Romanian Saints

Relics of St Elizabeth exhumed at Pasărea Monastery, bishop praises her example

“The face of Schema-nun Elisabeta (Lazăr) shines like the example and life of the hermits of old. She urges each of us to value time and dedicate as much of it as possible to the Lord,” said Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova from the Archdiocese of Bucharest, on Friday, January 16, at Pasărea Monastery in…

Jan 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

A year in review: Key decisions of the Romanian Orthodox Holy Synod in 2025

In a landmark year marking the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church adopted decisions that reshaped the Church’s liturgical calendar, pastoral priorities and institutional life. From the canonisation of new saints to the consecration of the National Cathedral’s iconography and key administrative reforms, 2025 stood out as one…

Dec 23, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel marks name day, highlights hesychasm and National Cathedral chapel dedicated to Romanian ascetics

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel marked his name day on Thursday, the feast of Saint Daniel the Hesychast, on which occasion he spoke about hesychasm as God’s gift of uncreated light to those who call upon Him, as well as about the chapel located in the basement of the National Cathedral, placed under the patronage of…

Dec 19, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Greek Orthodox Synod urges honouring of newly canonised Romanian Athonite saints

The Holy Synod of the Church of Greece has called on all metropolises across the country to honour four Athonite Elders of Romanian origin, canonised this year by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. According to a document issued on Monday in Athens, the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople proclaimed the saints “in full accordance with the practice and…

Dec 19, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

First Orthodox saints to have lived in the 21st century are all Romanian

Amid the rush of daily life, you may have missed an interesting piece of information: Did you know that the first five Orthodox saints who lived in the 21st century and have since been canonised are all Romanian? The list includes Saint Sofian of Antim, Saint Dionysius of Colciu, Saint Petronius the Prodromite, Saint Antonina…

Nov 26, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel remembers four hesychast saints he knew, founders of Romania’s Patriarchate

During the opening of the Autumn Pastoral-Missionary Conference of the Archdiocese of Bucharest on Tuesday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel remembered four great hesychast elders and confessors of the 20th century — Saint Cleopas Ilie, Saint Paisius Olaru, Saint Dumitru Stăniloae, and Saint Sofian of Antim — all of whom he personally knew. The Patriarch said…

Nov 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

“A life of crucifixions and resurrections”: Metropolitan Irineu’s message at local canonisation of Saint Bessarion of Lainici

Metropolitan Irineu of Oltenia said on Sunday at Lainici Monastery that Saint Bessarion of Lainici received the crown of martyrdom and holiness for his life dedicated to Christ. Speaking during the local proclamation of the canonisation of the Holy Venerable Martyr Bessarion of Lainici, Metropolitan Irineu recalled that from a young age, “Saint Bessarion passed…

Nov 11, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

At Holy Synod session, Ecumenical Patriarch calls on Romanian Church to foster Orthodox unity

During a solemn Holy Synod session on Tuesday marking the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate and 140 years of autocephaly, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I urged the Romanian Orthodox Church to continue working for the unity of the Orthodox world. Addressing the gathering in Bucharest, His Holiness praised the “close, fraternal, and enduring ties” between the…

Oct 30, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate donates gilded silver reliquaries to Mount Athos for newly canonized Romanian Saints

The holy relics of Saint Petronius the Prodromite and Saint Dionysius of Vatopedi will be preserved on Mount Athos in gilded silver reliquaries donated by the Romanian Patriarchate. The reliquaries will be delivered to the Cell of Saint George at Colciu and to the Romanian Skete of the Honourable Forerunner (Prodromos Skete) by Athonite monks…

Oct 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew arrives in Romania ahead of National Cathedral consecration

His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople landed in Bucharest on Friday, around 1 p.m. at Otopeni Airport. He was welcomed by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania, accompanied by Archbishop Nifon of Târgoviște, honorary metropolitan and patriarchal exarch, Bishop Visarion of Tulcea, Bishop Siluan of Hungary, and Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești.…

Oct 24, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel explains continuity of holiness among Romanians through the link between Saints Demetrius and John Jacob

At the conclusion of the “Way of the Saints” procession held in Bucharest to mark the feast of Saint Demetrius the New, Protector of Bucharest, Patriarch Daniel delivered a message highlighting the spiritual connection between Saint Demetrius the New and Saint John Jacob of Neamț. He explained that the lives and witness of these two…

Oct 23, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu