Patriarch's homilies

Patriarch Daniel explains spiritual meanings of the flight of the Holy Family into Egypt

“The flight into Egypt recounted by the Evangelist Matthew has many spiritual meanings,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel stressed in his sermon at Cernica Monastery, where he attended the Divine Liturgy on December 26. The first spiritual meaning is that “God takes care of every person, especially children who cannot defend or protect themselves.” Patriarch Daniel…

Dec 30, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

The Cross is the sign that unites heaven and earth and transforms suffering into the joy of Resurrection: Patriarch Daniel

“The Cross of Christ shows the humble and merciful love of the Holy Trinity. It is the sign that unites heaven and earth and transforms suffering into the joy of the Resurrection,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said on Thursday on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. Orthodoxy does not separate the Cross…

Sep 15, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s practical advice inspired by the Gospel: About food waste, environmental protection, crowd discipline

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel attended the Divine Liturgy at Pasărea Monastery in Ilfov County on Sunday and addressed the faithful, stressing the need to prioritise spiritual things over material ones. Referring to the Sunday’s Gospel reading about the multiplication of the loaves and two fish, His Beatitude emphasised that the Saviour preached to the crowds,…

Jul 31, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Before being a feast, our Pascha is a Person – Jesus Christ

“The Ressurection, before being an event, is a Person. It is Jesus Christ Himself,” said His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel during the Easter midnight vigil while reflecting on the Saviour’s words: “I am the resurrection and the life.” “The Jewish Passover remembered the Jewish people crossing the Red Sea, escaping from the slavery of Pharaoh, from…

Apr 24, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

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