Centennial 2025

National Symposium in Teleorman to mark Patriarchate’s Centennial and First Ecumenical Council anniversary

A national symposium commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Romanian Patriarchate and the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea will take place in early May at Pantocrator Monastery in Teleorman, coinciding with the arrival of the relics of the Holy Empress Helena. The symposium, titled “Faith, Service, and History in the Ecclesial…

Mar 18, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate commemorates anti-communist political prisoners on March 9

March 9 marks both the feast day of the Holy Forty Martyrs of Sebaste and the National Day of Commemoration for Anti-Communist Political Prisoners from the period 1944–1989. On this day, we especially remember the Romanian freedom fighters who opposed the totalitarian communist regime, endured imprisonment in labour camps and prisons and bore witness to…

Mar 5, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel marks 35 years of episcopal ministry in the Romanian Orthodox Church

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,…

Mar 4, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

It is not my honor, but that of the entire Church: Patriarch Miron on the debate on the Law establishing the Romanian Patriarchate

A century ago, on February 17, 1925, the Chamber of Deputies of Romania held a historic debate on the Law for the Establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate. During the session, Metropolitan Miron Cristea, who was soon to be enthroned as the first Patriarch of Romania, delivered a memorable speech. “This Honor Belongs to the Entire…

Feb 17, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Academy President: Patriarchate was a natural step after Great Union, but required major effort

The establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate was a natural consequence of the enthusiasm that followed the Great Union of 1918, but achieving it required immense effort from the country’s leadership, said Academician Ioan-Aurel Pop, President of the Romanian Academy, in an interview published in Lumina Newspaper on the occasion of the Centennial of the Romanian…

Feb 6, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s message on Romanian Patriarchate Centennial: A time of gratitude, solemn occasion to honour new saints

Celebrating 100 years since the establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel addressed the clergy and believers from the Patriarchal Cathedral, noting that the Centennial should be a time of gratitude to God and a solemn occasion to honour the newly canonized saints. “Over the past 100 years, as an institution and spiritual…

Feb 5, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Synodal Decree of the Romanian Orthodox Church for canonization of 20th-century Saints

In a significant event marking the centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church has officially proclaimed the sainthood of sixteen confessors and spiritual fathers, recognizing their exemplary lives and martyrdom during the tumultuous times of the 20th century. The decree, issued on February 4, 2025, honours priests and monks…

Feb 4, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church proclaims 16 newly canonized Saints on Patriarchate Centennial

The Romanian Orthodox Church officially proclaimed sixteen newly canonized saints on Tuesday, during a historic ceremony at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, attended by Patriarch Daniel and the members of the Holy Synod. The proclamation ceremony took place after the Divine Liturgy, marking the 100th anniversary of the Romanian Patriarchate. The event gathered members of…

Feb 4, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church marks 100 years since becoming a Patriarchate

On Tuesday, February 25, 2025, the Romanian Orthodox Church celebrates 100 years since the Holy Synod approved the establishment of the Romanian Patriarchate. This decision elevated Patriarch Miron Cristea, then Archbishop of Bucharest and Metropolitan of Ungro-Wallachia (Muntenia), as the first Patriarch of Romania. The Romanian Parliament officially recognized the Synodal decision through a special…

Feb 4, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Final memorial service ahead of proclaiming 16 new Romanian Saints: We need their intercessions

On Monday evening, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, secretary of the Holy Synod, officiated the final memorial service for sixteen newly canonized Orthodox confessors and martyrs of the 20th century ahead of their official proclamation as saints. “We are the ones in need of the prayers and intercession of these chosen ones of God,”…

Feb 3, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Moldova Census reveals Orthodox majority, rising urbanization, and aging demographics

The National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova has released the preliminary results of the 2024 Population Census, conducted last year. The data shows that while 95% of the population identifies as Orthodox Christian, the country’s total population has decreased by nearly 14% compared to the previous census conducted a decade ago. Another…

Jan 31, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu