A few days before the old calendar Christmas celebration, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru sent a pastoral letter expressing his appreciation for the efforts of parish priests within the Metropolis of Bessarabia. “Another essential aspect of this year is the commendable efforts of the parish priests, who sacrificed themselves in every parish to serve the faithful,”…
The French charity SOS Enfants en Détresse initiated an international day dedicated to war orphans years ago. It aims to raise international public awareness of the fact that children’s rights must be respected during armed conflicts, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. According to UNICEF estimates, some 5,700 children…
Thursday, January 4, 2024, marks the 60th anniversary of the blessed repose of Saint Nikephoros the Leper, a holy healer and miracle worker of our times. The Venerable Nikephoros was included in the calendar of the Romanian Orthodox Church by the resolution of the Holy Synod of July 21, 2021, when the texts of the…
The Romanian Patriarchate designated 2024 as the Commemorative Year of all the holy unmercenary healers and the Solemn Year of the Pastoral Care of the Sick. The Patriarch of Romania presided over the proclamation ceremony at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, following the solemn Divine Liturgy of Saint Basil the Great on New Year’s Day.…
On the feast of the Nativity of Lord, the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy carried out several actions dedicated to people deprived of liberty. In this context, Father Vasile Ștefan Bobița tells how a Romanian convict, who is serving his sentence in the Viterbo prison, turned to God. Text republished from the official website of…
During Lent, the Social-Philanthropic and Missionary Sector of the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău ran the program “Do you want to be good for Christmas?” – the fourth edition which brought joy to over 5,000 children at risk of social exclusion. All these gifts and surprises were possible through the involvement of all deaneries, eparchial…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church emphasised the importance of gratitude for the gift of the past and hope for the future at a solemn service performed on New Year’s Eve at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest. At the thanksgiving service officiated Sunday night, Patriarch Daniel stressed the importance of time as…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed the civil New Year with prayers at the Patriarchal Cathedral. His Beatitude addressed the faithful, highlighting the value of time, and reminded them that 2024 would be dedicated to the pastoral care of the sick, so he urged everyone to cultivate peace and value health. “The new year we have…
His Grace Bishop Ieronim of Dacia Felix visited a retirement home in Vršac, Serbia, to give his blessing and gifts to the residents as part of the observance of the Solemn Year of the pastoral care of the elderly. The visit took place on December 22. During the pastoral visit, the residents were presented with…
Ahead of Christmas, Suceava’s Orthodox Youth Association (ATOS) carried out a new edition of its campaign titled “We care! We stand by you! God is with us!” in the localities on the border between Romania and Ukraine. At this year’s edition, 30 families from Mușenita commune, including the villages of Climăuți, Baineț, Vicșani, Băncești and…
During a ceremony at the patriarchal residence on Christmas Eve, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel bestowed the second highest distinction in the Romanian Patriarchate upon Archdeacon Mihail Bucă, protopsaltes of the Patriarchal Cathedral and conductor of the Tronos Byzantine Choir. The Order of the Praying Theotokos (Virgin Orans) was conferred as a token of gratitude for…
“The flight into Egypt recounted by the Evangelist Matthew has many spiritual meanings,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel stressed in his sermon at Cernica Monastery, where he attended the Divine Liturgy on December 26. The first spiritual meaning is that “God takes care of every person, especially children who cannot defend or protect themselves.” Patriarch Daniel…
“This feast is a celebration of God’s humble and merciful love shown in His eternal Son, who out of love for humankind and its salvation became exactly what He loved – a Man,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said during the Divine Liturgy celebrated at the patriarchal cathedral on the feast of the Nativity of the…
Following the tragic attack at the University of Prague which caused the death of 15 people and injured other 25, the Patriarch of Romania sent a message of solidarity to His Beatitude Metropolitan Rastislav of the Orthodox Church of the Czech Lands and Slovakia. Full text: Bucharest, 22 December 2023, His Beatitude RASTISLAV, Archbishop of Presov, Metropolitan…
On the occasion of the feast of the Nativity of the Lord, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, sends an irenic letter to His Holiness Bartholomaios I, the Ecumenical Patriarch, and the other heads of Orthodox Autocephalous Churches. Full text: Bucharest, Nativity of the Lord, 2023 „Today the Virgin gives birth to…
The Romanian Patriarchate will proclaim 2024 as a Solemn Year of the pastoral care of the sick and a Commemorative Year of all the holy unmercenary healers. The selection of these themes is motivated by the need to increase concern for those enduring spiritual and physical suffering, according to a message from Patriarch Daniel predating…
A few days after taking his monastic vows, Monk Nicolae Iftimiu, Director of the Basilica News Agency, was ordained a hierodeacon. Auxiliary Patriarchal Bishop Paisie of Sinaia officiated the ordination on Saturday, Dec. 16, at the National Cathedral Chapel. “We have good hope that he will respond properly to this call,” the hierarch said at…
Two theologians were tonsured monks on the eve and the feast day of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker. The postulants were known to the public for their work: Mihai Grigoriu, now Monk Macarie, is sexton of the Patriarchal Cathedral, while patriarchal advisor Aurelian Iftimiu, who became Monk Nicolae, is the director of the Basilica News Agency.…
His Grace Benedict of Bistrița, Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj, donated blood with clerics from the eparchy. Dean Dan Hognogi of the Cluj I Deanery took this initiative, in response to an urgent humanitarian appeal to help the 45-year-old wife of a local priest, who needs blood transfusions as a…
Mr. Felix Denegri Boza, the Ambassador of the Republic of Peru in Romania, was received by His Grace the patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiești at the Romanian Patriarchate on December 13, 2023. Several aspects of church life in Romania and concerns regarding the plight of the numerous Romanian Orthodox believers in various parts of…