Eighty-five years ago, on 10 September 1940, Father Aurel Munteanu, the first dean (archpriest) of Huedin, reposed in the Lord after being, in the words of historian Mircea-Gheorghe Abrudan, “brutally killed by a group of chauvinistic Hungarians”, in the context of Northern Transylvania being ceded to Hungary under the Second Vienna Award of 30 August…
Construction works on the multifunctional centre of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand have entered the second stage, with support from the Department for Romanians Abroad. The building, located at 103 Porteous Road, Harkness (Melton West), Victoria, will host the “St. Dumitru Stăniloae” Cultural and Missionary Centre, the diocesan chapel, and classrooms…
His Grace Bishop Timotei, head of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Spain and Portugal, has expressed solidarity with the Portuguese people following the Lisbon funicular accident on September 3, which killed 17 people and injured 21 others. In a message addressed to the President of Portugal and the Mayor of Lisbon, Bishop Timotei said he…
The Romanian Orthodox community in Dublin has launched a fundraising campaign to purchase Christ Church in Leeson Park, a building it has used as a place of worship since 2004. According to Greek City Times, the church, which belongs to the Anglican community, was officially put up for sale in February this year, after two…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church issued a message for the opening of the 2025–2026 school year, calling Christian education both an academic and spiritual responsibility and a witness to Christ as “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” He thanked parents, grandparents, and teachers for their role in nurturing Christian values…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church has expressed condolences to Patriarch Rui Manuel Sousa Valério of Lisbon following a tragic accident in the Portuguese capital on September 3, 2025, which left 17 people dead and several others seriously injured. In his message, Patriarch Daniel said he was praying for the repose of…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania has sent a message to the 31st International Conference on Orthodox Spirituality at Bose Monastery in Italy, where theologians, monastics, and scholars from various Christian traditions are gathered to reflect on “Saint Anthony the Great, the Father of Monks.” The Romanian Patriarch emphasised that Saint Anthony remains a model…
The local Synod of the Metropolis of Bessarabia convened in Chișinău on September 1, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the episcopal ordination of His Eminence Petru, Archbishop of Chișinău, Metropolitan of Bessarabia and Exarch of the Territories. Alongside Metropolitan Petru, the meeting was attended by Bishop Antonie of Bălți, Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia,…
Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, where he spoke to the faithful about the Gospel of the rich young man, who, after his encounter with Christ, became His disciple. “It is no coincidence that today’s Gospel is read at the beginning of the…
“Every moment of our lives is an opportunity to turn our thoughts to God and to transform our earthly time from wasted time into the time of eternity,” Archbishop Atanasie, head of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, noted in his message for the New Church Year. In a statement published…
At the start of the new academic year in the Republic of Moldova, Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia issued a message calling for responsibility, maturity, and building life on strong foundations. In his message, he recalled that the first Romanian schools were born in the porch of the Church, where people always understood that education and…
The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, meeting in Constantinople on August 30–31, the final two days of the church year, decided to canonise two Romanian elders of Mount Athos: hieroschemamonk Dionisie (Ignat) of Colciu and archimandrite Petroniu (Tănase) of Prodromos Skete. The feast day of Saint Dionysius of Vatopedi (the “St. George” Cell, where…
On the first day of the new church year, Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia, Archbishop of Chișinău and Exarch of the Territories, celebrated 35 years since his episcopal ordination. Elected Bishop of Bălți, he received episcopal ordination on September 1, 1990, at the Cathedral in Chișinău. Extensive service and ministry Metropolitan Petru was born on October…
Albania has unveiled its first monumental statue of Jesus Christ, inaugurated recently at one of the most scenic points of the Albanian Alps, in the Nikaj-Mërtur Natural Park in the Tropojë region. The statue depicts Christ with outstretched arms, reminiscent of the famous “Christ the Redeemer” statue in Rio de Janeiro, according to JOQ Albania.…
Romanian Patriarch Daniel met on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, with Ambassador Paolo Zampolli, the U.S. President’s Special Envoy for Global Partnerships, during a visit to the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest. Patriarch Daniel welcomed Ambassador Zampolli to the Romanian Patriarchate and expressed appreciation for the fact that U.S. President Donald Trump is a protector and promoter…
Romanian Orthodox faithful in Japan, after acquiring a plot for Christian burials, have also commissioned the construction of a small wooden church in the Maramureș architectural style. Built in Romania, the church is now awaiting shipment to Japan, with fundraising underway to cover transport costs. “This is the wooden church that will serve the Orthodox…
His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia, Exarch of the Territories, marked the Republic of Moldova’s Independence Day on Wednesday with a message urging the faithful to protect freedom through faith, unity, and sacrifice. “On this national holiday, when we celebrate the proclamation of the independence of the Republic of Moldova, we give thanks to God…
The mosaic portrait of Saint Elijah Lăcătușu, a newly canonised Romanian Confessor Priest of the 20th century, that will be placed inside Romania’s National Cathedral, was created by the Saint’s great-grandniece, Andreea Daria Guran. “This gesture is at once a gift from today’s generation to that of yesterday, and a testimony that holiness is not…
Bishop Benedict of Sălaj officiated the re-consecration of the parish church in Boian, Șimleu Silvaniei Deanery, on Sunday, where he spoke about the transformative power of forgiveness. “Your enemy should be the first name you sincerely mention in prayer before God. God has His divine pedagogy,” the bishop said. He explained that it is difficult…
A delegation of the Romanian Patriarchate, led by His Grace Bishop Teofil of Trotuș, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău, was received on an official visit by His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem on Tuesday. Bishop Teofil presented the accreditation letters of the new Superior of the Romanian mission in the…