Orthodox news

June 1 – Children’s Day

Children’s Day is a national holiday celebrated in Romania and it is held on June 1 every year. Children’s Day is not just an event in Romania, it is also celebrated in many different countries and is an official UN global observance. Children’s Day is an international celebration intended to bring nations together to promote child welfare,…

Jun 1, 2020Iulian Dumitraşcu

Patriarch Daniel calls Christian family an icon of God’s love in the world, praises family role during pandemic

In a message for the Sunday of Parents and Children (June 7), Patriarch Daniel emphasizes the fundamental role that the family played during the coronavirus pandemic. His Beatitude called the family “a natural environment for raising and educating children for life.” “During this period, the time spent by parents with their children was greatly appreciated,…

May 29, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

At the Ascension, Christ shows that heavenly glory is man’s final destination, Patriarch of Romania says

The Patriarch of Romania revealed the ‘deep spiritual meanings of the Ascension of the Lord’ during a sermon held Thursday at St George’s Chapel of his patriarchal residence. ‘Since the Ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ into heaven in glory is not a simple ascension to heaven, but one in glory, we understand that the…

May 29, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Mons, Belgium: Commemorative service for the Romanian soldiers

On Thursday, May 28 2020, Orthodox Christians worldwide celebrated the Ascension of the Lord. In the Romanian Orthodox Church this feast day is also a commemoration day of all the heroes of the nation.  In Belgium, this occasion was marked at the Military Cemetery in Mons, where a commemorative service was served by Rev. Fr.…

May 28, 2020Sorin Ioniţe

Metropolitan Nicolae and the US canonical bishops: The faithful’s participation to religious services is essential for society

Metropolitan Nicolae and the fellow members of the Executive Committee of the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States of America (ACOB-USA) sent an appeal to several governors to insist on the equitable treatment of religion in the reopening of their states. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas stood by…

May 27, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Bucharest Transport Company | Travel fares can be paid with contactless banking cards during the travel

The Bucharest Transport Company (STB) has announced that fares can be paid by contactless banking card during the travel. The Bucharest City Mayor, Gabriela Firea, explained that the project, implemented in cooperation with BCR Bank, aims to install last-generation validators on all the new vehicles. The devices are already functional on the Express routes 780,…

May 27, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Churches across Romania will ring their bells at noon on Thursday to commemorate Heroes’ Day

Memorial services will be held Thursday, May 28, 2020, in all cathedrals, churches, monasteries, cemeteries and at all heroes’ monuments across Romania and abroad to mark the feast of the Ascension of the Lord and National Heroes’ Day. The services will be officiated after the Divine Liturgy in compliance with current regulations in the national…

May 27, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Suceava priests dressed in white overalls carry Archbishop Pimen’s coffin

Six priests from Suceava’s Archdiocese and two employees of a funeral company dressed in white overalls and wearing protective gloves carried the coffin of Archbishop Pimen during his funeral. The 90-year-old Archbishop of Suceava and Radauti died last week after testing positive for the new coronavirus. One of the priests was Fr. Bogdan Cojoleanca, the…

May 27, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

New smartphone app opens famed Greek Monasteries to the world

Locked-down would-be tourists who are longing to visit Greece can still enjoy the magnificent views of the Meteora monasteries and even walk alongside the monks of Mount Athos using a new app called “VR Pilgrim.” Just by using their own smartphone, tourists can enjoy 360-degree views of two of Greece’s most spectacular sites, the Meteora…

May 26, 2020Sorin Ioniţe

The Week in Pictures: May 18 – 24, 2020

The Orthodox world rejoiced over the faithful’s return to the churches after the state of emergency expired and the sanitary rules were relaxed in Romania and many other countries. Many of our readers thought of June 1 and sent us photos of children. Please find below our selection of pictures featuring the Orthodox life captured…

May 26, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

The blind man becomes an enlightener of many, Patriarch Daniel says

Patriarch Daniel focused his sermon on Sunday, May 24, on the way God can work through an invalid person, the blind man who became an enlightener of many, a teacher for us and a confessor of Christ. ‘Sickness is not always a consequence of sin, but it can also be an opportunity for God’s secret…

May 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu