coronavirus

53% of Georgians feel their faith is protective during the pandemic

A study made at the request of the National Democratic Institute in Georgia has found that 53% of Georgians feel their faith is protective during the coronavirus pandemic. The study researched the Georgians’ opinion on COVID-19-related issues such as the role of faith and religious leaders, disinformation, attitudes towards EU and NATO. 53% of the…

Aug 4, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Blue Quarantine Story: Illustrations by Romanian artist show harsh reality of doctors during coronavirus outbreak

The Romanian artist Luminița Pătrățeanu created mindful illustrations that reflect on the world’s current situation and capture the harsh reality of doctors who sacrifice themselves to take care of people. The illustrations went on display this week at the Municipal Emergency Hospital in Moinesti under the title ‘Blue Quarantine Story.’ The outdoor exhibition was opened…

Jul 3, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Blessed Relics of St Gregory the Teacher carried in procession for first time in history

Priests and believers carried a wonderworking icon of the Theotokos and the blessed relics of the Wallachian Metropolitan Saint Gregory the Teacher during a 162 km long procession that passed through 17 localities on Saturday. This was the first time when the holy relics of Saint Gregory the Teacher were taken out of Caldarusani Monastery,…

Jun 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate welcomes Government’s decision to resume regular worship inside churches

‘The Romanian Patriarchate received with joy the intensely awaited and fully justified decision of the authorities to allow the celebration of religious services inside the churches, with the participation of the faithful, in compliance with clear and still necessary regulations,” the Patriarchate’s spokesman Vasile Bănescu told Basilica.ro Tuesday. The decision to allow religious services to…

Jun 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

The life of the Church during the pandemic: Photo Gallery

The deepest liturgical period this year in Romania corresponded to the state of emergency due to the spread of the new Coronavirus. In the first phase, it was forbidden to officiate services in closed spaces, then the participation of the faithful was not allowed at all in the divine worship. The pain was all the…

Jun 17, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Celebration of services inside places of worship is fully justified – Patriarchate’s Spokesperson

The spokesman of the Romanian Patriarchate said Thursday that ‘the rapid return to the celebration of religious services inside the places of worship (with the implicit observance of the rules of physical distancing and sanitation of the liturgical spaces as established by the competent authorities) is already fully justified and adequate to the current Romanian…

Jun 12, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam: The Basilica Media Centre has proved its social and spiritual utility

The Basilica Press Centre of the Romanian Patriarchate is placed under the protection of the Holy Trinity. At the Divine Liturgy celebrated on Monday in the courtyard of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, special petitions were offered for the media centre and its staff. His Grace the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, who presided…

Jun 9, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church offers 4470 tablets to help distance education: Communique

After providing more than 4.3 million euros during the coronavirus pandemic, the efforts of the Church and its organizations have focused on supporting children in distance education. Romanian Orthodox Church permanently supports the education of children and young people: full text In the context of the current pandemic, the Romanian Patriarchate offers tablets or other…

Jun 4, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

REPORT. Romanian Patriarchate offers support of over 4.3 million Euros during Covid-19 crisis

According to a new report issued by the Social-Philanthropic Sector of the Patriarchal Administration, the Church has donated over 4.3 million Euros (20,896,872 Romanian Lei) to the socially vulnerable and the medical institutions affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. On March 23, the Romanian Patriarchate launched an online platform entitled ajutacubucurie.ro (“help with joy”), and the…

Jun 3, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

The Week in Pictures: May 25 – 31, 2020

Orthodox life implies experience, emotion, involvement – all of which can be captured by photography. See below our selection of photos captured around the Orthodox world between May 25 and May 31, 2020. Last week’s most widely appreciated post on our Instagram account:   View this post on Instagram   *RO: „Găsiți pe Iisus la…

Jun 3, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Suceava priests dressed in white overalls carry Archbishop Pimen’s coffin

Six priests from Suceava’s Archdiocese and two employees of a funeral company dressed in white overalls and wearing protective gloves carried the coffin of Archbishop Pimen during his funeral. The 90-year-old Archbishop of Suceava and Radauti died last week after testing positive for the new coronavirus. One of the priests was Fr. Bogdan Cojoleanca, the…

May 27, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu