Dioceses

Restored Romanian Church reconsecrated in honor of St. Sophrony of Essex

Just one day after the feast of St. Sophrony of Essex was celebrated for the first time since his glorification among the saints last year, he was honored as the patron saint of a restored and reconsecrated church in a town in northwestern Romania. On Sunday, July 12, the old church in Sânmartin de Beiuș,…

Jul 14, 2020Sorin Ioniţe

Two candidates head to Holy Synod final election of new Archbishop of Suceava and Rădăuți

The assembly of bishops (synod) of the Metropolis of Moldavia and Bukovina gathered Saturday, July 11, for a working session in Iași during which two candidates were proposed for the vacant episcopal see of the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți. The archdiocesan see became vacant after the repose of 90-year old Archbishop Pimen Suceveanul of…

Jul 13, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Feast of Directress Icon of Theotokos celebrated at Neamț Monastery

Monastics and pilgrims gathered Thursday at Neamț Monastery in eastern Romania to celebrate the feast of the Wonderworking Icon of the Mother of God called the Directress. The festive Divine Liturgy was presided over by His Grace Bishop Calinic of Botosani, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Iasi. The day’s sermon was delivered by Fr.…

Jul 10, 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

Blue Quarantine Story: Illustrations by Romanian artist show harsh reality of doctors during coronavirus outbreak

The Romanian artist Luminița Pătrățeanu created mindful illustrations that reflect on the world’s current situation and capture the harsh reality of doctors who sacrifice themselves to take care of people. The illustrations went on display this week at the Municipal Emergency Hospital in Moinesti under the title ‘Blue Quarantine Story.’ The outdoor exhibition was opened…

Jul 3, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

In our Christianity there are no extremes, Archbishop Teodosie stresses

During his sermon on the patronal feast of the Orthodox Cathedral in Constanta Monday, Archbishop Teodosie of Tomis said that Romanians are ‘the Apostles’ batch of dough’ and that is why in Romanian Christianity there are no extremes. The Archbishop of Tomis noted that all the Apostles, except for John, have suffered a martyr’s death,…

Jul 1, 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

Timișoara Archdiocese donates house to victim of domestic violence with 5 children

Just days after the Huși Diocese of the Romanian Orthodox Church donated three houses to disadvantaged families as part of their “Joy is Home” project, the Archdiocese of Timișoara is doing the same. In the village of Babșa in Timiș County, the Archdiocese bought and donated a house to a mother with five children who…

Jun 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Neurosurgeon Stefan Mindea ordained to the priesthood: In perfect conditions, every doctor would be a priest

Archbishop Teodosie of Tomis on Monday ordained the renowned neurosurgeon Stefan Mindea to the priesthood at Vacarestii Noi Monastery in Constanta. The Archbishop of Tomis said that ‘science and faith have met’ in the person of the famous doctor ordained a priest for the church of Vacarestii Noi Monastery. Asked how he will reconcile medicine…

Jun 12, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Justinian Chira statue unveiled in Baia Mare

A statue was placed in the courtyard of the Orthodox Cathedral of Baia Mare in memory of Archbishop Justinian Chira of blessed memory. The monument was inaugurated on Sunday, June 7, after the Divine Liturgy on the occasion of the patronal feast of the place of worship, the Diocese of Maramureş and Sătmar reports. ‘His…

Jun 11, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Huși Bishop remembers Fr. Mina Dobzeu as ‘a brave confessor of Christ in hostile times’

Bishop Ignatie of Huși remembered Archimandrite Mina Dobzeu as ‘a brave confessor of Christ in hostile times,’ during a memorial service last Saturday marking two years since the repose of the priest who baptised Fr Nicolae Steinhardt during communism. “After reading Father Mina’s Securitate file – which we intend to publish in full so that…

Jun 11, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu