Christian persecution has seen a troubling increase over the past two years, according to a report conducted in 18 countries by the pontifical foundation Aid to the Church in Need. The report, covering the years 2022 to 2024, was presented to the British Parliament on October 22 and highlights a particularly severe rise in persecution…
The 2026 Commemorative Year “will bring a greater societal understanding of the spiritual paths available to women,” said Alexandra Nadane, executive director of the Association for the Support of Pregnant Women and Families. “I was very pleased to hear that the Holy Synod has declared 2026 as the Solemn Year of Christian Family Pastoral Care…
The memorial cross honouring Romanian Heroes in the Slovenian town of Miren-Kostanjevica, recently restored with support from the Romanian Embassy, was rededicated last Friday, October 25. The monument, erected in 2010 in honour of soldiers from the Romanian 43rd Caransebeș Regiment who fell during World War I, was a joint project initiated by the Romanian…
In response to the catastrophic flooding in Spain’s Valencia, Malaga, and Castilla-La Mancha regions, which has led to 95 confirmed deaths and left many missing—including 22 Romanians—the Romanian Orthodox Church, led by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, has extended a message of profound sympathy and support. The message, delivered to the Spanish public and the Romanian…
Bishop Timotei of Spain and Portugal has called for solidarity with those affected by severe flooding across the Iberian Peninsula, urging clergy and parishioners to offer both material and spiritual support. Torrential rains from a cold front flooded roads and cities in Spain on Tuesday, with authorities advising residents to stay indoors in hard-hit areas.…
On Tuesday, Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the “St. Barbarus” Chapel of Ploiești Penitentiary, marking 20 years since its consecration. During the service, Bishop Veniamin encouraged the inmates to use their prison time to draw closer to God. “This is a special institution, and it is essential to maintain love,…
Starting this month, the “St. Anthony” Parish Catechism School in Vienna has introduced an innovative teaching approach, allowing recent graduates to take on the role of catechists for younger students. Presbytera Patricia Moga, the parish school coordinator, designed the innovative educational model. To ensure the quality of the information shared, about 20 young people—graduates from…
A memorial service for the victims of the Colectiv nightclub fire took place on Wednesday at the cross erected in front of the former club, marking nine years since the tragedy. The service was led by Father Vlad Mândru, Human Resources Inspector within the Sector 4 Deanery, joined by other local clergy. Father Mândru shared…
The Romanian community in Ukraine is still awaiting the establishment of a Romanian Language Day in Ukraine, which would be comparable to the acknowledgement of Ukrainian Language Day in Romania on November 9, as enshrined by Romania’s Law 213/2018. The initiative for a Romanian Language Day in Ukraine came from the “Bessarabia” National-Cultural Association of…
The Ministry of Family, Youth, and Equal Opportunities has welcomed the decision by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church to designate 2026 as the “Solemn Year of Pastoral Care for the Christian Family” and the “Commemorative Year of Holy Women” celebrating myrrh-bearing women, female martyrs, nuns, wives, and mothers. The Romanian Orthodox Synod’s…
On Monday, His Grace Bishop Makary of Glavinitsa, Auxiliary Bishop to Metropolitan Naum of Ruse of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the cave church founded by St. Theophano Basarab near the Bulgarian city of Ruse. Joining him were Father Ivan Ginel Aurelian, representing His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania; Father Kiril…
The blessing service for the new Bible study center, dedicated to St. John Chrysostom, was held in mid-October. Fr. Petru Rosoca, dean of Lugoj, led the service, which several Ukrainian and Romanian Orthodox priests joined. This center was established at the request of the faithful who attended the Orthodox Joy Camp for Adults in late…
On Monday, His Grace Bishop Sofian of Brașov, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg, visited one of the Roua Centers in Bucharest, where pregnant women and large families receive comprehensive support services. “I did this intending to initiate similar actions in our Archdiocese, creating institutional frameworks through which we can help…
Greece’s OXI Day, considered the second national day of the Greek people, was celebrated on Sunday at the “Annunciation” Church of the Greek community in Bucharest. On this occasion, Fr. Ioan Moldoveanu, the parish priest, led a Te Deum service and commemorated the heroes who fell defending their homeland in World War II. Among those…
His Eminence Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Saturday for the patronal feast of the Romanian Monastery “Saint Demetrius the New” in Middletown, New York. On this occasion, the Romanian Metropolitan of the Americas spoke about the action of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in each individual’s personal life.…
The canonization of Saint Macarius Protopsaltes was proclaimed on Sunday following the Divine Liturgy celebrated for the Feast of Saint Demetrius the New. His Grace Varlaam of Ploiești, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop and Secretary of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, read the Synodal Tomos of Canonization. After the proclamation, the troparion of Saint…
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel emphasized the powerful role of church music in fostering spiritual well-being as the 16th edition of the National Church Music Festival-Competition Praise the Lord! took place this year, aligning with the theme of pastoral care for the sick and a commemorative year dedicated to healer saints. The festival held last Saturday…
Healing and resurrection took centre stage in the sermon delivered Sunday by Patriarch Daniel to thousands of pilgrims gathered in Bucharest for the feast of St. Demetrius the New and to venerate the honoured relics of St. Lazarus brought from Cyprus. Patriarch Daniel was joined in service by the Archbishop of Cyprus and other hierarchs.…
This Sunday marked 17 years since the founding of the Basilica Media Centre, the press branch of the Romanian Patriarchate. Journalists from all five of its components were celebrating by bringing live coverage of the annual feast of St. Demetrius the New, the patron saint of Bucharest. Founded on October 27, 2007, Basilica Media Centre…
His Beatitude Archbishop George of New Justiniana and All Cyprus led the liturgy for the feast of St. Demetrius the Great Martyr at the Patriarchal Cathedral’s outdoor altar in Bucharest. During his sermon, Archbishop George reflected on St. Demetrius’s sacrifice, drawing a parallel to the ongoing hardships of the Cypriot Orthodox people. “The Romanian people…