A delegation of the Romanian Orthodox Church met with representatives of the Armenian Apostolic Church during an official visit aiming to establish a framework to support Armenian refugees from the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The meetings are taking place in the context of a fundraiser organized by the Romanian Patriarchate in 2024 to aid Armenian refugees. The…
The Romanian Orthodox community in Tokyo was the subject of a feature article by the Japanese publication Shueisha Shinsho. The article particularly highlighted the ecclesiastical community’s life and its members’ strong national identity. The interviews and photos were made on Easter night in a quiet residential area in Fujimidai, Kunitachi city, Tokyo, where reporter Yasuda…
Saint Paisios of Mount Athos would have turned 100 today. The venerable monk was born on July 25, 1924, in Pharasa, Cappadocia (present-day Turkey). He was given the name Arsenios at his baptism. At the age of 20, he enlisted in the army, serving as a radio operator during the Greek Civil War. He entered…
On Friday, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople will participate in the patronal feast of the Romanian parish in Constantinople, celebrating Saint Paraskevi of Rome. “At 9:00 AM, the Matins Service will begin, followed by the Divine Liturgy. His Holiness Bartholomew I, the Ecumenical Patriarch, will be present at this moment of profound Christian experience,” announced…
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…
In a statement for Basilica.ro, Father Cristinel Ioja, the Dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Arad, welcomed the canonization of the martyr priest Ilarion Felea, which he described as “excellent news, a source of joy and fulfilment.” Arad’s theological higher education institution bears the name of the confessor priest Ilarion Felea and has…
Mr. Soltész Miklós, Hungary’s Secretary of State for Churches, Minorities, and Civil Affairs, was received by Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești at the Patriarchal Palace on July 19. After visiting the Patriarchal Cathedral and Palace, the Hungarian delegation was welcomed at Saint Nicetas of Remesiana Salon at the Patriarchal Palace, where discussions were held…
Numerous state authorities congratulated His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on his 73rd birthday on Monday at the Patriarchal Palace. His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, secretary of the Holy Synod, moderated the anniversary event, which was organized at the “Europa Christiana” Hall of the Patriarchal Palace. The state authorities that delivered congratulatory messages included…
On Monday, Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova conducted a Te Deum service at the Patriarchal Cathedral to celebrate the 73rd birthday of the Patriarch of Romania. After the service, the Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest delivered a congratulatory message, highlighting Patriarch Daniel’s connections with some of the saints recently canonized by the Holy…
In light of a statement from the “Elie Wiesel” National Institute for the Study of the Holocaust in Romania regarding the canonizations of Fathers Ilarion Felea, Ilie Lăcătușu, and Dumitru Stăniloae, the Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate makes the following clarifications: a) Following the principles of religious freedom and church autonomy as outlined in…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania has turned 73 on Monday, July 22. His Beatitude has hold Romania’s patriarchal see for 17 years, having over three decades of hierarchical experience. The Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church is originally from the village of Dobrești, Timiș County. He was the third child in the family of…
Sixteen Romanian venerables and confessors were canonized by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church during its working sessions on July 11-12. The proclamation of the canonization of the new saints will take place next year when the Romanian Orthodox Church celebrates a century since the recognition of its Patriarchate status. Please find below…
“We are delighted by the approval of the canonization of all sixteen saints, but we especially welcome with great devotion, gratitude, and spiritual joy this decision to approve the canonization of the two fathers from Sihăstria Monastery, Venerable Paisie Olaru and Venerable Cleopa Ilie,” Archimandrite Arsenie Popa, abbot of Sihăstria Monastery, told Basilica.ro. “The pilgrims…
On Sunday, His Grace Bishop Ignatie of Huși officiated the Divine Liturgy at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Sibiu. During his sermon, the bishop explained the Gospel passage from Matthew 6:22-34, emphasizing the simple way people should relate to everything around them. Simplicity Bishop Ignatie stressed that Christ’s call for simplicity reminds us of a virtue…
His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, the secretary of the Holy Synod, received Her Excellency Mrs Enkeleda Merkuri, the new Ambassador of the Republic of Albania to Bucharest, on a courtesy visit at the Patriarchal Palace on Wednesday, July 17. His Grace Bishop Varlaam welcomed Her Excellency to the Romanian Patriarchate and highlighted…
The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church issued an anniversary act on the 250th anniversary of the translation of Saint Demetrius the New’s relics to Bucharest. The document, written on parchment and signed by all the members of the Holy Synod, was read by the Patriarch of Romania last Saturday at the end of…
Speaking about the recent canonizations by the Romanian Church, Bishop Justin of Maramureș and Sătmar said that only clerics have been canonized so far, but other categories of people will follow. “Many are saints. We cannot include them all in the calendar,” said the bishop. “Those included in the calendar are at the forefront of…
The Holy Martyrs of Dorostolum were honoured on Sunday at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Silistra, Bulgaria. The assembly of bishops included Archbishop Teodosie of Tomis, Bishop Visarion of Tulcea, and Bishop Ieronim of Dacia Felix on behalf of the Romanian Orthodox Church. The Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Jacob of Dorostol.…
The news of the canonization of the illustrious theologian and confessor priest Dumitru Stăniloae brought joy among Romanian theologians. Basilica.ro took the pulse of theology faculties in the country where Saint Dumitru Stăniloae taught: Bucharest and Sibiu. Bucharest “We have awaited with joy and hope the moment of the canonization of the most illustrious and…
On Sunday, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Paisie of Sinaia underscored the increasingly prevalent lifestyle that appears successful but conceals genuine crises, interior emptiness, and a lack of meaning during his sermon at the Chapel of the National Cathedral, alluding to the Gospel reading from Matthew. Bishop Paisie noted that Christ insists three times in the mentioned…