On the occasion of the Feast of the Resurrection 2023, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, sends an irenic letter to His Holiness Bartholomaios, the Ecumenical Patriarch. Similar letters were sent to all the heads of Orthodox Autocephalous Churches. Full text: Bucharest, Holy Easter 2023 His Holiness Bartholomaios, Archbishop of Constantinople –…
His Grace Bishop Mihail, who heads the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, noted in his Easter encyclical that “we are called to respond to God’s love by following His Son Jesus Christ. Just as Christ’s humility was complete, so too the discipleship we humans must go through must be to the end,…
In his Easter message, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel asked for more care for vulnerable people, especially the poor and sick persons. He also remembered that the Resurrection of Christ filled every created thing with its ultimate meaning. “The Feast of Holy Pascha illuminates the whole life of the Church and of every Christian,” underlined the…
The Holy Fire that descends on Holy Saturday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem will be brought to the Republic of Moldova with the help of the Romanian Patriarchate. On Holy Saturday, Archimandrite Teofil Anăstăsoaie, the Superior of the Settlements of the Romanian Patriarchate at the Holy Places, will bring the Holy…
His Excellency Stefan Tomašević, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia in Romania, met with His Eminence Hon Metropolitan Nifon, Archbishop of Târgoviște and patriarchal exarch, on Monday, April 10, 2023. During the dialogue, which took place in a cordial environment at the archdiocesan residence, the excellent relations between the two sister Orthodox Churches and neighbouring…
In his pastoral letter for Holy Pascha 2023, Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas has urged the priests and faithful to preserve in their hearts and share positive messages with others: rejoice and be not afraid. Metropolitan Nicolae urged everyone to reflect on the experience of the Myrrh-bearing Women on the morning of the Resurrection and…
At the beginning of April, responding to the request of Romanians from Ecuador, Fr Daniel Ene, Romanian Orthodox Dean of New York and the US East Coast, travelled to Quito. Romanians from all over the country participated in the Divine Liturgy he celebrated there: for instance, Mihaela Badin, a journalist, travelled more than 300 miles…
The tradition of bringing the Holy Fire from Jerusalem to Romania, inaugurated by Patriarch Daniel in 2009, continues this year. On the evening of Holy Saturday, April 15, 2023, the Holy Fire will be brought from Jerusalem by Archimandrite Teofil Anăstăsoaie, the Superior of the Settlements of the Romanian Patriarchate at the Holy Places. As…
The Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem connects the Lenten period with the beginning of a mystagogic, mystical period, the Romanian Patriarch explained on Palm Sunday. “Until now, the period of forty days has been one of asceticism, hardships, and fasting,” His Beatitude said. Patriarch Daniel explained that “asceticism” was translated into…
Hundreds of clerics and believers participated last weekend in Bucharest’s traditional Palm Sunday procession. The event started at Radu Vodă Monastery and ended at the Patriarchal Cathedral. The pilgrims, led by the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, were welcomed on the Patriarchate’s Hill by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, who blessed the festal icon of…
The hieromonks of Putna Monastery commemorated last Saturday, as they do every year, the thousands of Romanians massacred at Varnița (Fântâna Albă) on April 1, 1941 in the so-called “Romanian Katyn” onslaught. The service was held at the “People’s Golgotha – Fântâna Albă” Memorial Portal, built at Putna Monastery in their memory. The monastery fathers…
The patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiești was among the personalities and institutions decorated by Her Majesty Margareta, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, during a special ceremony at the Royal Palace in Bucharest on March 30. The Royal Order of the Crown of Romania in the rank of Knight was bestowed upon bishop Varlaam…
Recent centenarian Father Nicolae Diaconescu was declared an honorary citizen of Bengești-Ciocadia, where he served as a priest. Victor Geogia, the Mayor of Bengești-Ciocadia commune, Octavian Moraru, the president of the National Association of War Veterans – “Tudor Vladimirescu” Branch, Gorj county, and Colonel Gheorghe Andronescu went to Fr Nicolae’s home to confer him the…
The President of Malta will attend the Paschal Agape Vespers at the Romanian Orthodox Parish in Valletta, according to an announcement made by the Romanian community in Malta. President George Vella will be accompanied by his wife, Miriam Vella. Agape Vespers (also called Vespers of Love) is a Vespers service that continues the celebration of…
As part of the “Doing School Differently” program, over 1,000 students visited the Patriarchal Palace in March. The groups of students came from Bucharest and throughout Romania. The young people study at schools such as Bucharest’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, The Three Holy Hierarchs High School, “Mihai Viteazul” National College, “Mihai Eminescu” National College and “Tudor…
On Saturday, April 8, 2023, on the eve of the great feast of the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem, the Romanian Patriarchate and the Archdiocese of Bucharest will organise the Palm Sunday procession in Bucharest, inviting hierarchs, priests, monastics, and lay believers from Romania’s capital and Ilfov county to take part. This religious and missionary event…
On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed His Excellency Mr Paulo Cunha Alves, the Ambassador of Portugal to Romania, on a presentation visit at the Patriarchal Residence. The Ambassador thanked the Patriarch of Romania for his hospitality and complimented the excellent historical ties between Romania and Portugal. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel praised…
On Thursday, March 30, 2023, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed His Excellency Arthur Mattli, the outgoing Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Romania, on a farewell visit. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel expressed his joy to meet Mr Arthur Mattli again, complimented him on his extensive diplomatic activity in Romania, and thanked him for contributing to…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed the Secretary of State for relations with Romanians abroad, Gheorghe Cârciu, at his patriarchal residence on March 29, 2023. After the meeting, Secretary of State Gheorghe Cârciu highlighted the excellent collaboration between the Church and his department. “Preserving the identity of Romanians outside the borders through educational projects, promoting culture…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel welcomed His Grace Bishop Lukijan of Buda, the administrator of the Serbian Orthodox Diocese of Timisoara, at the patriarchal residence and awarded him the second highest order of the Romanian Patriarchate. During the meeting that took place on March 28, Bishop Lukijan conveyed best regards on behalf of Patriarch Porfirije of…