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…
A number of men and women have given their lives to Christ in monasticism in the past several days in dioceses of the Romanian Orthodox Church both at home and abroad. Munich In Munich, His Eminence Metropolitan Serafim of Germany and Central and Northern Europe celebrated the first rite of tonsure for the new St.…
After the commemorative ceremony held on March 27 in the city of Ialoveni to mark 105 years after the Union of Bessarabia with Romania, the President of Romania’s Chamber of Deputies visited the headquarters of the Metropolis of Bessarabia together with several Romanian dignitaries. At the meeting, officials of the Romanian government committed to financially…
Last week, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru and officials from both sides of the Prut River unveiled the busts of two great artisans of the Union of Bessarabia with Romania, Alexandru Marghiloman and Ion Inculeț. The ceremony on Monday, March 27, 2023, marked the 105th anniversary of the Union of Bessarabia with the Kingdom of Romania.…
Since 1967, on or around Hans Christian Andersen’s birthday, 2 April, International Children’s Book Day (ICBD) is celebrated to inspire a love of reading and to call attention to children’s books. Each year a different National Section of IBBY has the opportunity to be the international sponsor of ICBD. It decides upon a theme and…
The March for Life Romania and the Republic of Moldova has transmitted a post-event press release summarising the 2023 Month for Life activities. The release also reiterates the public policies for mothers and children proposed by the pro-life movement in the two countries which share the same language, traditions and history. Concrete measures proposed to…
A new cultural monastic centre is being built at Rohia Monastery to honour the famous Romanian writer and Orthodox monk Nicolae Steinhardt whose main book, The Diary of Happiness, is regarded as a major text of 20th-century Romanian literature and a prime example of Eastern European anti-Communist literature. Last week, Bishop Iustin of Maramures visited…
The National Bank of Romania (BNR) has issued gold and silver coins to mark the Centennial of the Constitution of Greater Romania, which was adopted in 1923 by King Ferdinand I. The obverse of the gold coin features the dome of the palace of the Assembly of Deputies in Bucharest during the interwar period, now…
The Israel Antiquities Authority has announced that a church floor decorated with flower mosaics that is 1,500 years old and located east of Ben-Gurion Airport but has remained undiscovered for the past four decades will soon be open to the public. The fine mosaic is part of the archaeological site of Horvat El-Bira, located in…