20th-century confessors

Akathist to Saint Sofian the Confessor of St Anthimos Monastery (16 September)

This Akathist honours our Holy and Venerable Father Sofian of St Anthimos Monastery (16 September), a priest, confessor, spiritual father and iconographer formed by the Jesus Prayer. He celebrated the Divine Mysteries reverently, painted holy icons, guided spiritual children and cared for the afflicted. He remained steadfast during persecution and endured imprisonment. The hymn praises…

Sep 17, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolis of Bessarabia proclaims local canonisation of Saint Blandina of Iași

The Metropolis of Bessarabia held the local proclamation of the canonisation of Saint Blandina the Confessor of Iași at the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul in Chișinău on Saturday. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia together with Archbishop Casian of the Lower Danube, Bishops Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia,…

May 25, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Feast of St Liviu-Galaction marked in Cluj: We look up and admire his faith and steadfastness

Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj on Sunday commemorated St Liviu-Galaction Munteanu at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Cluj-Napoca, praising the faith and steadfastness of the newly canonised priest-martyr. “We look up and admire his faith and seriousness,” the metropolitan said during the Divine Liturgy celebrated together with his Assistant Bishop Samuel of Bistrița, on the saint’s feast…

Mar 10, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel remembers four hesychast saints he knew, founders of Romania’s Patriarchate

During the opening of the Autumn Pastoral-Missionary Conference of the Archdiocese of Bucharest on Tuesday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel remembered four great hesychast elders and confessors of the 20th century — Saint Cleopas Ilie, Saint Paisius Olaru, Saint Dumitru Stăniloae, and Saint Sofian of Antim — all of whom he personally knew. The Patriarch said…

Nov 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

“A life of crucifixions and resurrections”: Metropolitan Irineu’s message at local canonisation of Saint Bessarion of Lainici

Metropolitan Irineu of Oltenia said on Sunday at Lainici Monastery that Saint Bessarion of Lainici received the crown of martyrdom and holiness for his life dedicated to Christ. Speaking during the local proclamation of the canonisation of the Holy Venerable Martyr Bessarion of Lainici, Metropolitan Irineu recalled that from a young age, “Saint Bessarion passed…

Nov 11, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Local canonization of Saint Sofian of Antim: He shone in Romania’s capital through his love and gentleness

The local proclamation of the canonization of Saint Sofian took place on Tuesday at Antim Monastery in Bucharest. On this occasion, the Divine Liturgy was celebrated at an outdoor altar arranged in the courtyard of the monastery. The service was led by Archbishop Casian of the Lower Danube, together with Metropolitan Silouan of Byblos, Botris…

Sep 18, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Saint Sofian remembered as confessor, hesychast and iconographer at local canonization ceremony

The Romanian Orthodox Church celebrated on Tuesday the local proclamation of the canonization of Saint Sofian of Antim, a confessor of the faith during communist persecution, a hesychast spiritual father, and iconographer. On this occasion, Patriarch Daniel addressed the faithful with a special message, recalling the life and legacy of the new saint, whom Saint…

Sep 18, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Vigil service for Saint Sofian of Antim. Bishop Varlaam: God has blessed us with a Saint from our times

On Monday evening, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești officiated the all-night vigil for Saint Sofian the Confessor of Antim, ahead of the local proclamation of his canonisation. In his homily, Bishop Varlaam emphasised the joy of honouring “a saint from our own days,” known personally to many faithful in Bucharest and beyond.…

Sep 16, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel on Romanian Migrants’ Sunday: Prayer and love for parents and homeland ‘have no borders’

Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church noted that “prayer, love for parents, homeland, and God know no borders,” in a message marking Romanian Migrants’ Sunday, observed on the first Sunday after the Dormition of the Theotokos. The patriarch expressed gratitude to the clergy and faithful in the diaspora, praising their steadfast love for Romania…

Aug 14, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Small Digital Matericon: Romanian Women Who Loved God (I)

In anticipation of the year 2026, declared the Commemorative Year of Holy Women in the Calendar by the Romanian Patriarchate, we turn our attention to several notable figures of Romanian women who lived their lives with deep faith and dedication to God, becoming models of holiness. These women, through their virtuous lives, left a lasting…

Jun 12, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Young Romanian Orthodox in America gather in New York for camp honoring 20th-century confessors

The Romanian Orthodox Youth in the Americas (ROYA) Camp took place at St. Demetrius Monastery in New York State, bringing together dozens of young people under the theme “The Saints of the Prisons.” In the context of the Commemorative Year dedicated to Romanian Orthodox spiritual fathers and confessors of the 20th century, forty Orthodox youth…

Jun 3, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu