Spirituality

Putna Monastery pins hopes on patron saints to rid Romania of coronavirus

The monks of Putna Monastery pray for a miracle from the monastery’s patron saints to rescue Romania from the coronavirus outbreak. Carrying relics and icons, the monks walked around the outside of the monastery’s main church on Sunday, praying the coronavirus away. The procession was organized as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the…

Mar 31, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Archim. Zacharias Zacharou: Pandemic as going out in the Desert. Christ is with us there by calling upon His Name

Archimandrite Zacharias Zacharou from “St John the Baptist” Monastery in Essex, Great Britain, has sent spiritual advice to the faithful who are panicked by the current coronavirus epidemic. He gives the answer to the question how to face a possible interruption of the celebration of the Divine Liturgy? We should use this time for spiritual…

Mar 20, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

St Eanswythe: Relics of Anglo-Saxon saint found in church wall

Relics discovered more than a century ago in a Kent church are almost certainly the remains of an early English saint who was the granddaughter of Ethelbert, the first English king to convert to Christianity, experts have concluded. Saint Eanswythe, the patron saint of the coastal town of Folkestone, is thought to have founded one…

Mar 7, 2020Gheorghe Anghel

Greek Metropolitan of Mesogaia to speak about ‘passing through the wilderness of Great Lent’ in Bucharest

The Lenten lectures organized by the Romanian Orthodox Christian Students Association (ASCOR) in Bucharest will kick off this year with a special guest from Greece. His Eminence Metropolitan Nikolaos of Mesogaia and Lavreotiki will speak at the Aula Magna of the Law School of Bucharest about the passing through the wilderness of Great Lent and…

Feb 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Nativity Fast Begins: Let us receive Christ in the cave of our souls

The Nativity Fast is one of four main fast periods throughout the ecclesiastical year. Beginning on November 15 and concluding on December 24, the Nativity Fast gives individuals the opportunity to prepare for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour in the Flesh on December 25. By abstaining from certain food and…

Nov 15, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Simona Halep exclusive interview: ‘The Mother of God is always on my mind’

After receiving the highest distinction of the Romanian Orthodox Church, Wimbledon 2019 Champion Simona Halep spoke about her devotion to the Mother of God in an exclusive interview with Basilica.ro. The tennis player confessed that her love for God and the Theotokos was inspired by her family. ‘I have never refrained from professing my faith…

Jul 20, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Pope Francis: The ‘Our Father’ is a prayer that leaves us troubled and crying out in protest against the famine of love in our time

On the first day of his 3-day visit to Romania, Pope Francis prayed the ‘Our Father’ in Bucharest’s Orthodox People’s Salvation Cathedral and addressed the congregation. Here is the full text of his address: Your Beatitude, Dear Brother, Dear Brothers and Sisters, I am grateful and moved to be in this holy temple that brings…

May 31, 2019Sorin Ioniţe

8 Bible verses to remind you what Easter is all about

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die (John 11: 25-26). Knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him (Romans 6:9). But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the…

Apr 29, 2019Gheorghe Anghel

„Christ is Risen! – Indeed He is Risen!” in different languages

From Easter to Ascension, Orthodox Christians salute when they meet the so-called “Christ is Risen!” and respond with “Indeed, He is Risen.” We invite you to read this paschal greeting in several languages ​​of the world: Albanian: Krishti Ungjall! – Vertete Ungjall! Arabic: Al Maseeh Qam! – Haqqan Qam! Armenian: Christos harjav i merelotz! –…

Apr 28, 2019Iulian Dumitraşcu

Saint Mary of Egypt and the contemporary man

‘There is no sin which cannot be pardoned except that one which lacks repentance,’ says Saint Isaac the Syrian recalling the importance of repentance, which can offer the possibility of a new beginning in our spiritual life. We started with this quote because the fifth Sunday of Great Lent is dedicated to a Saint who…

Apr 9, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Top Spanish Newspaper recommends 15 charming villages in Romania

El Pais, one of the most read daily newspapers in Spain, both in print and online, published in its online edition a feature article dedicated to Romania, in which it recommends readers 15 Romanian villages to discover. Iconic spots like Ciocanesti, Jurilovca, Sirnea, Rasinari, Botiza,  Rimetea or Viscri have impressed the Spanish journalists through their…

Apr 4, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu