Romanian Orthodox Church

Romanian Patriarch offers reflections on Great Lent: from pagan training school to Christian repentance school

The first part of the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete was officiated in all Orthodox churches on Monday evening, March 2, 2020, marking the beginning of Great Lent. At the patriarchal cathedral in Bucharest, the Great Canon was read out by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania who spoke about repentance as the…

Mar 4, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: No one can enter Lent without forgiveness

“No one can enter into fasting, as a spiritual struggle for the cleansing of sins and the lightening of the soul, without forgiveness,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania explained in his homily at the Chapel of St. Gregory the Enlightener in the Patriarchal residence in Bucharest on the Sunday of the Expulsion of Adam…

Mar 3, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel sends pastoral message to strengthen faith and Eucharistic communion

The Press office of the Romanian Patriarchate published a communiqué on February 27, 2020, in the context of excessive media coverage of the epidemic caused by Coronavirus (Covid – 19) and following requests from some state institutions that the Church should take measures to prevent the spread of the virus and to reduce the population’s…

Feb 28, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

After installation, New Romanian Bishop Benedict of Bistrița says he wants to be a friend of youth

A new Romanian bishop was ordained on Sunday, February 23, 2020, at the Orthodox Cathedral in Cluj and installed as an auxiliary bishop to the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj in the presence of thousands. Consecrated at the age of 36, Benedict of Bistrita became the youngest Romanian Orthodox Bishop. He said that he…

Feb 24, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Râmnic Archbishop Varsanufie commemorates Roma who died in concentration camps, deportations and captivity

His Eminence Archbishop Varsanufie of Râmnic Thursday, February 20, 2020, officiated a prayer service for remembrance of the Roma who died in concentration camps, deportations and captivity. The memorial service was officiated at the Ascension of the Lord Church in Râmnicu-Vâlcea to mark 164 years since the liberation of Roma in Romanian Principalities. The list…

Feb 21, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania Gazettes updated statute for organization of Romanian Orthodox Church

The Romanian Official Journal February 10 published the updated Statute for the Organization and Functioning of the Romanian Orthodox Church that include all the amendments made by the Holy Synod between 2011 and 2019. Here are highlights from the most noteworthy modifications in the updated statute. Election of the Patriarch The changes brought to the…

Feb 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Funeral held of pioneering Irish Romanian Orthodox priest Fr Godfrey O’Donnell

The funeral Mass of Fr Godfrey O’Donnell (80) the only Irishman to be ordained a priest of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Ireland, took place on Monday at St Columba’s Church, Blakestown Way, in West Dublin. A total of 28 Romanian Orthodox priests from Europe and Ireland took part in the Mass, The Iris Time reports. From Derry, Fr…

Feb 18, 2020Gheorghe Anghel

Priest from Constanța building home for abandoned, disadvantaged children and struggling mothers

For years, Fr. Claudiu Banu of the Church of St. Menas in Constanţa in southeastern Romania has visited abandoned children in hospitals and children’s homes, offering them gifts with the help of the faithful. But he wanted to do more. Now, again, with the help of his faithful flock, Father Claudiu is in the midst…

Feb 14, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod elects assistant bishop to Cluj Archdiocese

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church elected the new assistant bishop to the Archdiocese of Vad, Feleac and Cluj during a meeting held at the patriarchal residence in Bucharest on February 13, 2020. The episcopal see became vacant after His Grace Bishop Vasile of Somes has requested and has been granted a withdrawal…

Feb 13, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

In pictures: Students, the friends of the Three Holy Hierarchs

The students of the Three Holy Hierarchs Theoretical High School in Bucharest honoured their patron Saints on Thursday, January 30, 2020, at the St. Nicholas – Ghica Church, by attending the Divine Liturgy officiated by the parish priest Vasile Gavrilă. On this occasion, the second edition of the Symposium dedicated to the spiritual patrons of…

Feb 3, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabia and Moldavia united in prayer on the feast of St Joseph the Merciful

Saint Joseph the Merciful was commemorated last Sunday at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iasi by an assembly of hierarchs including Metropolitans Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina and Petru of Bessarabia, as well as Bishop Antonie of Balti and the assistant bishop Calinic of Botosani. On Saturday evening, His Grace Bishop Calinic of Botosani led the…

Jan 31, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu