During his speech on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel announced that the icon of Saint Joseph the Hesychast will be included in the iconographic program of Romania’s National Cathedral. The mosaic icon of St Joseph the Hesychast will be created following the request of Vatopedi Monastery. “Recently, we received the request from…
The patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti congratulated His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on the 33rd anniversary of his ordination to the episcopacy at the end of the Divine Liturgy celebrated at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest on the Sunday of Orthodoxy. “On this day, we especially honour our spiritual father because 33 years ago, on…
In a message to the speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova, His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia congratulated the initiative and expressed his support for the draft law on replacing the phrase “Moldovan language” with “Romanian language” in all official pieces of legislation of the Republic of Moldova, including the Constitution. The…
The coronation of King Charles III will include Greek Orthodox chanting as a homage to the king’s late father, Prince Philip, who was born in Corfu and was a member of the former Greek royal family. The hymns will be chanted by the Byzantine Chant Ensemble led by Dr Alexander Lingas, who formed the ensemble…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on Wednesday extended condolences to the Archbishop of Athens and All Greece over the victims of a tragic accident involving the collision of two trains in the city of Larissa, in the centre of the country, which resulted in multiple deaths and injury to dozens of people. A passenger train and…
During last week’s General Assembly in Chisinau, the Diaconia Social Mission of the Metropolis of Bessarabia reviewed its activities through 2022. Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia delivered the event’s opening remarks: “The Church needs you so that we can serve the poor.” “We appreciate Diaconia’s work because it is not easy, and they have to work…
On February 22, Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia received the visit of Mircea Abrudean, the head of the Romanian Prime Minister’s Chancellery. The Romanian official extended the Metropolis of Bessarabia a message of support. Metropolitan Petru thanked the Government of Romania for its ongoing assistance to the Bessarabian community, particularly for supplementing clerical salaries beginning in…
As the annual 40-day observation of Lent began, the Bishop of Huși has advised the faithful to undertake a digital fast during this season by refraining from using mobile devices and avoiding the internet. After officiating the Order of Vespers on the Sunday of Forgiveness at the diocesan cathedral in Husi on the final day…
On Cheesefare Sunday, when the Church remembers Adam’s Expulsion from Paradise, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel attended the Divine Liturgy at St George Chapel of his Patriarchal Residence. In his sermon, His Beatitude explained why forgiveness is one of the conditions to make a good beginning for Lent. “By forgiving our neighbours, we crucify our selfishness…
In a message at the beginning of Great Lent, Archbishop Irineu of Alba Iulia called the Lenten season “a time of purification and illumination.” The Romanian Archbishop noted that fasting “is a gift offered to us by the Church”, and through specific religious services, we are reminded that “sin and death have distanced us from…
Friday marks one year since the start of the war in Ukraine and the beginning of the population exodus from Romania’s neighbouring country. Nevertheless, representatives of the Filantropia Federation of the Romanian Patriarchate continue to provide assistance. “We tried to respond to all the needs,” said Father Ciprian Ioniță, patriarchal adviser and president of the…
Metropolitan Serafim of the Romanian Metropolis of Germany and his assistant bishop Sofian of Brașov were part of a delegation of the Romanian community in Bavaria invited to the residence of Bavarian Minister President Dr Markus Söder. Her Excellency Adriana-Loreta Stănescu, the Romanian Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany, accompanied the Romanians to the…
On Monday, the Deputy General Secretary of NATO, Mircea Geoană, attended the Divine Liturgy held in the Hall of Crosses at the Munich Church Centre. The distinguished guest was given a tour of the establishment, after which he posted a message of appreciation on his Facebook and Instagram profiles. Mircea Geoană wrote that the Church…
Two more Church feasts are set to become public holidays in Romania starting next year. A draft law calling for January 6, the feast of the Theophany of the Lord, and the next day, the Synaxis of St. John the Baptist, to become state-recognised holidays easily passed through both the Senate and the Chamber of…
In a message occasioned by the official launch of Timisoara 2023 European Capital of Culture year, His Eminence Metropolitan Ioan of Banat stressed that Europe deserves a Cultural Capital founded by martyrs, recalling that Timisoara is a martyr city. “Man is born only once in life. A country is born several times. The last time…
The Dormition of the Theotokos Cathedral in Deva hosted the ordination to the episcopacy of the new assistant bishop to the Diocese of Deva and Hunedoara during the hierarchical Divine Liturgy on Sunday. The Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Eminence Metropolitan Laurentiu of Transylvania and included sixteen other concelebrating hierarchs. The Very Rev.…
Open Doors releases its annual World Watch List 2023, confirming that one out of every seven Christians worldwide suffers high persecution and discrimination for their faith. According to the data reported, more than 360 million Christians suffer high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith. Similar numbers were recorded last year. However, the score…
Representatives of three Orthodox jurisdictions and other religious figures came together to sign a declaration on protecting the dignity of human life in Madrid on Wednesday. Among the signatories was Romanian Orthodox Bishop Timotei of Spain and Portugal. The document states: “That, as representatives of the main religious denominations: Islamic Commission of Spain, Federation of…
The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church decided to help the Orthodox communities in Syria and Turkey, severely affected by the devastating earthquake that occurred at the beginning of last week. The earthquake affected the communities of the Patriarchate of Antioch in Alexandretta, Mersin and Antakia in Turkey, as well as the communities in…
The yearly report of the Romanian Patriarchate detailed the development of Romanian Orthodox dioceses abroad. Outside of the existing borders of Romania, the Romanian Patriarchate holds jurisdiction over four archdioceses and nine dioceses. Additionally, archdioceses serve as metropolitan centres. In these dioceses, there were a total of 1,483 parishes and non-parochial churches at the end…