On Saturday, Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia honored the memory of the heroes and martyrs of the Dniester War at the Heroes’ Fountain near the village of Varnița, Anenii Noi district. The event marked 33 years since the conflict. Representatives from the police and the National Army, cultural figures, educators, students, and families of those…
On Monday evening, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești praised the Great Canon and its author, Saint Andrew of Crete, emphasizing the importance of both its message and regular recitation. After reading the first part of the Great Canon at the Patriarchal Cathedral, His Grace cited Archimandrite Teofil Părăian of Sâmbăta de Sus, who lamented…
“The one who fasts breaks the infernal cycle of desire and pleasure, hunger and satiety, redirecting their longing toward contemplating heavenly realities. This helps them walk in the renewal of life (Romans 6:4), living as a child of the resurrection (Luke 20:36),” Archbishop Irineu of Alba Iulia emphasized in a message on Clean Monday at…
On Tuesday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church celebrates 35 years since his episcopal ordination. He was ordained as an Assistant Bishop of the Archdiocese of Timișoara at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Timișoara on March 4, 1990, shortly after the fall of communism. Early Life and Education Born in Dobrești, Timiș County,…
“Great Lent is considered a spiritual spring, a renewal of the soul, which is why it coincides with the calendar spring,” said Patriarch Daniel of Romania on Clean Monday evening during the first service dedicated to the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete. His Beatitude emphasized that the significance of fasting lies in spiritual…
On Sunday, His Grace Bishop Ignatie of Huși officiated the Forgiveness Vespers at the diocesan Cathedral in Huși, once again urging the faithful to observe a media fast during Lent. “Fasting is more than just abstaining from food—it is a healing process from our pathological dependencies, particularly our addiction to digital media,” said the bishop.…
His Grace Atanasie, the Archbishop-elect of the Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, officially commenced his episcopal ministry with a visit to the Romanian Orthodox Parish of Saint John Cassian in Oxford, where he presided over a diaconal ordination and the investment of a spiritual director. The parish celebrated its patronal feast on Sunday,…
“It is clear to all of us that the world faces many problems, and we hope to overcome them with the help of prayer and fasting,” emphasized Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj, Maramureș, and Sălaj in his message at the beginning of Great Lent. His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei noted that this period offers an excellent opportunity…
Highlights from the week leading up to Lent, a transition time marked by tradition, prayer and reflection, captured through the camera lens and included in our photo feature story for the week of 24 February-2 March 2025. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post: Vezi această postare pe Instagram O postare distribuită de Basilica.ro (@basilica.ro)…
The National Bank of Romania (BNR) launched a commemorative gold coin on Monday to mark the 375th anniversary of the birth of Saint Anthimos the Iberian, an emblematic cultural personality of Georgian origin who served as Metropolitan of Wallachia between 1708 and 1716. Coin Design and Features The obverse of the coin features a detailed…
“With a kind and forgiving heart that does not hold on to resentment, we can begin Great Lent—a journey alongside our Savior Jesus Christ on the path of His Passion,” explains Metropolitan Serafim of Germany, Central, and Northern Europe in his pastoral letter at the start of Great Lent 2025. In his Lenten pastoral letter,…
“We do not fast to be seen or praised by people, but we fast to love God more,” said His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on Sunday during the Divine Liturgy at the historic Chapel of the Holy Great Martyr George at the Patriarchal Residence. Regarding fasting itself, the Patriarch of Romania explained that the Gospel of…
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew sent a catechetical homily for the beginning of the Great Lent, which His Sanctity said was a “blessed period of fasting and repentance, of spiritual vigilance and journey with the Lord, as He comes to His voluntary passion, in order to reach the veneration of His splendid Resurrection”. The Ecumenical Patriarch reminded…
The snow that fell at the beginning of the week of February 17-23 was a joy and inspiration for photography enthusiasts in Romania. We invite you on a visual journey into Orthodox spirituality, embellished by the charm of winter. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post: View this post on Instagram A post shared by…
“Autocephaly is a measure of the maturity of a local Church in indissoluble communion with the other local Churches, members of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church,” noted Patriarch Daniil of Bulgaria last Saturday, as the Bulgarian Orthodox Church marked the 80th anniversary of its autocephaly recognition. His Beatitude emphasized that the world is…
The President of the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy, MP Ionuț Vulpescu, and Romania’s Ambassador to the Holy See, His Excellency George Bologan, were received on Monday by Bishop Siluan at the headquarters of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy. During their meeting with Bishop Siluan, the discussion emphasized and appreciated the spiritual and social assistance…
“The Triodion period is a time of invitation and reflection, a call to look within ourselves and conduct a kind of spiritual technical inspection. All the services performed during this period serve as a sort of spiritual MRI, showing us where we stand in our effort toward the Kingdom of God,” said Bishop Ignatie of…
His Grace Atanasie, recently elected as the first Archbishop of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, bid farewell to the Romanian Orthodox community in Italy on Sunday after 17 years of ministry. The archbishop-elect celebrated his final Divine Liturgy at the Eparchial Center in Rome, where he urged the faithful to…
Bishop Policarp Morușcă, the first hierarch of Orthodox Romanians in North America, was commemorated Sunday at the Romanian Monastery of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross and St. Ephraim the New in Mono, Canada. The monastery’s abbot, Hieromonk Policarp Atenagora, officiated the memorial service after the Divine Liturgy. The service reflected that Romanians in the…
On February 25, 1958, the miraculous “Syriac” Icon of the Mother of God was brought to Ghighiu Monastery by Metropolitan Basil Samaha of Sergiopolis from the Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East. For 67 years, many faithful who have prayed before the icon at Ghighiu Monastery have testified to receiving swift aid, healing, and…