coronavirus

Romanian Orthodox Church condemns posters of doctors as saints. ‘A blasphemous act’

Vasile Banescu, a spokesman for the Romanian Patriarchate, denounced billboards depicting doctors and nurses as “saints” with coronavirus-shaped halos as a blasphemous “visual mistreatment of Christian iconography” on Wednesday. The posters, created by Romanian artist Wanda Hutira for the McCann Worldgroup ad agency’s “Thank you doctors” campaign and posted throughout Bucharest, have also offended the…

Apr 30, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Pimen’s health condition has significantly improved: Patriarchate Spokesperson

According to the information sent today by the medical team that takes care of His Eminence Archbishop Pimen, his general health condition has significantly improved,’ the Romanian Patriarchate’s spokesperson told the Basilica News Agency on Tuesday. ‘Hospitalization and appropriate treatment are still required for a period that depends on the pace and evolution of the…

Apr 28, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarch recommends prayer and hope amidst the pandemic

Prayer and hope were the main topics on which Patriarch Daniel’s sermon focused on Bright Friday when the Orthodox Church marks the feast day of the Life-Giving Spring of the Theotokos. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said that especially now when the world experiences a sad and difficult period due to the coronavirus pandemic, we need…

Apr 28, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel thanks Pope Francis for medical equipment donated to Suceava Hospital

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel thanked Pope Francis in a letter sent on April 23 for the medical equipment donated to the St John the New Hospital in Suceava. The donation, consisting of five lung ventilators, 200 overalls, 900 FFP2 masks, and 5,000 sanitary masks, was offered on the feast day of Saint George the Trophy-bearer,…

Apr 27, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Saint George will help us overcome the great tribulation of coronavirus pandemic

‘The Holy Great Martyr Gorge is for us today a great helper in times of tribulation,’ His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said on Bright Thursday celebrating the patronal feast of the historic chapel of the patriarchal residence. “As he overcame the demons who worked through the persecuting pagan emperors and conquered all temptations and sufferings, so…

Apr 27, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Suceava assistant bishop calls for prayer for 90-year-old Archbishop Pimen after positive result

The assistant bishop to the Archdiocese of Suceava and Radauti urged the clergy and believers to join prayers for the recovery of the 90-year-old Archbishop Pimen who is hospitalized at Matei Bals Hospital in Bucharest after testing positive for coronavirus. ‘We have this spiritual duty to His Eminence Archbishop Pimen, as one who also carried…

Apr 27, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Church confirms €2.5 million so far in helping Romania overcome coronavirus crisis

In these days illuminated by the joy of Christ’s Resurrection, and by the pleasure of finding Orthodox Christians in communion and solidarity through the reliable support of people severely affected by the current pandemic, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel thanks the hierarchs, priests, deacons and believers of the Romanian Orthodox Church who responded to the call…

Apr 27, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Wonderworking Icon from Romania’s Sihăstria Monastery carried in procession against coronavirus and drought

On Bright Tuesday, the third day of Holy Pascha, the wonderworking Axion Estin (It is Truly Meet) Icon of the Mother of God from Romania’s famous Sihăstria Monastery was carried in procession, with the monks entreating God for relief from the coronavirus pandemic and drought.  The procession took place after the celebration of the Divine…

Apr 24, 2020Iulian Dumitraşcu

Patriarch Daniel at Easter Vigil: The crucified and risen Christ is the Healer and Liberator of humankind

Patriarch Daniel, April 19, 2020: ‘Christ’s Resurrection today is for us as always a source of light and peace, a source of joy, but also a source of spiritual power to fight the hardships of life, including to fight with the disease, the fear of death, and suffering, with everything that severely befalls us and…

Apr 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

We have the unique opportunity to do good and to consolidate parent-child relationships, Bessarabia Metropolitan says in Easter Message

In his pastoral letter on Holy Pascha 2020, the Metropolitan of Bessarabia urged Orthodox Christians to profess Christ’s Resurrection and to take advantage of the home isolation period to consolidate their family relationships, but also to do mercy, thus showing solidarity with those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. ‘It may be hard and uncomfortable for…

Apr 18, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate reaches agreement with Ministry of Internal Affairs for distribution of consecrated Easter bread and Holy Fire to believers

The Romanian Orthodox Church Wednesday reached an agreement with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to allow church volunteers to distribute consecrated bread (Paști) and Holy Fire to believers on Easter night. The first form of the agreement signed on Tuesday was later amended by the two parts as epidemiologists expect the coronavirus pandemic to reach…

Apr 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu