A bas-relief of Romanian poet Mihai Eminescu was unveiled last week on the Alley of Nations in the Bulgarian city of Sveti Vlas. The event was attended by Brândușa Predescu, Romania’s Ambassador to the Republic of Bulgaria; Ștefania Bercu-Martak, Honorary Consul of Bulgaria in Romania; Gheorghi Nakov, a member of Romania’s Parliament representing the Bulgarian…
The local proclamation of the canonisation of Saints Heraclius and Alexander of Bessarabia will take place on August 3 in Chișinău, the Metropolis of Bessarabia has announced. The solemn event will follow the hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated at the “Holy Apostles Peter and Paul” Church in the capital of the Republic of Moldova. The local…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel blessed on Thursday the reliquary containing the relics of Saint Onuphrius of Sihăstria Voronei Monastery. The blessing service took place at the “Saint George” Chapel of the Patriarchal Residence, with Archimandrite Ghedeon Huțanașu, abbot of the monastic settlement in Botoșani County, also in attendance. His Beatitude recalled aspects of the saint’s…
The Very Reverend Archimandrite Clement Haralam, Grand Ecclesiarch of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, celebrated his 70th birthday on Wednesday — a life devoted to Christ and to serving others through prayer and liturgical ministry. On this occasion, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel presented him with the Patriarchal Cross, the highest distinction of the Romanian Patriarchate,…
A delegation from the Holy Land has visited the monastic cell of Saints Cleopas Ilie and Paisius Olaru at Sihăstria Monastery in Neamț County, Romania. The delegation included the Very Rev. Archimandrite Constantinos Peramatzis, abbot of the Monastery of Saint George of Chozeva, and Protosyncellus Ioan Meiu, the Romanian Patriarchate’s representative to the Holy Places.…
His Beatitude Theophilos III, Patriarch of Jerusalem and All Palestine, sent a message on Sunday for the episcopal ordination of His Grace Assistant Bishop Teofil of Trotuș, who served for a decade as the representative of the Romanian Patriarchate in Jerusalem and the Holy Places. “This blessed appointment to the episcopal ministry is a testimony…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel blessed on Wednesday the reliquaries designated for the holy relics of Saints Paisius (Olaru) and Cleopas (Ilie) of Sihăstria. The blessing service took place at the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest, in the presence of Archimandrite Arsenie Popa, abbot of Sihăstria Monastery in Neamț County. The reliquaries were crafted from silver at…
The baptism of adults converting to Orthodoxy never ceases to move us, as it powerfully demonstrates that Christ is the One who calls them to Himself—either directly or through those around them. A soldier serving in the United States Army recently converted from a neo-Protestant denomination to Orthodoxy, receiving baptism at the Church of St.…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel turned 74 on Tuesday. On this occasion, a thanksgiving service was celebrated at the Patriarchal Cathedral in the presence of the Patriarch and other state officials. The Te Deum service was officiated by Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, who offered words of gratitude and appreciation for the Patriarch of Romania’s…
The monastic synaxis of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Canada, held from July 17 to 19 at the Monastery of the Elevation of the Holy Cross and St. Ephraim the New in Mono, Ontario, resulted in three decisions with significant impact on the life of the diocese across the ocean. The following resolutions were adopted:…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel has celebrated his birthday on Tuesday. Exactly 74 years ago, in the village of Dobrești, Timiș County, western Romania, Dan-Ilie was born—the third child in the family of schoolteachers Alexie and Stela Ciobotea. His Beatitude once shared that he learned the value of work and faith from his parents, despite being…
His Grace Bishop Sofian of Brașov, the Assistant Bishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg, celebrated his 55th birthday on Tuesday. Born on July 22, 1970, in the village of Băcel, Covasna County, he was given the name Gheorghe at baptism. After completing his primary and secondary education, he attended Industrial…
More than 85% of Romanians consider themselves religious, and nearly half attend church at least once a month, according to a public opinion poll conducted by INSCOP and cited by Agerpres. According to the survey, only 14% of respondents said they do not consider themselves religious, while 1% did not know or refused to answer.…
Over 2,000 people participated on Sunday, on the Feast of the Holy Prophet Elijah the Tishbite, in the ordination and installation of the new Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău, His Grace Bishop Teofil of Trotuș. The event took place at the “Saint Parascheva” Archdiocesan Cathedral in Roman. The Divine Liturgy and…
The Romanian Patriarchate has launched a major project to digitise the cultural heritage of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Romanians will gain online access to over 60,000 historical books, manuscripts, documents, and other valuable items from churches across the country. The project will scan and digitally preserve 60,015 historical, artistic, and documentary items dating from the…
Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj, Maramureș, and Sălaj blessed the new bell and the basement level of the under-construction “Nativity of Saint John the Baptist” Church in Cluj-Napoca. The church is modelled after the Kato Xenia Monastery in Greece. The bell was cast at the Blotor Foundry in Satulung, Maramureș County. The church will follow the…
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…