Monasteries in the Metropolis of Moldavia and Bukovina were adorned with natural white vestments on Saturday after the weather suddenly turned cold, and the first snow fell before the start of winter according to the meteorological calendar. The first snow was not long expected in some areas of the North-Eastern region of Romania, especially in…
The Synod of the Metropolis of Bessarabia met on Wednesday for a working session at the Metropolitan Residence in Chisinau. The hierarchs also met with Romania’s Secretary of State for Religious Affairs and a delegation from the Basilica Media Centre. His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia, the Bishop of Balti, and the Bishop of Southern…
Peter Peterson, a collector of Romanian sacred art, travelled the world far and wide, only to settle in Romania, where his passion for the Orthodox icon gradually turned into a spiritual journey, at the end of which he was baptised Orthodox. Recently, he offered his collection of sacred art to the Romanian Patriarchate, to be…
Radio Renașterea conducted an in-depth interview with the Very Reverend Archimandrite Dumitru Cobzaru, exarch of the monasteries of the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac, and Cluj, regarding the present condition of monasticism in Romania. The Archimandrite emphasised that contemporary monasticism maintains its authenticity by updating itself while adhering to the principles established by the Holy Fathers…
His Beatitude Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Patriarch of Cilicia of the Armenian Catholic Church, arrived at the Palace of the Patriarchate in Bucharest on Thursday as part of a multi-day visit to Romania. Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești cordially received the Armenian Patriarch and his delegation. In addition to introducing the historical building, the…
During the initial days of the Nativity Fast, His Eminence Metropolitan Laurențiu of Transylvania issued a pastoral message suggesting that forty Divine Liturgies be reenjoined, as was the customary practise among the earliest Christian communities. “The Christians of the first centuries knew that every Divine Liturgy is the eternal Last Supper in the Kingdom of…
Today marks 120 years since the birth of Father Dumitru Stăniloae, one of the greatest Romanian theologians. Father Dumitru Stăniloae was proposed for canonization in 2025, when the Romanian Orthodox Church will celebrate 140 years of autocephaly and 100 years since obtaining the status of a patriarchate. A museum will be set up for the…
This Christmas season will be memorable at Pantocrator Monastery in Dragănești-Vlașca, in Romania’s southern county of Teleorman. The gifts presented to Baby Jesus by the three wise men from the East will be brought to Romania for the first time on December 22 and remain until December 28. “The three magi who came to worship…
Please find our weekly selection of photos from the Orthodox world. The second week of November was embellished by the feast of Holy Hierarch Nektarios and the colours of autumn. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Basilica.ro (@basilica.ro) Do you want to be featured…
“It is a bit too much for me,” Fr. Constantin Necula said with modesty after receiving the diploma and trophy, designating him Romania’s Media Person of the Year during the Radar de Media Gala held Tuesday evening in Bucharest. The priest expressed his gratitude to the Metropolitan of Transylvania, who did not refuse him any…
The Basilica News Agency of the Romanian Patriarchate received recognition for its consistent activity during the 2023 Radar de Media Awards Gala, organised by Myosotis Media Group on Tuesday evening. The Patriarchate’s Spokesperson Vasile Bănescu and TV producer Cosmin Iulian Cârstea were also awarded for their shows at Trinitas TV. Nominees included two famous Romanian…
In a Decalogue for Businessmen, His Eminence Archbishop Calinic of Suceava and Rădăuți urged entrepreneurs to practise benevolence and strive to attain the Kingdom of Heaven. During the Divine Liturgy on the 22nd Sunday following Pentecost, the parable involving the avaricious wealthy man and Lazarus was proclaimed. A Decalogue was composed by His Eminence Archbishop…
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…