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,…
In a message at the beginning of the Dormition Fast, His Eminence Metropolitan Ioan of Banat has urged priests and believers to visit older persons in hospitals, retirement homes or private homes because “they are often alone and marginalised.” The metropolitan reminded that the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church dedicated 2023 to the…
A summer pilgrimage was held on July 22-24, 2023, at the Romanian Orthodox Monastery of Mono in Ontario, Canada. The wonder-working Hawaiian Iveron Icon of the Mother of God („Gerontissa”) was brought on the occasion. Orthodox pilgrims from across Canada attended the event: from Montreal, Ottawa, Gatineau, Toronto, Mississauga, Hamilton, Kichener, London, Windsor, and Manitoba.…
On Sunday, the patriarchal auxiliary bishop Paisie of Sinaia officiated a memorial service at the tombs of Romania’s former patriarchs Teoctist Arăpașu (†July 30, 2007) and Iustin Moisescu (†July 31, 1986) to mark the anniversaries of their blessed repose. Preaching by their tombs inside the Patriarchal Cathedral, His Grace Bishop Paisie of Sinaia said that…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel attended the Divine Liturgy at Pasărea Monastery in Ilfov County on Sunday and addressed the faithful, stressing the need to prioritise spiritual things over material ones. Referring to the Sunday’s Gospel reading about the multiplication of the loaves and two fish, His Beatitude emphasised that the Saviour preached to the crowds,…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel congratulated the Romanian Orthodox community in Boian, Canada, on its 125th anniversary. In addition to congratulations, in his message on Sunday, July 30, the Romanian Patriarch recalled with sadness the fire that burned down the historic church in June and encouraged the faithful to rebuild it. Romanian Bukovina’s Boian: full text…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, the Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church, marked his 72nd birthday on Saturday, July 22. Patriarch Daniel was born in 1951 in Dobrești, Bara commune, Timiș county, as the third child of teacher Alexie and Stela Ciobotea. Dan-Ilie Ciobotea entered monasticism with the name of Daniel at the age of 36…
On July 21, 2023, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed His Excellency Mr Radko Vlaykov, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to Romania, at the patriarchal residence. The Patriarch of Romania expressed the joy of having the Ambassador as a guest at the Romanian Patriarchate and emphasised the importance of the two sister…
On Thursday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, during which Archimandrite Paisie Teodorescu was ordained to the episcopacy. The Patriarch recommended the new hierarch for the additional vacant position of patriarchal auxiliary bishop. The ordination took place during the Divine Liturgy, after the Trisagion hymn. Following…