Romanian Saints

When images meet holiness: The holy relics of Saint Demetrios the New

The Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest keeps a very important gift of Romanians: the holy relics of Saint Demetrios the New, Protector of Bucharest. Received from General Pyotr Saltykov, the holy relics have been blessing Romanians for over 240 years. In 1786, the relics of St. Demetrios were placed in a wooden reliquary, clad in silver…

Oct 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

St Paisios of Neamt has founded a school of spirituality for whole Orthodoxy, Patriarch Daniel says during reliquary blessing service

Patriarch Daniel on Thursday blessed a processional reliquary containing a fragment of the relics of St Paisios of Neamț, saying that the Saint founded a school of spirituality useful for the whole Orthodoxy. St. Paisios of Neamț (Velichkovsky) organized and guided monastic communities at Dragomirna, Secu and Neamț monasteries in Romania. He translated the Philokalia…

Oct 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

This is how a rugby competition was named after an Orthodox Saint

Each of us knows, in our daily interactions, different locations or institutions that bear the names of Saints. In Bucharest there are St Catherine Street, St Andrew Park, St Panteleimon Hospital (etc.), and across Romania there are various places named after great people who were included in the synaxaria because of their righteous life or…

Sep 30, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Images of St Nicholas – Negustori Church in Bucharest painted by St Paphnutius the Iconographer

The painting of Saint Paphnutius (Pârvu) the Iconographer can be seen in the Negustori Church in Bucharest, dedicated to Saint Nicholas. The place of worship located on Teodor Ştefănescu Street no. 5 was the place where Father Dumitru Stăniloae served in the last 10 years of his life. The fresco of St. Paphnutius was covered…

Sep 18, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Hierarchs of Muntenia and Dobrudja propose seven new church orders dedicated to Romanian Saints

The Assembly of Bishops of the Metropolis of Muntenia and Dobrudja discussed the establishment of seven new church orders dedicated to Romanian Saints during a meeting held at the Patriarchal Residence on Monday evening. Patriarch Daniel, who chaired the meeting of the Metropolitan Synod, explained that there are many patriarchal orders, but there is no…

Jul 21, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian President proclaims Law establishing National Day of Brancoveanu Martyrs and of Awareness of Violence against Christians

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis on Thursday signed the decree proclaiming August 16 as National Day of Remembrance of the Brancoveanu Martyrs and of Awareness of Violence against Christians. This new National Day aims to inform the public, including young people, about the role of Christianity in the history of Romania and the ongoing nature and extent…

Jul 17, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel remembers St Constantine Brancoveanu as example of faith, source of light on 300th anniversary of translation of blessed relics

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel wrote a message marking the 300th anniversary of the translation to Bucharest of the ‘relics sanctified through martyrdom’ of one of Romania’s most significant leaders, martyrs and saints Constantine Brancoveanu. The message was read out Sunday, July 12, 2020, at St George the New Church in Bucharest, one of Brancoveanu’s foundations.…

Jul 13, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Putna Monastery holds celebrations of St Stephen the Great in absence of Abp Pimen for first time

For the first time since the canonization of Ruler Prince Saint Stephen the Great (1992), the Saint’s feast day was celebrated at Putna Monastery in the absence of Archbishop Pimen of Suceava, abbot Melchisedec Velnic noted Thursday. The celebrations took place in special conditions caused by the pandemic. The abbot of Putna also lamented the…

Jul 4, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Blessed Relics of St Gregory the Teacher carried in procession for first time in history

Priests and believers carried a wonderworking icon of the Theotokos and the blessed relics of the Wallachian Metropolitan Saint Gregory the Teacher during a 162 km long procession that passed through 17 localities on Saturday. This was the first time when the holy relics of Saint Gregory the Teacher were taken out of Caldarusani Monastery,…

Jun 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Clergy tour Bucharest with relics of Saint Demetrios the New to halt the coronavirus pandemic: Video

The holy relics of Saint Demetrios the New were taken out of the Patriarchal Cathedral and driven on the streets of Bucharest in a procession of cars on Sunday to halt the coronavirus pandemic. The restricted procession of three cars was led by the patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti. The holy relics and icon…

Apr 6, 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