Akathist hymn

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew says Akathist Hymn is ‘magnificent ode to freedom’ at Constantinople Conference

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I said the Akathist Hymn is “a magnificent ode to freedom” at the opening of a conference marking 1,400 years since its first chanting. The event took place on Thursday, March 26, at the Marasli Patriarchal Urban School in Istanbul, Turkey, and was attended by hierarchs of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, clergy, diplomatic…

Apr 2, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Trust in God and the Mother of God brings true freedom, says patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești said on Friday evening at the Patriarchal Cathedral that true freedom is found through trust in God, the Mother of God and the saints. “Only with the help of God, of the Mother of God and of the saints can we feel truly free, entrusting our lives into the…

Mar 28, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Virgin Mary honoured as ‘living icon of the Church, obedient to God in humility’, Patriarch Daniel says

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church said on Wednesday that the Mother of God holds a central place in the history of humanity’s salvation, describing her as “a living icon of the Church, obedient to God in humility”. He underlined that the Feast of the Annunciation marks “the beginning of our salvation…

Mar 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarchate issues encyclical for 1,400-Year Jubilee of Akathist Hymn: The sweetest delight of Christians

The Holy and Sacred Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate has issued an encyclical marking the 1,400th anniversary of the Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos, regarded as the first such hymnographic composition in the history of the Church. The hierarchs described the Akathist as “the most beloved hymn of our liturgical life, the sweetest delight of…

Mar 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian pilgrims mark 1,400 years of Akathist Hymn at Blachernae Church in Constantinople

A group of Romanian pilgrims prayed on Wednesday at the Church of the Virgin Mary of Blachernae in Constantinople, marking 1,400 years since the first chanting of the Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God. The pilgrimage, organised by the Romanian Patriarchate’s Basilica Travel Agency, is taking place over four days and includes visits to…

Mar 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Jubilee Year for the Akathist Hymn marks 1,400 years since first chanting

This year marks 14 centuries since the city of Constantinople was saved from a siege by a coalition of Avars and Persians, an event commemorated by the first chanting of the Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God. The Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos, traditionally attributed to Saint Romanos the Melodist, was first chanted in…

Mar 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

1,000 Greek pupils chant hymns to Virgin Mary at Thessaloniki Cathedral service (video)

Around 1,000 pupils from 37 schools at all levels of education in Thessaloniki chanted hymns to the Virgin Mary at the city’s Hagia Sophia Church. The pupils, together with the choir of the Hellenic Army Officers’ School and the Eirmos Byzantine Children’s Choir of the Metropolis of Thessaloniki, provided the liturgical responses on Friday, 13…

Mar 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarchate to celebrate 1,400 years since the first Akathist Hymn in 2026 Jubilee Year

Next year will mark 14 centuries since the composition of the first and most beautiful Akathist Hymn in history, most likely written by Saint Romanos the Melodist and sung during a critical moment in the history of the Church and the City of Constantinople. This is the Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God, which…

Oct 30, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

The fasting season involves a spiritual struggle, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam says

In his sermon delivered last Friday at the Patriarchal Cathedral, the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploieşti stressed that “the fasting season involves a spiritual struggle with ourselves, against the temptations that come from around us and, especially, against the spirits of evil.” His Grace said that the Mother of God comes to the aid…

Apr 20, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Visarion’s message at the beginning of the Dormition Fast: ‘The Theotokos becomes our Mother’

On the beginning of the Dormition Fast, Bishop Visarion of Tulcea addressed a message to the believers offering spiritual advice about how the Theotokos can become our Mother during this fasting season. In a video message posted on the Diocese’s Facebook page, the Bishop of Tulcea recalled that Orthodox Christians ‘prepare themselves as they know…

Aug 2, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu