‘I just want to say a few words to hopefully help you stay sane through all of this. This feels like one of the main challenges of the moment’, said Father Serafim Aldea from a monastery located on Isle of Mull in Scotland. ‘It’s amazing how many messages are being forwarded in al sort of…
While a number of hierarchs have been blessing their respective cities and provinces from above on plane and helicopter rides, His Eminence Metropolitan Gabriel of Lovech, one of the most authoritative hierarchs of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, took to the rocky heights overlooking the city to pray for and bless his city and flock. On…
Retired Bishop Daniil of Dacia Felix gave a notable sermon on Sunday addressing ‘the Very Reverend Walls, the Reverend Chant Stands and Chairs in our Orthodox churches.’ Speaking to the church objects and walls, the retired bishop Daniil Stoenescu said that illness and the inability to cross the threshold of churches these days are a…
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…
World Autism Awareness Day is an internationally recognized day on 2 April every year, encouraging the Member States of the United Nations to take measures to raise awareness about people with autistic spectrum disorders including autism and Asperger syndrome throughout the world. It was designated by the United Nations General Assembly resolution “62/139. World Autism…
On March 29, the Fourth Sunday of the Great Lent, Patriarch Theodore II of Alexandria and All Africa presided over the Orthros and the Divine Liturgy at the Holy Patriarchal Monastery of St. Savvas the Sanctified in Alexandria, Orthodox Times informs. He also performed the memorial service for the repose of the soul of his…
The monks of Putna Monastery pray for a miracle from the monastery’s patron saints to rescue Romania from the coronavirus outbreak. Carrying relics and icons, the monks walked around the outside of the monastery’s main church on Sunday, praying the coronavirus away. The procession was organized as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the…
Celebrating his 66th birthday on Sunday, the Archbishop of Roman and Bacau announced that he will donate his March 2020 salary to the hospitals in Bacau County to help alleviate the array of adverse effects stemming from the coronavirus epidemic. Archbishop Ioachim urged the clergy to join forces with the Archdiocese to show solidarity as…
The assistant bishop of the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj has called on the faithful who cannot attend church services due to the restrictions adopted to fight against the new coronavirus epidemic to accept the measures ‘with a spirit of repentance,’ without giving in to resentment. The Assistant Bishop Benedict of Bistrița posted a…
The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA announces a resource center for clergy and faithful during the Covid-19 pandemic. The Resource Center includes updated news from the various jurisdictions as well as practical guidelines and resources for families, ministry leaders, parish leadership, and everyone. The Center can be accessed here and will be updated…
Patriarch Daniel on Monday gave over 2,000 Euro from his salary to buy protection equipment for the volunteers involved in the Patriarchate’s social campaign ‘Help with joy’ geared to helping isolated patients all over Romania. The money will provide volunteers with the necessary equipment to support vulnerable people in their area. An online platform was…
After the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of Annunciation, Metropolitan Irineu of Oltenia led a procession through the streets of Craiova carrying a wonderworking icon of the Mother of God known as Madonna Dudu and the relics of Saint Nephon of Constantinople to help fight the coronavirus outbreak. ‘In these difficult moments of trial, our…
His Grace Bishop Ignatie thinks that fake news is a ‘true plague’ in times of crisis because by sharing false information, people’s fears are exploited. Fake news ‘do nothing but create panic. (…) We become even more panicked, more stressed and anxious about what is being conveyed.’ The Bishop of Husi warned that ‘if we…
A vigil was held on Mount Athos in a wholesome atmosphere of respect for our Most Holy Lady, Virgin Mary, and Saint Charalambos concerning the coronavirus pandemic. As the coronavirus has become a scourge worldwide, the Orthodox Church said a special prayer of Metropolitan of Edessa for the protection of the faithful. On Friday evening,…
In words following the proclamation of the Gospel reading on Sunday, Patriarch Daniel highlighted the need to intensify the fasting efforts during Lent, noting that this law established in paradise reflects a hunger and thirst for God. ‘To intensify our fasting efforts means to turn our physical hunger and thirst into hunger and thirst for…
Holy Mount Athos is closed to pilgrims until the end of March, but its monasteries continue prayer and religious services even more fervently. The governing Holy Community of Mount Athos has urged all churches and sketes on its territory to hold cross processions and officiate All-Night Vigils to the Mother of God, who is the…
The Orthodox Archdiocese of Târgoviște Thursday announced that it has purchased a vital sign measuring device that will be donated to the County Emergency Hospital. Fukuda Denshi’s latest patient monitor DS-8100N cost about 4,343 Euros and will serve the coronavirus patients in Targoviste. The archdiocese’s statement notes that the action “contributes to the national and…
Romania’s National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr Matei Balș” thanked all those who have shown their willingness to support the institute with donations in money, food, sanitary materials and protective equipment amid Covid-19 outbreak. ‘Thanks to the Romanian Patriarchate for the material and spiritual support,’ the Matei Balș Institute of Infectious Diseases in Bucharest…
In the new medical crisis which has reached Romania, nine monasteries from the Archdiocese of Iaşi, in the northeastern part of the country, offered to help hospitals. They have started making bed linen sets to be donated to local hospitals which are treating or prepare to treat Covid-19 patients. In addition to the cotton linen…
Israeli authorities have decided to close the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for a week as a precaution against the coronavirus pandemic. The closure does not affect the divine services, which will be performed according to the normal schedule, in the absence of the faithful. The church was closed shortly after 5:00 PM yesterday, as…