“Our greatest desire is to see Christ, who rose from the dead. He gives the condition we must fulfill: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5:8),” emphasized Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj, Maramureș, and Sălaj in his Easter Pastoral Letter. His Eminence underlined the need to purify the inner senses…
Iconographer and church artist Ana-Maria Zară has shared for the first time details of the reliquary being crafted to hold the holy relics of Saint Cleopas (Ilie) of Sihăstria. “In lines of silver, the memories of his spiritual steps through Romanian monastic spirituality will be engraved,” the artist wrote. “Each scene seeks to echo the…
The Archbishop of Arad writes in his Easter Pastoral Letter about the exapostilaria—paschal hymns that recall the new beginning brought to the world through the Resurrection of Christ: “The cycle of the eleven Resurrection Gospels is read during Matins, constantly reminding us of the dawn of a new beginning for the world. Within the same…
His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia celebrated the Feast of the Annunciation on Monday—according to the unrevised Julian calendar—at the Church of “Saint John Jacob” in Chișinău’s Ciocana district. Fr. Anatolie Goncear, parish priest of the “Three Holy Hierarchs” Church in Chișinău, delivered the sermon during the Divine Liturgy, emphasizing the importance of a humble…
His Grace Bishop Benedict was enthroned as Bishop of Sălaj on Sunday at the “Ascension of the Lord” Cathedral in Zalău. The ceremony took place after the Divine Liturgy. Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj, Maramureș, and Sălaj, along with eight hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church, concelebrated at the solemn liturgy. The event was attended by…
In an atmosphere full of emotion and spiritual significance, the installation of the Holy Cross on the main dome of the National Cathedral marks an important step in the completion of one of the most impressive religious buildings in Romania. With a height of over 100 meters, the main spire dominates the landscape of the…
On Tuesday, a seven-tonne cross was installed at approximately 130 meters above sea level atop the main dome of Romania’s National Cathedral. “The top engineering moment was elevated by the blessing service officiated by His Grace Varlaam of Ploiești,” said Fr. Nicolae Crîngașu, Patriarchal Counselor coordinating the Department for Church Monuments and Construction at the…
Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești participated on Thursday in a ceremony marking Romanian Gendarmerie Day, held at the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) headquarters. Immediately after the arrival of officials—including Acting President Ilie Bolojan—the ceremony began with a Te Deum prayer service. Bishop Varlaam, the Patriarch of Romania’s delegate at the event, was joined…
Father Ciprian Ioniță, Patriarchal Counselor in the Social-Philanthropic Department of the Romanian Patriarchal Administration, is representing the Filantropia Federation of the Romanian Patriarchate at the General Annual Meeting of Eurodiaconia—a European network of churches and Christian NGOs providing social and healthcare services. While last year’s General Assembly was held in Bucharest and hosted by the…
On Holy Thursday, April 17, 2025, just days before the 140th anniversary of the recognition of its autocephaly, the Romanian Orthodox Church will consecrate the Holy and Great Chrism for the 23rd time. The event, marked by special solemnity, is part of the Romanian Patriarchate’s Centennial Year program. Before consecration, the Great Chrism is prepared…
Her Excellency Tamar Beruchashvili, Ambassador of Georgia to Bucharest, visited the Romanian Patriarchate on Wednesday, where she held discussions with representatives of Trinitas TV and Basilica Travel. The meeting was attended by Archdeacon Gheorghe-Cristian Popa, Director of Trinitas TV, alongside Oana Lungu and Father Mihai Profiroiu from the Basilica Travel Agency. The ambassador was accompanied…
“Through humble prayer united with fasting, a person empties himself of ego and is filled with the humble, healing, and sanctifying love of God,” said His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on Sunday at the historic “Saint George” Chapel of the Patriarchal Residence. In his sermon at the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Patriarch of Romania…
Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday in Ungheni, marking the 56th anniversary of his monastic life, alongside two milestone celebrations of the local parish dedicated to Saint Joseph the Merciful, Metropolitan of Moldavia. On this occasion, Fr. Gabriel-Andrei Gherasă, dean of the Ungheni parish, celebrated seven years of priestly ministry and…
Metropolitan Nicolae of the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas officiated last week the blessing service for the cornerstone of a new Romanian cathedral in Olmsted Township, Ohio. The service was also attended by Fr. Călin Barbolovici, Dean of the Central USA Deanery and parish priest of the “Holy Trinity” Romanian Orthodox Church in Troy,…
Her Excellency Tamar Beruchashvili, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Georgia to Romania, along with Consul David Chachava, visited the Library of the Holy Synod on Friday, where they held discussions with Archimandrite Policarp Chițulescu, the director of the institution. The purpose of the visit was to propose a continued partnership with the…
The new Archbishop of Albania, His Beatitude John, was enthroned on Saturday at the “Resurrection of the Lord” Cathedral in Tirana, during a ceremony attended by members of the Holy Synod of the Orthodox Church of Albania and representatives of other autocephalous Churches. Commitment to Sacrificial Ministry In his enthronement address, His Beatitude Archbishop John…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania conveyed a message of congratulations at the enthronement of the newly elected Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all Albania, His Beatitude John (Pelushi). „We are fully confident that Your Beatitude will fulfil the new ministry entrusted to you with great pastoral responsibility and missionary dynamism, contributing to the proclamation…
The local proclamation of Saint Liviu Galaction took place on Tuesday at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Cluj-Napoca. The solemn event coincided with the patronal feast of the Metropolis of Cluj, Maramureș, and Sălaj. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj, Maramureș, and Sălaj, together with an assembly of ten hierarchs of the…
On Thursday, the Holy Synod elected His Grace Bishop Benedict to lead the Diocese of Sălaj. Following the synodal vote, His Grace expressed his hope that it is God who entrusts him with this new mission. “At this moment, I would like to liken myself to Moses,” said the bishop, recalling a similar moment five…
On Thursday, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church elected His Grace Bishop Benedict of Bistrița as the new Bishop of the Diocese of Sălaj. The position became vacant in December 2024, after the local Synod of the Metropolis of Cluj, Maramureș, and Sălaj decided to suspend Bishop Petroniu. Also running for the office…