Diaspora

Romanian Orthodox parish to acquire church where Italy’s first bishop was enthroned

Members of the Romanian Orthodox parish community in Lucca, Italy, signed an agreement last Friday to purchase the church where they hold their liturgical services. The event marks a particularly significant moment in the community’s history. On 8 May 2008, His Grace Bishop Siluan was enthroned in this church as the first Romanian Orthodox Bishop…

Oct 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian community in Malta promotes cultural heritage through new parish project

Romanians in Malta are promoting their traditions and cultural identity through a new project running from 1 July to 30 October, according to a press release. The initiative was launched by the country’s only Romanian Orthodox parish. The project targets Romanian families, children, and young people, aiming to strengthen their connection to their mother tongue,…

Oct 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian community in Malta to mark 140 years since Queen Marie’s arrival on the island

The Romanian community in Malta will mark the 140th anniversary of Queen Marie of Romania’s arrival on the island with a cultural event on Saturday. The future queen spent part of her childhood in Malta. The Romanian Orthodox Parish of the Nativity of St John the Baptist is organising the event in collaboration with Her…

Oct 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese in UK explores new charity partnerships and Filantropia UK initiative

Archbishop Atanasie of Great Britain and Northern Ireland welcomed Fr Ciprian Ioniță, Patriarchal Adviser and Coordinator in the Social-Philanthropic Department of the Patriarchal Administration, and president of the Filantropia Federation, as well as Igor Belei, Executive Director of the Diaconia Social Mission in the Republic of Moldova, to his residence in Enfield on Monday. Representatives…

Oct 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanians in UK urged to back campaign for Romanian-language GCSE

The Romanian community in the United Kingdom is urged to support introducing Romanian as an examination subject in the British education system. Campaign organisers are encouraging interested people to register their support to demonstrate genuine demand for the qualification. The initiative was promoted at a meeting held on 12 October at the Romanian Cultural Institute…

Oct 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox clergy in North America discuss strengthening family and parish life

Clergy from the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas discussed the family’s role in the Church’s life at their annual conference, held late last week at All Saints Parish in Scarborough, Toronto, Canada. The gathering opened with addresses by Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas and Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada. Fr Petru Neaga, parish priest…

Oct 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Iachint of the Pacific offers hope to grieving Romanians abroad: Christians weep, but with hope

Assistant Bishop Iachint of the Pacific of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Australia and New Zealand highlighted on Sunday the suffering of Romanians living abroad, who often face the pain of losing loved ones who remained in Romania. “Christians weep, but they weep with hope,” the bishop said. His Grace concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with…

Oct 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox community near Amsterdam buys church after nearly three-year effort

Romanians in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, have purchased the church they have been using since 2024. “The purchase has become a unifying force within our community,” Fr Ion Iuga, parish priest of the Romanian Orthodox community of St John Chrysostom in Amsterdam, told Basilica News Agency. The priest explained that the lack of a sufficiently spacious…

Oct 19, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanians in Newmarket, Ontario, honour St Paraskeva: Holiness is attained through patience

The faithful of the Romanian Orthodox Parish of St. Paraskeva and Prophet Elijah in Newmarket, Ontario, celebrated their principal patronal feast early last Sunday, with Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada in attendance. “Holiness is attained through patience. First and foremost, through God’s gift, through the ascetic struggle we undertake, and through receiving faith and the…

Oct 17, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox abbot travels 1,350 km to minister to small parish in Canada

Hieromonk Policarp Athenagoras, abbot of Canada’s only Romanian Orthodox monastery, visited the Orthodox community in Timmins, Ontario, in early October. The cleric made a round trip of more than 1,350 kilometres to join the faithful at the Dormition of the Mother of God Parish. The programme included prayer, liturgical services and meetings with members of…

Oct 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox community in Japan completes iconostasis at cemetery church

Romanians in Japan are continuing work on the church at the country’s first Orthodox cemetery, which they established in Minami-Alps, Yamanashi Prefecture. “Today, we managed to complete the iconostasis and install the icons painted in Romania by Andrei Neguș,” Fr Daniel Corîu of the Romanian Orthodox Parish in Tokyo reported on social media. The church’s…

Oct 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu