Romanian Orthodox Church

Romanian Orthodox Church condemns posters of doctors as saints. ‘A blasphemous act’

Vasile Banescu, a spokesman for the Romanian Patriarchate, denounced billboards depicting doctors and nurses as “saints” with coronavirus-shaped halos as a blasphemous “visual mistreatment of Christian iconography” on Wednesday. The posters, created by Romanian artist Wanda Hutira for the McCann Worldgroup ad agency’s “Thank you doctors” campaign and posted throughout Bucharest, have also offended the…

Apr 30, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate advocates for optional character of life education school programs

According to the law promulgated by president Klaus Iohannis on April 3, schools are required life and health education programs, including sex education classes, at least once per semester. The Romanian Patriarchate has advocated for the optional character of the classes, calling for the school curricula related to them to be elaborated according to moral…

Apr 29, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Pimen’s health condition has significantly improved: Patriarchate Spokesperson

According to the information sent today by the medical team that takes care of His Eminence Archbishop Pimen, his general health condition has significantly improved,’ the Romanian Patriarchate’s spokesperson told the Basilica News Agency on Tuesday. ‘Hospitalization and appropriate treatment are still required for a period that depends on the pace and evolution of the…

Apr 28, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Suceava assistant bishop calls for prayer for 90-year-old Archbishop Pimen after positive result

The assistant bishop to the Archdiocese of Suceava and Radauti urged the clergy and believers to join prayers for the recovery of the 90-year-old Archbishop Pimen who is hospitalized at Matei Bals Hospital in Bucharest after testing positive for coronavirus. ‘We have this spiritual duty to His Eminence Archbishop Pimen, as one who also carried…

Apr 27, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Church confirms €2.5 million so far in helping Romania overcome coronavirus crisis

In these days illuminated by the joy of Christ’s Resurrection, and by the pleasure of finding Orthodox Christians in communion and solidarity through the reliable support of people severely affected by the current pandemic, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel thanks the hierarchs, priests, deacons and believers of the Romanian Orthodox Church who responded to the call…

Apr 27, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

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

Patriarch Daniel: The marks of the Lord’s passion in His glorified body highlight the mystical connection between the Cross and the Resurrection

During the Agape Vespers on Easter Sunday, also known as the Second Resurrection, Patriarch Daniel spoke about the characteristics of the Saviour’s risen body stressing that the marks of His Passion remained in his glorified body. The Patriarch of Romania explained why the risen Lord passed through the locked doors to meet his disciples. ‘He…

Apr 21, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Basilica photos: The Lord’s Lamentations at the Patriarchal Cathedral – 2020

The Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești officiated the Lord’s Lamentations at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest on Friday, April 17, 2020. At the end of the service, His Grace led the traditional epitaph procession around the church. Follow us on Instagram: @basilica.ro Photography courtesy of: Basilica.ro / Raluca Ene

Apr 21, 2020Raluca-Emanuela Ene

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

Romanian Patriarchate reaches agreement with Ministry of Internal Affairs for distribution of consecrated Easter bread and Holy Fire to believers

The Romanian Orthodox Church Wednesday reached an agreement with the Ministry of Internal Affairs to allow church volunteers to distribute consecrated bread (Paști) and Holy Fire to believers on Easter night. The first form of the agreement signed on Tuesday was later amended by the two parts as epidemiologists expect the coronavirus pandemic to reach…

Apr 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s Easter Encyclical: Love has conquered death

In this year’s pastoral encyclical for Holy Pascha, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel highlights the mystery of Christ’s Resurrection noting that the faith in the resurrection ‘helps us not to lose our hope in the face of life’s hardships.’ ‘Let us ask more insistently for the help of the crucified and risen Christ, Who knows our…

Apr 14, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu