“Holiness, indeed, is the impossible. It is the impossible that God demands of man,” Protosyncellus Arsenie Irimiea, the abbot of Darvari Skete Monastery in Bucharest, told the faithful on the Sunday of All Saints. Yet, most often, we “offer God mere theatre,” he cautioned. In this regard, the abbot recalled that God tells the Israelites…
Young members of the Nepsis movement from France, Switzerland, and Canada gathered in Paris for their annual congress themed “The Presence of the Holy Spirit in Our Lives.” The event was held over Pentecost weekend and began with a warm welcome at the Cathedral of the Holy Archangels in Paris. The congress opened with the…
In 2024, the Metropolis of Bessarabia tackled domestic violence as part of its social mission, as underscored in the activity report, which highlighted the Church’s growing involvement in domestic violence prevention in the Republic of Moldova. This engagement began with the organization of the conference “Family Under the Protection of Faith: An Interdisciplinary Dialogue on Domestic Violence”, which…
On Tuesday, the Sighet Memorial hosted the symposium celebrating 35 years of the Ukrainian Orthodox Vicariate in Romania. The event was preceded by the Divine Liturgy, celebrated by Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, the delegate of the Patriarch of Romania, together with priests from the two deaneries of the vicariate. At the end of…
In response to the recent escalation of domestic violence in Romanian society and the shocking crimes committed in Cosmopolis (Ilfov County) and Lipănești (Prahova County), the Romanian Patriarchate expresses deep concern regarding these phenomena, which gravely affect human dignity and the unity of families. Any manifestation of violence is incompatible with Christian teaching, and all…
His Eminence Archbishop Atanasie of Great Britain and Northern Ireland delivered a pastoral message at the beginning of the Apostles’ Fast, emphasising that this liturgical season is a natural continuation of Pentecost. “If the Day of Pentecost marks the foundation of the Church, then this liturgical period calls us to live out the life of…
The Very Reverend Archimandrite Ephraim Koutsou, Abbot of the Holy and Great Monastery of Vatopedi on Mount Athos, will bring the honourable skull of Saint John Chrysostom to Bucharest in July. This privileged occasion will allow people to venerate the relic of Saint John Chrysostom in Bucharest. Summer feast of Saint Demetrius This event will…
On the occasion of the King’s Birthday celebration in the United Kingdom, a new photo album titled “The Royal Paths of Transylvania” was launched in Bucharest, highlighting King Charles III’s deep connection with Romania. The album was presented on Saturday during the opening ceremony of an exhibition of the same name, which was hosted at…
The Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Moldova and the Metropolis of Bessarabia have agreed to protect a historic monument in Dubăsarii Vechi. The partnership concerns the Church of “Archangel Michael” and the necropolis of the Donici and Macri families in Dubăsarii Vechi, both of which are listed in the official Register of Cultural Heritage of…
Bishop Antonie of Bălți officiated a memorial service on Thursday in honor of the victims of Stalinist deportations. The commemorative event took place at a symbolic location in the city of Bălți – the train station from which thousands of people were deported to Siberia and Kazakhstan. Dozens of candles were lit near the Monument…
His Grace Bishop Timotei of Spain and Portugal celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at the “Sunday of All Saints” Parish in Bilbao, Spain. The community marked its patronal feast and the 20th anniversary of its founding. Among those attending was Bianca Miruna Gavriliță, Romania’s Consul General in Bilbao. In his homily, the bishop emphasized…
“In the context of the recent acts of war unfolding in the Holy Land, we inform you that our Romanian settlements in the Holy Land — the Representation in Jerusalem and the Romanian Settlement in the biblical city of Jericho — are safe,” announced Archimandrite Teofil Anăstăsoaie, the representative of the Romanian Patriarchate in the…
The four hierarchs of the Metropolis of Bessarabia met on Monday in Chișinău for a working session under the chairmanship of His Eminence Metropolitan Petru. The decisions made concern the celebration of the Centennial of the Metropolis of Bessarabia, theological education in the Republic of Moldova, canonizations, and ecclesiastical distinctions. The Synod decided to organize…
The Basilica News Agency of the Romanian Patriarchate has received congratulations from Agerpres, Romania’s National News Agency, on its 17th anniversary. In a message from Director General Claudia–Victoria Nicolae, Basilica.ro is complimented for conveying “not just information, but also its deeper meaning.” “Over all these years, Basilica.ro has become a respected voice in the Romanian…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel explained that the Sunday of All Saints follows immediately after Pentecost because “the purpose of the coming of the Holy Spirit into the world is the sanctification of humankind.” The Patriarch emphasized that this feast primarily reveals the ultimate goal for which Christ founded the Church. “The Church of Christ was…
Monday marks nine years since the opening of the Holy and Great Council of the Orthodox Church, which brought together hierarchs from ten autocephalous Orthodox Churches in Crete. The Romanian delegation included 25 hierarchs. The Council took place between June 16–26, 2016, preceded by a preparatory working committee from June 9–16. Key topics addressed included:…
Today marks 17 years since the Basilica News Agency, the media arm of the Romanian Patriarchate, published its first article. Established as a department on October 27, 2007, within the Basilica Media Center, the Romanian Patriarchate’s news agency began operating effectively the following year, with its first news story released online on June 16, 2008.…
The Senate’s Committee for Culture, Communication, and Media, the National Gambling Office (ONJN), and the National Agency for Drug and Addiction Policies (ANPCDA) organized a roundtable to launch the public policy document titled “National Strategy for the Prevention and Treatment of Gambling Addiction.” The event was attended by Olivia Nicoleta Vișan, Program Coordinator at the…
The annual meeting of the Canadian Conference of Orthodox Bishops (CCOB) took place last week in Toronto at the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada under the Ecumenical Patriarchate. Most Orthodox jurisdictions in the country were represented, including Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada, who attended on behalf of the Romanian Orthodox Church. During…
At the Divine Liturgy, which was celebrated Wednesday with priests from the Huși Deanery, His Grace Bishop Ignatie spoke about the damaging effects of selfishness and urged the faithful to glorify God rather than seek personal praise. His Grace recalled the example of a Desert Father who prayed that God would not glorify him before…