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…
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…