Orthodox news

Photo competition inspired by the Hagia Sophia basilica highlights the concept of “Wisdom of God”

The Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) and Orthphoto.net launched last week a photography competition inspired by Constantinople’s Hagia Sophia Basilica (“The Church of the Holy Wisdom of God”). Participants are invited to send images of temples dedicated to the Wisdom of God from all over the world, be they Orthodox or from other Christian denominations.…

Mar 17, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Orthodox Archdiocese to open addiction treatment centre in Suceava

Assistant Bishop Damaschin of Dorna proposed establishing an addiction treatment centre in the Archdiocese of Suceava and Radauti. The proposal was made during a Synaxis (Assembly) of the Archdiocese’s abbots, abbesses and spiritual fathers on March 8, 2021. The assistant bishop to the Archdiocese of Suceava spoke about the stages of healing addictions. He stressed…

Mar 17, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Egypt: Team led by Romanian archaeologist discover world’s oldest known monastery

A Franco-Norwegian team led by Romanian archaeologist Victor Ghica discovered the oldest archaeologically attested monastic site in the world. The site is 370 kilometers south-west of Cairo, Egypt, and it dates back to the 4th century. The discovery made at Tall Ğanūb Qaṣr al-‘Ağūz, in the al-Bahariya oasis, certifies that Christian monasticism was born in…

Mar 17, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Timisoara Archdiocese urges believers to help feed migrants during Lent

In recent months, Romania has become the main transit gateway for migrants, most of them from Afghanistan, who are trying to reach the countries of Western Europe in search of a better life. More than two-thirds of migrants crossing Romania are registered in the western city of Timisoara, many returning there after being accommodated in…

Mar 17, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Elder Cleopa’s coming canonization brings joy to hearts of orthodox faithful, says Abbot of Sihăstria

News of the coming canonization of Elder Cleopa (Ilie) has brought great joy to the hearts of the Romanian Orthodox faithful, and especially those who are parishioners of Sihăstria Monastery, where the great 20th-century confessor and elder labored and is buried. “Even though many already honor Fr. Cleopa as a saint, they still wanted their…

Mar 16, 2021Gheorghe Anghel

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew: Great Lent is also a quarantine

‘Some of you may wonder why the Church, in the midst of the current pandemic, would add to the already existing health restrictions yet another “quarantine,” namely Great Lent.’ “Indeed, Great Lent is also a quarantine, a period that lasts forty days,” wrote Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in his catechetical message at the beginning of Great…

Mar 16, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

The Week in Pictures: March 1-7, 2021

The arrival of Spring brings renewal in the soul of Orthodox Christians. Please find below our selection of Orthodox photos taken between March 1 and 7, 2021. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post:   View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Basilica News Agency (@basilica.ro) Do you want to be featured in our…

Mar 11, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Archbishop Irineu at Aiud: The blood of those unjustly imprisoned cries out to us to stop looking for a comfortable life

“The sufferings and the blood of those unjustly imprisoned call upon us, today, to stop looking for a comfortable life and to begin to seek first the Kingdom of God, as Christ urges us. They did this standing steadfast in front of the storm and confessing the truth, like giants of Romanian spirituality, who arouse…

Mar 11, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

A church will honour the memory of victims of Pitești Phenomenon: “the most terrible act of barbarism of the contemporary world”

Piteşti Prison of communist Romania was home to unspeakable horrors, where thousands suffered for their faith in Christ and political dissension. Now, the former penal facility is set to become the site of a future Orthodox church in honour of all who suffered there. The foundation stone for the future church was placed and consecrated…

Mar 11, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

The Face of God: It is the responsibility of all of us to preserve God’s creation

“The Face of God,” a recently released film, features Orthodox Christian perspectives from North America on climate change. The film presents reflections based on the experience and responses from Orthodox communities on the ecological crisis. Voices of clergy and lay leaders, scientists and theologians, as well as parish communities, focus on ecology, theology, and our…

Mar 11, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Canonization 2025: Bishop Varlaam reveals first three names

On Anti-Communist Political Prisoners Day, His Grace Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, general secretary of the Holy Synod, revealed some of the names proposed for canonization in 2025. They are priests and monks persecuted or martyred by the communist regime. In its February 25 meeting, the Holy Synod decided to prepare the canonization of twelve priests…

Mar 10, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu