prison ministry

Bucharest Central Detention Centre opens chapel dedicated to Sts Moses the Ethiopian and Demetrius the New

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești consecrated a chapel on Saturday at the Central Detention Centre of the Bucharest General Directorate of Police (DGPMB). Concelebrating were Archimandrite Ciprian Grădinaru, ecclesiarch of the National Cathedral Chapel; Fr Ciprian Ion Ioniță, patriarchal adviser; Fr Mihai Hau, honorary patriarchal adviser; Fr Ionuț Bărbulescu, Archpriest of Bucharest’s Sector 4;…

Sep 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian, European prison chaplains meet to share pastoral best practices

Prison chaplains from Romania and several European countries gathered for the International Conference “Best Practices in Conducting Moral and Religious Activities in Prisons in Romania and Europe,” held last week in Timișoara, Arad and Deva. The conference opened on 30 June at Timișoara Prison with a Te Deum service officiated by Orthodox prison chaplains, led…

Jul 8, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox priests bring Easter light to inmates in Italian prisons

Romanian Orthodox clergy and faithful in Italy visited inmates at two Italian prisons on Bright Tuesday, causing tears to flow for several detainees. The Romanian Orthodox parishes of Fonte Nuova, Monterotondo, Roma 3, and Marcellina in Italy’s Lazio region visited the Rebibbia Nuovo Complesso penitentiary in Rome. Visit to Rome’s largest prison The visit required complex…

Apr 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Archbishop celebrates Divine Liturgy at UK prison, offers Paschal message of hope

Archbishop Atanasie of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Bright Tuesday, at Maidstone Prison in Kent. Attendees included Romanian nationals and detainees of various nationalities. The archbishop explained that salvation is not limited by external circumstances, and that Christ brings peace and a new beginning to…

Apr 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese joins UK faith network supporting prisoner reintegration

The Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Great Britain and Northern Ireland has taken a significant step in strengthening its social mission by joining The Welcome Directory, a UK-based interfaith initiative dedicated to supporting the social reintegration of people released from prison. The Welcome Directory is a charitable organisation that connects former prisoners with welcoming and safe…

Dec 16, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Benelux Orthodox Bishops discuss chaplaincy in Belgian Army and prisons, Religion classes in Dutch schools

Orthodox bishops in the Benelux met in Brussels on Tuesday for the 31st meeting of the Orthodox Episcopal Conference of the region. Key topics included Christian Orthodox religious assistance in the Belgian armed forces and prison system, as well as the potential introduction of Orthodox religion classes in primary schools in the Netherlands. The Conference…

Nov 6, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Veniamin marks 20 years of St. Barbarus Chapel, conveys message of hope for Ploiești Prison inmates

On Tuesday, Bishop Veniamin of Southern Bessarabia celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the “St. Barbarus” Chapel of Ploiești Penitentiary, marking 20 years since its consecration. During the service, Bishop Veniamin encouraged the inmates to use their prison time to draw closer to God. “This is a special institution, and it is essential to maintain love,…

Oct 30, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Bucharest Archdiocese, Prahova Probation Service sign agreement to help convicts reintegrate socially

Following on a number of agreements with local probation services, the Archdiocese of Bucharest of the Romanian Orthodox Church is actively assisting convicts in the process of social reintegration. The Archdiocese signed an agreement with the Bucharest Probation Service and the Ilfov County Probation Service in December, and on Monday, October 4, it signed another…

Oct 6, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești visits Rahova, Jilava prisons

On April 15-16, the patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiești visited Rahova and Jilava Prisons where he officiated the akathist hymn to the Theotokos and urged the inmates to intensify prayer and spiritual readings. “The employees present at the activities and the persons deprived of liberty received from His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, prayer cards and…

Apr 19, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu