Orthodox news

Romanian Orthodox Church marks 135th anniversary of autocephaly

On Saturday, the Romanian Orthodox Church marks its 135th anniversary of autocephaly. After Romania gained its state independence in 1877 and was declared a Kingdom in 1881, the prestige of the Romanian Orthodox Church increased, making necessary the formal recognition of its autocephaly, long denied by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. On November 23, 1882, the Holy…

Apr 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada urges prayers for the victims of the event in Nova Scotia

His Grace Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada has urged the clergy and faithful within his jurisdiction to pray in the coming days for all those affected – living or asleep, by the tragic event that took place in the province of Nova Scotia in eastern Canada:  Christ is risen! With great sadness, the Romanian Orthodox…

Apr 22, 2020Gheorghe Anghel

J.C. Larchet: The value of the Holy Communion does not depend on how it is offered to the faithful

In a recent interview, French theologian Jean-Claude Larchet, well-known to Romanians through his numerous books on illness and suffering, places the Covid-19 pandemic in historical context and discusses the challenges to religious practice which stemmed from it and spurred controversy among the Orthodox faithful. The extensive interview approaches hotly debated topics such as the issue…

Apr 21, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Patriarch Daniel at Easter Vigil: The crucified and risen Christ is the Healer and Liberator of humankind

Patriarch Daniel, April 19, 2020: ‘Christ’s Resurrection today is for us as always a source of light and peace, a source of joy, but also a source of spiritual power to fight the hardships of life, including to fight with the disease, the fear of death, and suffering, with everything that severely befalls us and…

Apr 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Pandemic journal, April 1-10 | New measures of support from the Romanian Orthodox Church in the COVID-19 crisis

In the second half of March and the first ten days of April 2020, the Romanian Orthodox Church invested over 2 million Euros (10 million ROL) in measures of support to combat the social effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.  Support actions continue, organized both at diocesan level and at grassroots level, in parishes who all…

Apr 19, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Prince Charles sends Paschal greetings to Romanians for Easter: Hristos a-nviat! (VIDEO)

The Prince of Wales has sent a video message for the Romanians, who celebrate Orthodox Easter. In it, he evokes the current health crisis and expresses the wish to travel again to Romania and also to meet again with members of the Romanian community in the United Kingdom. The message was recorded on Friday at…

Apr 19, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Holy Fire has descended in Church of Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem

The Holy Fire has descended in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. His Beatitude Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem entered the church a little after 1:00 PM, and after vesting and processing thrice around the Lord’s Tomb, he entered the Tomb itself at 1:45 PM. The Holy Light descended at about 1:50 PM,…

Apr 18, 2020Sorin Ioniţe

Foot-washing ceremony at Putna Monastery: Let us wipe off the dust of sin!

After a long pause during the communist period, the foot-washing ceremony was resumed at Putna Monastery starting with 1992, during the stewardship of abbot Iachint Unciuleac. The ceremony cannot be held everywhere since at least twelve persons are needed Archimandrite Melchisedec explained after washing the feet of his fellow priests at Putna Monastery on April…

Apr 18, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

We have the unique opportunity to do good and to consolidate parent-child relationships, Bessarabia Metropolitan says in Easter Message

In his pastoral letter on Holy Pascha 2020, the Metropolitan of Bessarabia urged Orthodox Christians to profess Christ’s Resurrection and to take advantage of the home isolation period to consolidate their family relationships, but also to do mercy, thus showing solidarity with those affected by the coronavirus pandemic. ‘It may be hard and uncomfortable for…

Apr 18, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s Easter Message 2020: The Lord’s Resurrection is a source of light and hope in our struggle with life’s difficulties

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel sent a video message for Easter in which he encourages the faithful to stay in communion of prayer. He asks for the Lord’s blessing over the doctors, carers and state leaders, whishing Romania and the world good health, hope and peace. The video and full text of his message: The feast…

Apr 17, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

As Orthodox believers are deprived of the Eucharist, Patriarch Daniel indicates other ways of partaking of Christ

As Romanian Orthodox believers are deprived of receiving Holy Communion in churches following the coronavirus outbreak, Patriarch Daniel said there are several ways to receive Christ in our souls spiritually. ‘Now only those who call priests home can receive the Eucharist,’ Patriarch Daniel said during his homily in an empty patriarchal cathedral on Maundy Thursday.…

Apr 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu