and…

May 1, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

J.C. Larchet: The value of the Holy Communion does not depend on how it is offered to the faithful

In a recent interview, French theologian Jean-Claude Larchet, well-known to Romanians through his numerous books on illness and suffering, places the Covid-19 pandemic in historical context and discusses the challenges to religious practice which stemmed from it and spurred controversy among the Orthodox faithful. The extensive interview approaches hotly debated topics such as the issue…

Apr 21, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Retired Bishop Daniil gives sermon to the very revered walls: Forgive us, who were and still are only “whitewashed walls”

Retired Bishop Daniil of Dacia Felix gave a notable sermon on Sunday addressing ‘the Very Reverend Walls, the Reverend Chant Stands and Chairs in our Orthodox churches.’ Speaking to the church objects and walls, the retired bishop Daniil Stoenescu said that illness and the inability to cross the threshold of churches these days are a…

Apr 2, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu