Several churches whose history is linked to Wallachia’s holy prince Constantine Brâncoveanu were illuminated in red on August 16 in Târgoviște, a city situated 80 kilometres north-west of Bucharest, to mark the National Day of Remembrance of the Brâncoveanu Martyrs and of Awareness of Violence against Christians. In addition to lighting their churches in red, the…
The national news agency AGERPRES published an article about Romanian women living in the Holy Land. Along with those who got there after marriage, the journalists also included Sister Elena, a former educator who aspires to become a nun. She said that the love of the Mother of God called her to the Romanian Settlement…
According to a report of Aid to the Church in Need (ACN), almost 5 billion people (63% of the world’s population) live in countries where free Christian witness is restrained or even forbidden. During the last three years, the number of countries where Christians are killed or kidnapped has reached 40. Also, according to ACN…
Journalist Cristian Curte published in the weekly Formula As an interview with Kenan Dionisie Wang, a PhD student in History at the University of Bucharest and a first-year student in Orthodox Theology. Kenan was born in China and converted to Orthodoxy in Romania. He dreams of becoming an Orthodox priest. “Priesthood is the lifestyle of…
Last week, the local press wrote about the charming appearance of the new Romanian Orthodox Church in Olbia, a town on the Italian island of Sardinia. The newly installed exterior lighting highlights the holy place. “The original church in the San Nicola neighbourhood, already beautiful during the day, illuminated like this gives the whole neighbourhood…
Setting up a new Orthodox Vicariate in Portugal was the main topic on the agenda of the administrative gathering of priests in the Romanian Orthodox Deanery of Portugal, which took place at the Dormition of the Theotokos Monastery in Aldeia de Santa Margarida on Monday, August 14. The meeting was chaired by His Grace Bishop…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed His Eminence Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium at the patriarchal residence in Bucharest on Saturday, August 12, 2023. The Metropolitan was accompanied by his brother, Protopresbyter Bernard Peckstadt, and Father Sorin Șelaru, the director of the Representation of the Romanian Orthodox Church to the European Institutions in Brussels. His Beatitude Patriarch…
In a message for the Sunday of Romanian Migrants observed by the Romanian Patriarchate on the first Sunday after the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel stressed that the Church is called “to intensify its pastoral program for elderly people, to think of new forms and modern pastoral methods, getting…
On August 16, Romania marks the National Day of Remembrance of the Brâncoveanu Martyrs and of Awareness of Violence against Christians. The President of Romania ratified the law declaring August 16 as “National Day of Remembrance of the Brâncoveanu Martyrs and of Awareness of Violence against Christians” on July 16, 2020. The 16th of August was…
Approximately 500 volunteers are making the final preparations in Timișoara ahead of the 7th edition of the International Meeting of Orthodox Youth ITO 2023. At the beginning of August, the volunteers met with Metropolitan Ioan of Banat at a youth centre to discuss their duties for the upcoming International Meeting of Orthodox Youth. “All the volunteers…
Approximately 4,000 young people from Târgoviște took part last Thursday in the opening ceremony of the celebrations of St. Niphon, Patriarch of Constantinople and Metropolitan of Wallachia. Thursday evening began with the Vespers service and continued with an award ceremony for the 19 students who obtained first place at the county stage of the National…
The abbot of the Athonite Monastery of Simonopetra, Archimandrite Elisaios Raptis, said that his monastic community reveres Prince Michael the Brave as a saint. Michael the Brave was Prince of Wallachia (1593-1601), Prince of Moldova (1600) and de facto ruler of Transylvania (1599-1600). He is considered one of Romania’s most significant national heroes and the…
This year’s International Youth Day, marked on Saturday, August 12, has the theme “Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World”. It outlines the role of young people in the green transition to an environmentally sustainable and climate-friendly world. Green skills are defined as “knowledge, abilities, values and attitudes needed to live in, develop and…
The Patriarchate of Jerusalem celebrated the feast of Saint John Jacob the New Chozebite on August 10. This year, on the feast of Saint John Jacob, Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem presided over the all-night vigil at Chozeba Monastery, having as concelebrants Metropolitan Hesychios of Capitolias and Archbishop Aristarchos of Constantine. The three hierarchs participated…
During the period of fasting dedicated to preparing for the Dormition of the Mother of God, let us not neglect to offer her praise, gratitude, and even our most fervent petitions as often as possible. In addition to the simplest and most frequently recited prayer – “Most Holy Theotokos, save us!” – we offer seven…
The Dormition Fast is a favourable time for prayer, especially to the Mother of God, who is “a merciful intercessor and mediatress for mankind.” Basilca.ro offers you a collection of 15 quotes about the Mother of God selected from the sermons of Patriarch Daniel: The Mother of God is the one from whom the eternal…
A street in the Ukrainian city of Chernivtsi could be renamed to honour the Holy Hierarch Jacob of Putna, Metropolitan of Moldavia, BucPress news agency reported, citing Molody Bukowinec newspaper. According to the cited source, local authorities intend to rename approximately 40 streets whose names are still related to the history of Soviet space. “We…
His Grace Bishop Ignatie of Husi celebrated the Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord at the Transfiguration Monastery in Huși. In his sermon, the bishop explained the importance of “Christian light” in the life of a believer, but also the significance of the moment when the apostles saw Christ enveloped…
Sunday, July 30, marked the celebration of the first Divine Liturgy at the newly-established Romanian Orthodox parish in Swansea, Great Britain. The liturgy celebrated by parish priest Vasile Flavian Branescu was attended by a representative of the Church of England, The Lord-Lieutenant of West Glamorgan Louise Fleet, High Sheriff of West Glamorgan Alan Brayley, Swansea…
His Grace Bishop Justin of Maramures and Satmar offered pastoral advice at the beginning of the Dormition Fast on August 1. The Bishop of Maramures recalled that the two weeks of fasting established by the Orthodox Church before the feast of the Dormition of the Theotokos are an excellent occasion to thank God “with devotion,…