Orthodox news

Romanian Church’s philanthropy increases during pandemic year: EUR 38 mln

On Tuesday, the National Church Council approved the General Activity Report of the Romanian Orthodox Church for 2020, entitled: “In the fight against the pandemic, the Church has intensified prayer, philanthropy and the protection of human health.” The Church invested 38 million euros to provide support in the pandemic year: an increase of 17.6% (5.7…

Feb 25, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

“Let us strive to be like God by sharing in the humility of Christ,” Putna’s Abbot urges

Humility is the first lesson presented to us in the period of the Triodion, leading up to Great Lent and Holy Pascha. Humility must be the foundation of our spiritual life, for virtues can be acquired only if we “strive to be like God by sharing in the humility of Christ,” Archimandrite Melchisedec, the abbot…

Feb 25, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod elects assistant bishop to Deva Diocese

During its working session on Thursday, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church elected an assistant bishop for the Diocese of Deva and Hunedoara. Assistant bishop-elect Nestor Dinculeană, who until now was a vicar at the Diocese of Deva, will bear the title of His Grace Bishop Nestor of Hunedoara. Archimandrite Gherontie Ciupe, Diocesan…

Feb 25, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Nine months without Abp Pimen: His remembrance heals us from the pain of separation

Archbishop Pimen was remembered on Sunday, February 21, 2021, at Sihăstria Putnei Monastery and at the Archdiocesan Cathedral in Suceava. Nine months have passed since his repose in the Lord, and his remembrance heals us from the pain of separation, said the Abbess of Voroneț Monastery at the end of the memorial service officiated by…

Feb 25, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Nicolae: Romanians in America want to keep their identity through the Church

The generation of Romanians who emigrated overseas after 1990 “is the generation of Romanians who want to keep their Romanian identity through the Church,” said the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of the Two Americas in an interview with Lumina Newspaper. Therefore, “it is essential to continue to pray in Romanian, to keep our spirituality and traditions,”…

Feb 23, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Father Dan Damaschin speaks about the hardest case he encountered: If she departs, do we promise them to be well?

“I pondered for a long time whether or not I should talk about Veronica. Why? Because it’s by far the hardest case lately. Because so much pain invaded my heart, seeing that for seven years of illness, in which about three children were born, no man was found to help her and deliver her, when…

Feb 23, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

The Week in Pictures: February 15 – 21, 2021

Please find below beautiful sunsets, winterscapes, liturgical moments and other snapshots from the Orthodox world: it is our selection of photos taken between February 15 – 21, 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…

Feb 22, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

First liturgy after enthronment: Patriarch Porfirije offers the publican’s humility as a model of spiritual health

Serbian Patriarch Porfirije celebrated his first official Patriarchal Liturgy this Sunday at Saint Sava Cathedral in Belgrade. In his homily, he said that man’s natural state is illustrated by the publican’s humility. Only by following his model can we function healthily: “To be Christian means to be authentically human,” he said. “What seems great, powerful and…

Feb 22, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

The ladder that is difficult to climb: Triodion calls us to humility, Bp Timotei says

His Grace Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Saturday at Radu Vodă Monastery in Bucharest. In his homily, he spoke about the spiritual significance of the Triodion. It calls us “to humility, which can exalt man to God,” he said. This path is like a ladder that is difficult to climb.…

Feb 22, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

“The joy of being alone, a stranger, forgotten, humiliated, hit, but never defeated.” Commemoration of martyrs at Târgu Ocna

“If you read the poems and texts of those who suffered in communist prisons, you will see that every word they uttered reflects another way to rejoice. The joy of being alone, a stranger, forgotten, kneeling, hit, but never defeated,” said Archimandrite Pimen Costea, administrative vicar of the Archdiocese of Roman and Bacău Thursday, February…

Feb 22, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

The mission of the Church is to build peace, new Serbian Patriarch says at enthronement ceremony

Metropolitan Porfirije Perić officially became the 46th Patriarch on the Throne of St. Sava, after his enthronement as the new Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovac and Patriarch of Serbia Hundreds gathered on Friday at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Belgrade to attend the enthronement ceremony of His Beatitude Porfirije, the new Patriarch of the Serbian…

Feb 22, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu