Ecumenical Patriarchate

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

Two Romanian Athonite elders canonised by Ecumenical Patriarchate

Two Romanian elders from Mount Athos have been added to the synaxarion by the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. They are Hieroschemamonk Niphon (Ionescu), the founder of Prodromos Skete, and Venerable Nectarios (Crețu) the Protopsaltis, also known as the Nightingale of Mount Athos. The canonisations were approved during the Holy Synod meeting of the…

Oct 20, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarchate canonises two Romanian Elders from Mount Athos

The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, meeting in Constantinople on August 30–31, the final two days of the church year, decided to canonise two Romanian elders of Mount Athos: hieroschemamonk Dionisie (Ignat) of Colciu and archimandrite Petroniu (Tănase) of Prodromos Skete. The feast day of Saint Dionysius of Vatopedi (the “St. George” Cell, where…

Sep 2, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Five key figures behind the founding of the Romanian Patriarchate

In 2025, the Romanian Orthodox Church marks a century since one of the most significant milestones in its modern history: the elevation to the rank of Patriarchate. This centennial year offers not only a celebration of ecclesiastical achievement but also an opportunity to honour the spiritual, cultural, and national vision that shaped the Patriarchate’s foundation…

Jul 30, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

100 years since Ecumenical Patriarchate endorsed Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate

A century ago, on July 30, 1925, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople issued the synodal tomos officially recognising the establishment of the Romanian Orthodox Patriarchate. This recognition affirmed the decision made by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church on February 4, 1925. Following canonical provisions, the decision of the Holy Synod was communicated…

Jul 30, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Job of Pisidia visits Holy Synod Library in Bucharest

His Eminence Metropolitan Job Getcha of Pisidia (Ecumenical Patriarchate) visited the Library of the Holy Synod last Friday, where he was guided by Archimandrite Policarp Chițulescu, the institution’s director. The Metropolitan was in Bucharest from May 13 to 17, 2025, to participate in the International Theology Symposium titled “The First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea (325):…

May 19, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

How the Romanian Orthodox Church became a Patriarchate: historians explain

A documentary produced by Radio Trinitas to mark the start of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate presents the evolution of the Orthodox Church on the territory of Romania until it achieved the status of a patriarchate, through the voices and expertise of two renowned professors of church history. Priests Ion Vicovan and Mihail Săsăujan,…

Mar 19, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Bishop visits Nicaea, marking 1700 years since the First Ecumenical Council

On Monday, Bishop Iustin of Maramureș and Sătmar visited Nicaea, the city where the First Ecumenical Council was held 1,700 years ago. The visit is part of an extensive pilgrimage from February 6 to 11, covering several monasteries and historic sites in Cappadocia and Asia Minor. Among the significant stops was the church where the…

Feb 13, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Greek Metropolitan Iakovos welcomes collaboration with Ireland’s first Romanian Orthodox Bishop

His Eminence Metropolitan Iakovos, the Greek Orthodox Metropolitan of Ireland (Ecumenical Patriarchate), has expressed openness to collaborating with His Grace Bishop Nectarie, who is set to be enthroned on Saturday in Dublin as the first Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Ireland and Iceland. “I wish him all the best for the new assignment!” conveyed Metropolitan Iakovos…

Jan 8, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarchate canonises Eldress Gavrilia Papaianni

During its working session on Oct. 3, the Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate resolved to canonise Gerontissa Gavrilia Papaianni one day after marking her 126th birth anniversary. The decision to canonise St. Gavrilia was initiated by Patriarch Bartholomew and announced by the Metropolis of Leros, Kalymnos, and Astypalaia, which made the relevant appeal to…

Oct 7, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

HE Joachim of Bursa, message for the young ITO 2023 participants: „You are the torchbearers of our faith”

Metropolitan Joachim of Bursa transmitted a message for the closing of the International Meeting of Orthodox Youth (ITO) 2023, held in Timișoara, Romania, between August 31 and September 3. His Eminence participated in the event personally, as the representative of the Ecumenical Patriarchate, and in the end left a message for the young participants, saying:…

Sep 6, 2023Ștefana Totorcea