Aurelian Iftimiu

Chapel dedicated to Saint John Maximovitch in Southern Romania

His Grace Bishop Ambrozie of Giurgiu performed the consecration ceremony for a new chapel dedicated to Saint John Maximovitch the Wonderworker of Shanghai and San Francisco for Sts Peter and Paul Parish in Palanca in southern Romania. The consecration ceremony occurred two days before the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church resolved to include…

Jul 14, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Hawaii’s Myrrh-Streaming Iveron Icon travels to Mono Monastery on July 22-23

The Hawaiian Myrrh-Streaming Iveron Icon will visit the Romanian Monastery in Mono, Ontario, Canada, for a two-day celebration in honour of the Mother of God. The Romanian Monastery at Mono invites all Orthodox clergy and believers for a pilgrimage in honour of the Panagia Gerontissa that will include prayers, processions and spiritual lectures starting on…

Jul 14, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Preparations underway for 250th jubilee of the translation of St. Demetrius the New’s relics to Bucharest

July 13 marked the 249th anniversary of the translation of the relics of Saint Demetrius the New to Bucharest. Looking to the future, Romania’s capital and the Patriarchal Cathedral are preparing for next year’s 250th anniversary of the saint’s protection over Bucharest. Last year, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church decided to include…

Jul 14, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod elects two hierarchs, adds new Saints to Romanian Orthodox Church calendar

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church met for its working session at “Patriarch Teoctist” Aula of the Patriarchal Palace on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. The session was chaired by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. The Holy Synod elected by secret ballot the Very Reverend Archimandrite Paisie Teodorescu, patriarchal vicar, in the dignity of patriarchal…

Jul 6, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

He who sings prays twice: a Decalogue for Chanters by Archdeacon Mihail Buca

The founder of the Tronos Byzantine Choir of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, Archdeacon Mihail Bucă, proposed a Decalogue for Chanters (Psaltes) in the context of the Commemorative Year of hymnographers and church chanters. We reproduce below the set of 10 rules for church chanters proposed by the Protopsaltis of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest…

Jul 5, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Replica of Kato Xenia Monastery to be built in Cluj-Napoca

His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei of Cluj, Maramures and Salaj blessed the foundation stone for a new church that will replicate the architectural style of the Greek Monastery of Kato Xenia where a part of the Holy Cincture (Holy Belt) of the Mother of God is kept. The Metropolitan of Cluj officiated the blessing service on…

Jul 4, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Archimandrite Paisie Teodorescu elected patriarchal auxiliary bishop

During its working session on Tuesday, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church elected a new patriarchal auxiliary bishop. The Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop elected by secret ballot was Archimandrite Paisie Teodorescu, who served as patriarchal vicar and servant at the Chapel of the National Cathedral. Patriarch Daniel’s assistant bishop will bear the title of…

Jul 4, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate publishes bilingual office for receiving converts into the Orthodox Church

The Biblical and Orthodox Mission Institute recently published a bilingual Romanian-English version of the office for receiving heterodox individuals into the Orthodox Church. The publication aids parishes in the Romanian diaspora, where the number of people converting to the Orthodox faith is increasing. The new volume contains the English translation of the 2014 Romanian edition.…

Jul 3, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s former ambassador to Holy See Bogdan Tataru-Cazaban ordained a priest

Romania’s former ambassador to the Holy See, Bogdan Tataru-Cazaban, was ordained a priest during the Divine Liturgy for the feast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul at Radu Voda Monastery in Bucharest. The ordination to the priesthood was officiated by the patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti. The newly-ordained priest will serve at Bucur…

Jul 3, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

30th anniversary of Bârsana Monastery’s revival: “A love story between God and His people”

Twelve hierarchs and thousands of believers gathered last week at the Synaxis of the 12 Apostles Monastery in Bârsana in northern Romania to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the ancient monastery’s revival. His Grace Bishop Justin of Maramureș and Sătmar described the re-establishment of the monastery as “a love story between God and His people.”…

Jul 3, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

CEC elects Archbishop of Thyateira and Great Britain as new President

His Eminence Archbishop Nikitas of Thyateira and Great Britain of the Ecumenical Patriarchate was elected as president of the Conference of European Churches during its General Assembly held in Tallinn on June 19. Archbishop Nikitas is the coordinator of the Ecumenical Patriarchate’s Task Force on Human Trafficking and Modern-day Slavery and has served as chairman…

Jun 21, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu