Archbishop Casian of Lower Danube spoke on Tuesday at the historic patronal feast of the Patriarchal Cathedral about Saint Constantine the Great’s decision to cease persecutions and establish “Christian freedom.” “Not just any kind of freedom,” His Eminence said, “but a freedom based on love, sacrifice, and the help of God, both for the earthly leader and…
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.…
On May 23, we commemorate 25 years since the repose of the most modern saint, who was canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople in March 2022: Venerable Evmenios Saridakis. Known primarily as a disciple of Saint Nikephoros the Leper, Evmenios himself had leprosy, which he accepted with joy and from which he was later healed.…
His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas presided over the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at Saints Constantine and Helen Cathedral in Chicago. He highlighted the courage of the myrrh-bearing women and the joy with which they received the news of the Lord’s Resurrection. Although the patronal feast of Saints Constantine and his mother, Helen, is typically commemorated…
Two festive events will be organized in Munich next week to mark the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of Germany, Central and Northern Europe. On Thursday evening, May 30, Munich’s St. John the Baptist Church will be filled with the harmonious melodies of the National Opera’s Symphony Orchestra and the “Tronos” Byzantine Choir of the Patriarchal…
Orthodox Calendar, May 23 Saint Michael the Confessor From his youth he longed for the monastic life and was sent by Patriarch Tarasius (784-806) to a monastery on the coast of the Black Sea. Saint Theophylactus (March 8), the future Bishop of Nicomedia also entered the monastery together with him. At the monastery both monks…
Văratec Monastery in Neamț County, Romania, will rebuild two monastic houses destroyed by a devastating fire late last month. The fire is believed to have started after an electrical short circuit in a sewing machine, said the Neamț County Emergency Response Unit officials. In a short time, most likely due to the wind, the flames…
A new Romanian parish has been established in Aylesbury, UK. On Sunday, the Romanian Orthodox Auxiliary Bishop of Italy, His Grace Atanasie of Bogdania, celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the new community. The parish is dedicated to the Holy Myrrh-bearing Women. His Grace Atanasie of Bogdania installed the priest Iulian Rusu as parish priest and…
The Synod of the Metropolis of Muntenia and Dobrudja met on Monday at the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest. On this occasion, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel announced that the founders of the Athonite Prodromou Skete, Venerable Nifon and Nectarie, have been proposed to be canonized by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The most important item on the agenda…
On Wednesday, the Filantropia Federation of the Romanian Patriarchate joined Eurodiaconia, a European network of social organisations, expanding an eight-year-old collaboration. The Romanian Patriarchate hosted the General Assembly of Eurodiaconia from May 14 to May 17. Representatives of over 60 member organizations attended this meeting. The national representative of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Eurodiaconia…
Basilica.ro invited Jean-Claude Larchet to a dialogue on diseases of the body, mind and spirit. The theologian also spoke about the ideologies that undermine today’s society, explaining how Christianity teaches us to assume the limitations of our bodies and those imposed by disease. “Christianity’s distinction between original and fallen nature helps Christians to come to…
On the Sunday of the Myrrh-Bearing Women, when the Church pays tribute to Christian Women, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania conveyed a message highlighting the courage of the Myrrhbearers, presenting them as role models for contemporary women. He expressed his gratitude to “all grandmothers, mothers, and sisters who have borne witness to Christ, the…
On Thursday, Antiochian Metropolitan Ephrem of Tripoli, Al-Koura, and Dependencies commemorated Fathers Dumitru Stăniloae and Andrei Scrima at Cernica Monastery. The memorial service was attended by His Grace Bishop Qais Sadiq, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop of the Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, who cares for the Arab community in Bucharest, Rev. Professor Porphyrios Georgi…
On Thursday, the Press Office of the Diocese of Dacia Felix issued a statement concerning the announcement published Tuesday on the Serbian Orthodox Church’s official website regarding the restriction of access to the province of Kosovo for Patriarch Porfirije and several Serbian hierarchs. “We express our sorrow regarding these events and our sadness over the…
Romania’s Minister of Culture Raluca Turcan announced on her Facebook page Wednesday that several monuments have been proposed for UNESCO World Heritage status by being included in the country’s Tentative List. Peleș and Pelișor Castles, several former communist prisons, the “Holy Three Hierarchs” Church in Iaşi, the “Dormition of the Mother of God” Church of…
The Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy, which is celebrating its sixteenth anniversary, consists of 478 pastoral-missionary units, 278 of which are parishes. These communities are served by 310 priests and 25 deacons, and 62 parishes own their places of worship. The establishment of the diocese was approved in the last synodal session presided over by…
Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia conveyed a heartfelt message on Wednesday for the International Day of Families, emphasizing that “no matter how small and modest it may be, the home should be the most precious place on Earth for a loving family member.” “It should be filled with love, peace, and understanding, so that wherever one…
The life of the Cypriot saint celebrated by Orthodox Christians on May 14 is almost unknown, yet his miraculous deeds far exceed the existing biographical records. Many of those who prayed with faith before his relics received healing from God for paralysis, cancer, bleeding, blindness, tuberculosis, and more. Saint Therapon is known as a great…
“Christian civilization, Europe, and the entire world are founded on the values of the Gospel of Christ, centred on the Resurrection. We could say that the entire grandeur of the Christian world, everything we admire in the culture of our faith-infused world, is due to the Paschal culture,” His Eminence Hon Metropolitan Nifon, Archbishop of…
This year marks the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul II’s momentous visit to Romania, a significant event in the history of both the Catholic and Orthodox communities. Held on May 7-9, 1999, this visit marked a Pope’s first visit to a predominantly Orthodox country, underscoring a pivotal moment of ecumenical dialogue and cooperation. During…