Patriarch's homilies

Live the life of Christ: Patriarch Daniel explains the mystagogical meaning of Holy Week

The Feast of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem connects the Lenten period with the beginning of a mystagogic, mystical period, the Romanian Patriarch explained on Palm Sunday. “Until now, the period of forty days has been one of asceticism, hardships, and fasting,” His Beatitude said. Patriarch Daniel explained that “asceticism” was translated into…

Apr 12, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Forgiveness is a condition to make a good beginning for Lent

On Cheesefare Sunday, when the Church remembers Adam’s Expulsion from Paradise, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel attended the Divine Liturgy at St George Chapel of his Patriarchal Residence. In his sermon, His Beatitude explained why forgiveness is one of the conditions to make a good beginning for Lent. “By forgiving our neighbours, we crucify our selfishness…

Feb 28, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: The Tabor Light, perceived by the Hesychasts, is sought by every Christian enlightened at baptism

The light that appeared on Mount Tabor at the Saviour’s Transfiguration “is the light that every Christian enlightened at baptism by water and the Holy Spirit seeks,” Patriarch Daniel said Saturday. Fruit of prayer and a symbol of hesychasm, this light “is given to those who pray much and live a Christian life of fasting,…

Aug 9, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

It is not enough to know the Creed. We must also pray for the unity of the Church, Patriarch Daniel says

On the seventh Sunday of Pascha, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel spoke about the First Ecumenical Council of Nicaea, a remembrance that makes the connection between the feast of the Ascension of the Lord and the Descent of the Holy Spirit. “The Holy Fathers of the First Ecumenical Council taught and testified against the heresy of…

Jun 7, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Honouring the Saviour with objects of great price must not be put in opposition to helping the poor

Speaking about the anointing of the Saviour’s feet with precious myrrh, Patriarch Daniel emphasised during his sermon on Palm Sunday that honouring God with objects or gestures of great price should not be put in opposition to helping the poor. The Patriarch of Romania recounted the Sunday Gospel passage, which recalls how the sister of…

Apr 18, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Jesus Christ overturns the logic of oppressive selfish power and brings the logic of humble beneficent ministry

On the 5th Sunday of Lent, Patriarch Daniel said that “the Saviour Jesus Christ overturns the logic of oppressive selfish power and brings the logic of humble beneficent or helpful ministry; not selfish dominion should be the rule for the disciples, but humble service.” “The way of thinking of the Saviour Christ is not of…

Apr 12, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel on heavenly powers: They have different qualities and ministries. They take human form to communicate more easily

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel referred to the qualities and ministries of the bodiless powers during his sermon at the Chapel of the Patriarchal Residence on the feast of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel on Monday. The Romanian Patriarch explained that the term ‘angels’ is generally used to refer to all heavenly bodiless powers, while…

Nov 9, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel urges support for bereaved persons

“Let us not wait to be invited, just as Jesus was not invited to Nain, but He went to Nain to comfort, to bring relief to that suffering mother, telling her to weep no more,” Patriarch Daniel said on Sunday offering his reflections on the gospel passage from Luke 7:11-16 on the raising of the…

Oct 12, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Repaying evil with kindness seems unnatural for the fallen man

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel reflected on Sunday on the “unusual” command that the Saviour Jesus Christ gave in the Sermon on the Mount, that of loving one’s enemies (Luke 6:35). “We have an unusual command. No legislator in the world, throughout history, has ever commanded anyone to love their enemy. Therefore, the Saviour Jesus Christ…

Oct 5, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Christ does not ask us to carry the cross alone, Patriarch Daniel says

“Christ does not ask us to carry the cross alone, but to carry the cross following Him, that is, asking for His help and carrying the Cross with Him,” Patriarch Daniel said on Sunday. On the Sunday after the Exaltation of the Cross His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel offered his reflections on the four stages of…

Sep 21, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel to pilgrims at Putna: Believers feel the maternal love of the Theotokos. She is an intercessor for the whole world

“The Mother of God is an intercessor for everyone, but she is especially praying for virgins and mothers, because she remained an Ever-Virgin, and also for mothers or families because she breastfed and raised her Son Jesus Christ,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said on Sunday addressing the pilgrims at Putna Monastery. The Patriarch of Romania…

Aug 18, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu