Orthodox news

Orthodox high school students lay garland of red carnations on Eminescu’s shoulders to mark National Culture Day

The students of the Orthodox Pedagogical High School “Anastasia Popescu” in Bucharest continued this year the tradition of placing a garland of red carnations on the shoulders of the statue of Mihai Eminescu in front of the Romanian Athenaeum to mark Romania’s National Culture Day. Prof. Monica Șerbănescu, the director of the high school, posted…

Jan 21, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Persecutions against Christians worsen during pandemic

More than 340 million Christians were severely persecuted in 2020 and the phenomenon worsened during the coronavirus pandemic, announced last week Portes Ouvertes, the Frech partner of Open Doors International. The numbers have gone up since the 2019 report, which found 260 million Christians persecuted globally. The organization monitors all the incidents, from daily soft…

Jan 20, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Poll: The Church remains the most trusted institution in Romania

A poll made by the Center for Urban and Regional Sociology – CURS between January 11-15 found that the Church remains the most trusted institution in Romania. The research report showed that 62% of the Romanians place a high and very high degree of trust in the Church. On the second place came local councils,…

Jan 19, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

The Week in Pictures: January 11 – 17, 2021

Winter’s cold and snow were not able to conquer the warm souls of the Orthodox faithful. Please see below our selection of photos taken between January 11 and 17, 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…

Jan 19, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Table Tennis Cadet World Champion: I’ve always enjoyed going to church

14-year old Darius Movileanu is the first and only athlete in Europe to win the Table Tennis World Cadet Championship. Besides being a successful athlete, Darius is close to the Church. “I have been singing in the church choir since I was very young. I’ve always liked coming to church and chant,” Darius told Pro…

Jan 13, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Banat Metropolitan celebrates name day by sending gifts to Timișoara prison, neuropsychiatric hospitals

On the feast of Saint John the Baptist, Metropolitan Ioan of Banat turned his attention to the inmates of Timișoara’s prison. Ten prisoners selected with the help of the penitentiary management received a financial aid from the Metropolitan. Five of the detainees are called John, the Metropolis of Banat noted. The money granted was transferred…

Jan 13, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Ieronim of Sinaia ordains clergy at Romanian Athonite Skete of Honourable Forerunner

The patriarchal auxiliary bishop Ieronim of Sinaia visited the Romanian Skete of the Honourable Forerunner (Prodromos) on Mount Athos for the feast of the Nativity of the Lord according to the unrevised Julian calendar. During the festive Divine Liturgy on Christmas Day, His Grace Bishop Ieronim ordained hierodeacon Teofil Covaci to the priesthood and monk…

Jan 13, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

The Week in Pictures: January 4 -10, 2021

While a part of the Orthodox world participated to the blessing of the waters on the feast of Epiphany, the other part celebrated the Lord’s Nativity according to the unrevised Julian Calendar. Both celebrations drew the photographers’ attention. Please see below or photo selection from the week January 4-10, 2021. Last week’s most-liked Instagram post:…

Jan 12, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

Romanian Bishop of Canada’s advice for 2021: Let the foundation of all our words and deeds be the word of God

Inspired by the words of St Basil the Great, Romanian Bishop of Canada Ioan Casian invites us at the beginning of the year ‘to have the right compass and the true inspiration in decision-making as we confess through the word that we are Christians.’ “ Let the foundation of all our words and deeds be the…

Jan 6, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Epiphany Holy Water frees us from passions, evil spirits, and difficult situations

“Epiphany Holy Water is a cleanser of spiritual and bodily sins, a sanctifier of the soul and body, but also of the space in which the Christian lives. It is a deliverer from evil passions, evil spirits and difficult situations,” Patriarch Daniel said on Epiphany Day. Therefore, Christians take this holy water on an empty…

Jan 6, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel performs great blessing of waters. 10,000 bottles prepared for believers on Epiphany

10,000 bottles of Holy Water were prepared on Tuesday afternoon to be distributed to the faithful on Epiphany Day at the Patriarchal Cathedral. His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel officiated the Great Blessing of Water at the outdoor altar of the patriarchal cathedral and explained how the Epiphany service and the distribution of holy water will take…

Jan 6, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu