Monday marks the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict, observed yearly on November 6. The environment has often been a victim of war. Water sources have been polluted, crops burned, forests cut down, soils poisoned and animals killed. Last year, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I mentioned the devastating…
Polish researchers announced last month that they discovered one of the oldest iconostases in Poland. it was found in a church from Nowoberezowo, the district of Hajnówka, and presented in an event held in Białystok, the city where the most numerous Polish Orthodox faithful live at present. The discovery was made in the attic of…
In 2019, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School, including Cyberbullying to be observed on the first Thursday ov November. The goal was to increase social awareness on the fact that bullying in schools and cyberbullying is an infringement of children’s and adolescents’…
Patriarch Daniel’s sermon on the feast of Saint Demetrius the New focused on the meaning of the relationship between saints and believers, in general, and on how devotion to the Protector of Bucharest has helped and still helps the Church and society. Numerous believers participated in the patronal feast of the Patriarchal Cathedral, with more…
The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church approved, in its working session from October 25, 2023, the proposal of the Diocese of Southern Bessarabia for the canonization of Protosyncellus Iraclie Flocea (May 11, 1893 – August 16, 1964). The proposal had previously been approved by the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolis of Bessarabia. The…
The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church met in a solemn session on October 26, 2023, at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest. The goal of the meeting was to analyze the activity of the Church related to the themes of the ongoing Solemn and Commemorative year. Year 2023 has been declared the Solemn Year…
“Holiness is not something that comes and goes away as the worldly things do, disappearing soon and being lost. Holiness remains, illuminates and brings forth a fragrance”, the metropolitan of Veria said in his homily on the feast of Sant Demetrius the Myrrh-Gusher. His Eminence Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veria, Naousa, and Kampania presided over the…
During its working session last week, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church designated October 1 as a special Day of the Elderly. The Day of the Elderly will be mentioned in the Orthodox calendar’s section for significant days and dates, the Patriarchate’s Press Office announced. The decision to set a special day to…
The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church held its working and solemn sessions at the Patriarch Teoctist Aula Magna of the Patriarchal Palace on October 25-26, 2023. The sessions were chaired by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. The main new decisions of the Holy Synod include the following: The Romanian Patriarchate designated October 1 as…
The winners of the “Colours of Orthodoxy – Greece” photo contest were announced on Wednesday. More than 400 photographers from 20 countries took part in the competition, submitting over 4,600 photos. Only images of churches belonging to canonical Orthodox Churches were accepted. Among the international jury members was Aurelian Iftimiu, patriarchal counsellor and Director of…
At the reception ceremony of the holy relic of Saint Demetrius the Myrrh-Gusher and the wonderworking icon of Panagia Soumela, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel addressed the pilgrims, noting that the Theotokos and both Saints Demetrius are unquenchable torches who illuminate the lives of believers. Patriarch Daniel’s message to pilgrims at celebrations of Saint Demetrius the…
At the end of Tuesday’s “Path of the Saints” procession, the relics of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-Gusher and the icon of the Mother of God Panagia Soumela from Greece arrived in Bucharest. The Patriarch of Romania welcomed them in a ceremony at the outdoor altar of the Patriarchal Cathedral. “We pray to…
The Monastery of the Protection of the Theotokos in Switzerland has recently established a Romanian school named after Saint Gregory the Teacher in its vicinity. With the assistance of the Department for Romanians Abroad, the structure of the prospective Romanian school was purchased and will be renovated. The school’s mission is to contribute to preserving…
On October 14, after performing a play in the presence of Bishop Timotei of Spain and Portugal, the students of Aranjuez’s parish school received prayer books. In the pictures published by the Diocese, their enthusiastic delight at receiving the gifts can be seen. The children were presented with horologia (book of hours), while seniors received…
The Holy Transylvanian Confessors were commemorated on Saturday, October 21, at the prison where they suffered martyrdom. The Romanian community in Kufstein installed a commemorative plaque to honour the martyrs inside the Austrian jail. The events dedicated to the Transylvanian Confessors Bessarion, Sophronios, Oprea and priests John of Galeș and Moses of Sibiel began with…
At the Romanian Orthodox Church in Jerusalem, daily petitions for peace and memorial services are held for those who perished in recent armed conflicts. During the Saturday Divine Liturgy, the Christians killed last week in the premises of the Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrios of Gaza were remembered. “We offered a prayer for the souls…
The right hand of the Holy Great Martyr Demetrius the Myrrh-Gusher of Thessalonica will join this year the festivities of Saint Demetrius the New, the Protector of Bucharest. This is the first time the two saints “meet” during this pilgrimage held at the Patriarchal Cathedral every year since 2008. As promised last year, Metropolitan Pantelimon…
In the context of reignited violence in Israel, which has led to an attack on a monastery in Gaza, Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas has asked the clerics and the faithful to pray for peace. “Pray to the Lord to change the hearts of those who started the war and restore peace and…
“With great joy, we welcome and appreciate the recognition of the Romanian language, and not “Moldovan”, as the official language of the Romanian minority in Ukraine,” Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia said in a statement. “This news is truly historic and full of significance for the entire Romanian community in Ukraine.” “We offer our sincerest congratulations…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel has sent a message of compassion to Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem following the devastating event of 20 October 2023, which took place in the premises of St Porphyry’s Church in Gaza City, in which at least 18 people lost their lives. Integral message: Bucharest, 21 October 2023 His Beatitude THEOPHILOS…