Patriarch's homilies

Patriarch Daniel: The icon is a call to pray with the Saints and foresight of the Kingdom of Heaven

Patriarch Daniel presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral on the Sunday of Orthodoxy. In his sermon, His Beatitude highlighted the three roles of an icon: to profess the truth of the Incarnation of the Son of God; to call Christians to prayer discreetly but insistently, and to offer a “prophetic, anticipated view,…

Mar 23, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Forgiveness is the first condition to enter Lent

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said that forgiving the mistakes of others is “the first condition to enter this inner ascent towards Resurrection, which is Great Lent.” The Gospel on the Sunday of Adam’s Expulsion from Paradise shows us that forgiving others’ mistakes is “essential” for us to receive forgiveness from God. “Through forgiveness, we humble…

Mar 17, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: People will be judged for inhumanity

“People will be judged for inhumanity,” Patriarch Daniel stressed during his homily on the Meatfare Sunday of the Last Judgement. The Patriarch quoted a homily by St. John Chrysostom, where the great hierarch imagines a continuation of the dialogue in the Gospel passage about the Last Judgment: “For I was hungry and you gave me…

Mar 10, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

It is unnatural and unworthy when we do not thank God for the gift of life and health: Patriarch Daniel

“It is unnatural and unworthy when we do not thank God for the gift of life and health and the benefits received from Him and when we do not thank the benefactors who helped us in life in various difficult times,” Patriarch Daniel said during his sermon last Sunday. In his speech at the Chapel…

Jan 21, 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 explains connection between Flight into Egypt and birth of monasticism: Christ turns exile into a blessing

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel attended the Divine Liturgy at the historical chapel of his patriarchal residence on the Sunday after the Nativity of the Lord. His Beatitude explained the gospel passage’s spiritual meanings about the Flight of the Child Jesus into Egypt in his homily. Egypt, a country of idolatry and slavery, would become several…

Dec 28, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Dainel at Christmas Liturgy: Let us bring gifts like the Magi!

Patriarch Daniel celebrated the Christmas Divine Liturgy in the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest on Friday. In his homily, Patriarch Daniel explained the significance of the Magi’s gifts and what type of ‘gold, myrrh and frankincense’ we can bring to the Infant Jesus and to our peers. Concelebrants for the Divine Liturgy included the Patriarch’s auxiliary…

Dec 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Saint Nicholas is a symbol of generosity and a friend of children: Patriarch Daniel

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel Sunday said that Saint Nicholas is a symbol of generosity and a friend of children. “Saint Nicholas is a helper of orphans, of the sick, of people in difficulty, but especially he is a friend of children.” The Patriarch said that during this period, children often confuse Saint Nick with Santa…

Dec 7, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Two weeks ahead of Nativity Fast, we listen to the most significant gospel passage

The Patriarch of Romania said that the Parable of the unmerciful rich man and Lazarus is the most significant of the gospel readings and was proclaimed last Sunday to help us prepare for the Nativity Fast. “The unmerciful rich man loses his salvation.” This is the conclusion of the parable with many spiritual meanings. “In…

Nov 2, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Is it difficult to love your enemies? We must free ourselves from their wickedness stored in our souls, Patriarch Daniel says

“Loving our enemies is a challenging thing,” stressed the Patriarch of Romania in his sermon delivered at the Chapel of the Patriarchal Residence on Sunday. “We often forget those who did us good: parents, friends, teachers, people who helped us in difficult situations, who promoted us in life. We don’t do good to those who…

Oct 6, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel explains liturgical gesture inspired by St Peter during miraculous catch of fish

The Patriarch of Romania on Sunday spoke about a liturgical gesture that the Church learned from St. Peter, who fell to his knees after the miraculous catch of fish, because he had been distrustful of the word of Christ, and said: Leave me, Lord! I’m a sinner! “That is why, today, when the ministers of…

Sep 29, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu