His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia delivered a message on Thursday marking 589 years since the first documented mention of Chișinău. His Eminence underscored that “on this day of deep historical and spiritual resonance, we look with gratitude to the past and with responsibility toward the future.” “Chișinău is not merely a point on the…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church will celebrate his birthday on Tuesday, July 22, 2025. On this occasion, a thanksgiving prayer will be offered to God during the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest. After the Divine Liturgy, at 11:00 AM, a Te Deum service will be officiated, as an…
The pilgrimage to the honourable skull of Saint John Chrysostom concluded on Wednesday, July 16, after more than 60,000 faithful from across Romania venerated the holy relic, which was brought to the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest between July 11 and 16. The event marked the summer feast of Saint Demetrius the New. Brought from Vatopedi…
Passions bring unrest, fear, and dehumanization, warned Bishop Ignatie of Huși during his homily on the 5th Sunday after Pentecost. “Passions, you must know, never bring peace. No sin can give peace. They bring unrest, fear, and a state of dehumanization,” he said. “That is why—as Saint Dumitru Stăniloae tells us—the devils, just as they…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel underlined that the Vatopedi Psalter “is the result of intensive cooperation between the fathers of Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos and a group of professors from the Faculty of Orthodox Theology ‘Patriarch Justinian’ of the University of Bucharest, under the coordination of the Reverend Professor Constantin Coman.” His Beatitude participated Tuesday…
Dr. Ionuț-Alexandru Tudorie, a Romanian theologian, has begun his term as Dean of the “St. Vladimir’s” Theological Seminary (SVOTS) in Yonkers, New York. The Romanian was elected in February for a five-year mandate by the SVOTS Board of Trustees. Also, this May, the board designated His Beatitude Tikhon, Archbishop of Washington and Metropolitan of All America…
“The greatest gift the Church offers believers is the knowledge of God,” emphasised Archimandrite Ephraim of Vatopedi in his sermon on Sunday at the outdoor altar of Bucharest’s Patriarchal Cathedral. Abbot Ephraim referenced the words of Jesus Christ on eternal life: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God,…
The Very Rev. Archimandrite Efrem Koutsou, Abbot of Vatopedi Monastery on Mount Athos, received the highest distinction of the Romanian Patriarchate, the Patriarchal Cross. The ceremony took place last Friday in the Hall of the Romanian Saints at the Patriarchal Residence, immediately after the reception of the relics of Saint John Chrysostom. The distinction was…
The honourable skull of Saint John Chrysostom was brought to the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest from Mount Athos at midday on Friday, marking the summer feast of Saint Demetrius the New. “The presence of Saint John Chrysostom’s relics in Romania is not only an opportunity for veneration and prayer, but also a call to a…
Near the outer walls of the fortified citadel overlooking Fethiye Bay in Muğla Province, southwestern Turkey, archaeologists have discovered the ruins of a basilica likely dating back to the Middle Byzantine period (9th–12th centuries AD). The discovery was made during archaeological excavations conducted by experts from the Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism, under the…
The Very Rev. Protosyncellus Ioan Meiu will become the new representative of the Romanian Patriarchate to the Holy Land, taking over the position from Archimandrite Teofil Anăstăsoaie, who was recently elected Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău. According to a decision by the Standing Committee of the National Church Council, Fr. Ioan…
Oxford University Press is preparing a new English translation of the Holy Scriptures—a comprehensive study Bible—in a landmark academic project initiated and co-led by a Romanian Orthodox priest. The Ancient Christian Study Bible (ACSB) The coordinators of the project, titled The Ancient Christian Study Bible (ACSB), are Fr. Eugen Pentiuc, Dean of the Holy Cross…
The Coptic Archbishop of London held a meeting last week with two representatives of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies (IOCS) in Cambridge. Archbishop Angaelos welcomed Fr. Dragoș Herescu, Director of IOCS, and Fr. John Jillions, the newly appointed Chair of the Institute’s Board of Trustees, at the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in the United…
In light of the extremely high temperatures recorded nationwide, the Romanian Patriarchate has issued an appeal to all dioceses to provide support during the heatwave. Parishes and monasteries are encouraged to distribute water to those in need and to offer shelter and moments of rest in the shade to individuals affected by the heat. Church…
The Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Italy and the Romanian Ambassador to Italy, Malta, and San Marino signed a cooperation protocol on July 3. His Grace Bishop Siluan and Her Excellency Gabriela Dancău signed the agreement as official representatives of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy and the Embassy of Romania to the Republic of Italy,…
“Let us flee from a formal and superficial faith,” urged His Grace Bishop Teofil of Iberia, Assistant Bishop to the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Spain and Portugal, on the Fourth Sunday after Pentecost. In his homily delivered at the Parish of Saint Athanasius the Athonite in Leganés, Spain, the bishop underscored the living faith of…
The Romanian Orthodox Parish in Auckland, New Zealand, has received a non-refundable grant of 300,000 lei (approx. AUD 100,000) to continue the construction of the parish’s Social and Cultural Hall. This construction project is part of a broader initiative that envisions the future building of a parish church and the establishment of an open-air ethnographic…
Preventing domestic violence is a priority for the Romanian Patriarchate, the Metropolis of Bessarabia, and the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău, as demonstrated by a large-scale social-philanthropic project carried out under the auspices of the Diaconia Social Mission of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, in partnership with the Filantropia Federation of the Romanian Patriarchate. Pilot project…
On Sunday, July 13, 2025, the Romanian Orthodox Church will celebrate the Translation of the Holy Relics of Saint Demetrius the New to Bucharest. On this occasion, a series of liturgical events will take place from July 11 to 13, 2025, according to the following schedule: Friday, July 11, 2025 09:00 – 10:45 – Divine…
His Grace Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Monday at the patronal feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Forerunner Parish in Căușeni, according to the unrevised calendar, and offered prayers for the souls of those deported to Siberia. His Grace Bishop Veniamin spoke about the suffering of the deportees…