Twenty-eight years have passed since Father Dumitru Stăniloae’s repose in the Lord. The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki first awarded him the title of Doctor honoris causa in 1976 on the recommendation of Athonite abbots. The theologian Olivier Clément called him “the greatest contemporary Orthodox theologian”, and the existentialist philosopher Emil Cioran said that “Philokalia is…
In two years, Snagov Monastery will have a centre for protecting and promoting its cultural heritage. The announcement was made by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel during a visit to the monastery at the end of September occasioned by the commemoration of Wallachia’s Ruler Saint Neagoe Basarab. “It was found that there is a great need…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel reflected on Sunday on the “unusual” command that the Saviour Jesus Christ gave in the Sermon on the Mount, that of loving one’s enemies (Luke 6:35). “We have an unusual command. No legislator in the world, throughout history, has ever commanded anyone to love their enemy. Therefore, the Saviour Jesus Christ…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel has expressed his deep sorrow for the tragedy that took place on October 1 at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Constanta. In a message published following the fire that broke out in the intensive care unit treating COVID-19 patients in the Black Sea port city of Constanta on the back of…
The approval of the local arguments regarding the canonization proposal of Father Ilarion Felea by the Synod of the Metropolis of Banat is a “gratifying fact for those who knew him, read his biography and pastoral-missionary theological work,” the dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Arad, Fr. Cristinel Ioja, told Basilica.ro. “A joy…
On Thursday, October 1, a bust of Valeriu Gafencu, one of the most beloved 20th-century martyrs of the Romanian Orthodox Church, was unveiled and blessed in his hometown. Gafencu was arrested by the communist authorities in 1941 and died 11 years later at Târgu Ocna Prison at the tender age of 31. He was dubbed…
The hierarchs of the Metropolis of Cluj, Maramureș and Sălaj met last week at the metropolitan residence in Cluj-Napoca. The agenda included the canonization file of Professor Rev. Liviu Galaction Munteanu, a martyr of the communist prisons. The hierarchs approved the local arguments for his canonization in 2025. His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei chaired the meeting…
Efforts to translate the Bible into all the languages of the world accelerated during the pandemic. The Bible has been fully translated into 717 languages. The number represents a tenth of the world’s languages, but it is an increase of 13 languages compared to the previous year. One new translation was launched every week during…
“Dear students, we urge you to use the time of your years of study to ennoble your mind through study, your soul through prayer and your life by cultivating collegiality, sincere friendship, which you will keep for the rest of your life,” the patriarchal auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploieşti told theology students on Friday, October…
Elena Bianca Voica from Prahova county donated on Tuesday the equivalent of 600 Euros for the patients of “St. Nektarios” Palliative Care Center of the Archdiocese of Bucharest. She fulfilled a promise she had made to God when she asked Him to help her get admitted to the university. She promised Him to donate to…
“It’s not the number of years that matters so much, but the use of time to glorify God and help others,” Patriarch Daniel said Thursday at the end of the Thanksgiving service marking the 14th anniversary of his enthronement as Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Marking his fourteenth enthronement anniversary on Sept. 30, His…
Thursday, September 30, 2021, marked 14 years since the enthronement of His Beatitude Daniel as Patriarch of Romania. For the Romanian Orthodox Church, these years have been memorable, with efforts to keep pace with an ever-changing world while preserving its saving values. All this has been coordinated with pastoral insight by the actual leader of…
On Tuesday, Sept. 28, the Metropolitan Synod of Transylvania met at Râmeț Monastery under the chairmanship of His Eminence Metropolitan Laurențiu of Transylvania. The agenda included the canonization files of elders Dometie Manolache from Râmeț and Serafim Popescu from Sâmbăta de Sus, disciples of Father Arsenie Boca. Participants at the meeting included Archbishop Irineu of…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel extended his blessing to all students, professors and parents ahead of the new academic year 2021-2022. In his message, His Beatitude asked for God’s help upon students during their study, research, and other activities that develop and deepen “the scientific, educational, spiritual, cultural and practical values.” Blessing at the beginning of…
During a meeting of the assembly of bishops of the Metropolis of Banat, the hierarchs studied the local arguments for glorifying the Very Rev. Protosyncellus Calistrat Bobu (†1975) and Rev. Prof. Ilarion Felea (†1961). The bishops met at the metropolitan residence in Timișoara for a working session of the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolis of…
“Although he reigned only nine years, between 1512 and 1521, the Holy Prince Neagoe Basarab remained a bright figure in the history of the Romanian people,” the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church said at Snagov Monastery on Sunday, September 26, 2021. Saint Neagoe Basarab is the founder and protector saint of the monastic settlement…
The main church of Pantocrator Monastery at Drăgăneşti – Vlaşca, Teleorman County, was consecrated on Sunday by an assembly of sixteen Romanian, Greek and Bulgarian hierarchs, following extensive works executed at the monastic ensemble. On this occasion, the honourable hand of the Holy Myrrh-bearer and Equal to the Apostles Mary Magdalene was brought from the…
Patriarch Youssef Absi, the Melkite-Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, visited the Romanian Patriarchate on Friday, September 24, 2021. He was welcomed at the Palace of the Patriarchate by the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploieşti. After the meeting, Patriarch Youssef Absi shared his impressions of his “visit-pilgrimage” to Romania. “I thank His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel for…
The tenth volume of St Vladimir’s Seminary Press “Orthodox Christian Profiles” Series is dedicated to His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of Romania, the second-most populous Orthodox Patriarchate in the world. The recently-published book is entitled Patriarch Daniel: Rebuilding Orthodoxy in Romania. After Communism, the Romanian Orthodox Church had to overcome many difficulties to reestablish and strengthen Church…
The chapel of the Training School for Communications, Information Technology and Cyber Defense in Sibiu was consecrated on Thursday, September 16, 2021, following renovation works. The consecration was performed by His Eminence Metropolitan Laurențiu of Transylvania. “Every time I step into a military unit, I feel a shiver and show my appreciation for the country’s…