Romanian Orthodox Church

Romanian faithful to jointly pray from their homes daily at noon

The Chancellery of the Holy Synod has announced a new program of prayer in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, beginning March 25, on the feast of the Annunciation, calling upon all faithful to join one another in common prayer daily at noon, each from his own home, while church and monastery bells ring out…

Mar 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

New measures regarding church services and social activities

Based on the Military Ordinance no. 1 of March 17, 2020, and the Military Ordinance 2 of March 21, 2020, which established successive measures to limit the freedom of movement and assembly of citizens, which also affects the public religious life of the believers, following the consultation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs on March…

Mar 23, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Transylvania Metropolitan urges prayer for loving protection of the Virgin Mary in times of pandemic

In addition to the recommendation to respect the regulations announced by authorities, Metropolitan Laurentiu of Transylvania advised the clergy to officiate every morning the Supplicatory Canon of the Theotokos and to read the special prayer for the cessation of the coronavirus pandemic. “We ask all the ministers of the altars in all the parishes and…

Mar 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Alba Archbishop Irineu sends encouraging message: Our ancestors surpassed many hardships with Christian dignity

Archbishop Irineu of Alba Iulia has sent a message of encouragement context of containment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which ‘is affecting the lives of some and limits the freedom of movement and action of others.’ The Archbishop of the historic city of Alba Iulia referred to the ancestors of the Romanian people who surpassed many…

Mar 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Coronavirus: Râmnic Archdiocese Seminary offers 200 rooms for quarantine

The Archdiocese of Râmnic has announced that it has made the dormitory of its Theological Orthodox Seminary available to the country’s health authorities to take in patients, serve as a quarantine zone or even provide accommodation to health professionals. A total of 200 rooms will be available for quarantine. “In the Archdiocese of Râmnic, as…

Mar 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Basilica Photos: Open air Divine Liturgy at Patriarchal Cathedral

Stills from the Divine Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts celebrated at the outdoor altar of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest on March 18, 2020. Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro / Raluca Ene

Mar 19, 2020Raluca-Emanuela Ene

Holy Synod Chancellery publishes updated guidelines for parishes and monasteries

The Chancellery of the Holy Synod Wednesday published a set of updated guidelines for all parishes and monasteries within the Romanian Patriarchate in compliance with the new measures announced by the Romanian Minister of Internal Affairs to prevent infection with coronavirus. All parishes and monasteries have to respect the measures ordered by the public authorities…

Mar 18, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

The Week in Pictures: March 9 – 15, 2020

Snapshots of Orthodox spiritual life seen through the lens of amateur and professional photographers on March 9-15, 2020. Commemorative events, anniversaries and ordinations were among last week’s events. Follow us on Twitter: @BasilicaNews Follow us on Instagram: @basilica.ro We would gladly include one of your photos depicting Orthodox life in our weekly selection. All you…

Mar 17, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Patriarch Daniel: Transform the period of medical crisis in a time to strengthen our faith and increase our love!

On the Second Sunday of Great Lent, the Church opens before us the well-known page of the Holy Gospel about the cure of a paralytic man. This gospel passage shows us the healing power of our Saviour Jesus Christ and highlights the importance of caring for one’s health. Referring to the four friends who made…

Mar 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Newly consecrated Bishop Benedict celebrates first Divine Liturgy in home town

One week after his ordination to the episcopate, His Grace Bishop Benedict of Bistrița, Romania’s youngest Orthodox hierarch, celebrated his first Divine Liturgy in his home town Sartăş. Addressing those present, the assistant bishop to the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac, and Cluj, confessed that after his ordination the first thing that came to his mind…

Mar 5, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop of Huși: We live in an age of technology and another type of fasting is required, a media quarantine

His Grace Bishop Ignatie of Huși cautioned that in an age of technology we should extend our fasting rules to technology in order to gain spiritual peace during Lent. ‘We live in an age of technology and another type of fasting is required, a media quarantine,’ the Bishop of Huși stressed during Forgiveness Vespers marking…

Mar 5, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu