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…
Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker was proclaimed the patron saint of Huedin, a city in Transylvania, at a ceremony held last week at the local cathedral. Following the solemn Divine Liturgy for Saint Nicholas’ feast on December 6, the dean of Huedin, Rev. Dan Luputan, read out the decree by which Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj approved…
The National Day of Romania was celebrated in the Romanian communities from Latin America: in Quito – Ecuador, in Barranquilla – Columbia and in Caracas – Venezuela. The festivities started on Sunday, November 26, in the Romanian community from Quito, with the Divine Liturgy celebrated by a Te Deum service officiated by Fr Daniel Ene,…
“The Centenary of the ‘King Ferdinand I’ National Military Museum is an opportunity to reflect on honouring Romanian heroes,” transmitted the Patriarch Daniel on Thursday. “The exhibition concept of the National Military Museum makes us contemporary with many of the events through which the Romanian people passed with bravery, courage and faith in God,” His…
The Romanian Orthodox Parish in Windsor, Ontario, celebrated its 105th anniversary with a series of events organized for the feast of Holy Hierarch Andrei Șaguna, protector of the Romanian Orthodox Cathedral in the city. The liturgical and cultural programme started on Friday, November 24, with the Holy Unction service, officiated by Bishop Ioan Casian of…
In the Dutch province of South Holland, the Romanian Orthodox Church of Saint Gregory the Theologian in Schiedam is regarded as the third most beautiful place of worship. A competition organised by the Association for Preserving Heritage Values Erfgoedhuis Zuid-Holland received forty-two submissions. “This accomplishment is a recognition of both the fruitful activity of over…
Concern has been expressed by the Orthodox bishops regarding the initiatives to legalise assisted suicide in the French Republic. France’s Canonical Orthodox Bishops met in Paris for their regular meeting on November 23. The talks were chaired by His Eminence Metropolitan Demetrios of France (Ecumenical Patriarchate). The concerns come in the context of legislative efforts…
His Grace Bishop Antonie of Bălți met with the World Vision Ukraine Response director for Romania and the Republic of Moldova, Eka Zhvania, on November 22. The meeting at the headquarters of the Diocese of Bălți was also attended by Fr. Constantin Naclad from St Nicholas Metropolitan Chapel in Iasi, the manager of the “Ukraine…