Society

Patriarchal Palace hosts International Military Conference of NATO, PfP Chief Chaplains

Delegations from 35 countries gathered for the first time in Romania at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest to discuss the role and mission of chaplains in the current geopolitical and religious context. On Monday, NATO and Partnership for Peace chief chaplains met at the church of Michael the Brave 30th Guards Brigade for a thanksgiving…

Feb 9, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Religious leaders call for increased support for refugees and host communities

Religions for Peace and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have assembled their Multi-Religious Council of Leaders for a two-day field mission to Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, calling for people of all faiths, across the globe, to increase their support of Ukrainian refugees and host communities. The event was attended…

Feb 7, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Let us not stop at words: Representatives of Orthodox Churches to the EU want to tighten cooperation

Representatives of Orthodox Churches to the EU want to go beyond discussions and messages and tighten cooperation for the common good. It was the message transmitted at the 2023 New Year’s Reception offered by the Committee of Representatives of Orthodox Churches to the European Union (CROCEU). The event was held on January 24, at the…

Feb 1, 2023Ștefana Totorcea

President Iohannis promulgates law establishing Day of 1848 Revolution Victory and Romanian Democracy

Last week, President Klaus Iohannis promulgated a law establishing the Day of the Victory of the 1848 Revolution and the Romanian Democracy, which also designated some localities as 1848 Revolution martyr cities. The law designates June 11 as the Victory Day of the Romanian Revolution of 1848 and the Romanian democracy. Prince Gheorghe Bibescu signed…

Jan 16, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

First census results show Romania’s population is shrinking, 85.3% remain Orthodox

Romania’s resident population dropped to 19,053,815 inhabitants, the first results of the 2022 census show. Compared to the previous 2011 census, Romania lost 1.1 million inhabitants. Of the total population, 8,185,049 are active people, down from 9,180,337 active people out of a population of 20,121,641 in 2011. Of the active population, 7,688,967 are employed, and 496,082…

Jan 9, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Republic of Moldova offers free Romanian language courses for adults

President Maia Sandu announced that adults who belong to national minorities in the Republic of Moldova would benefit from free Romanian language courses starting in 2023. This will be achieved by expanding the Ministry of Education’s National Program for teaching the Romanian language to non-native speakers, until now only intended for children from national minorities.…

Jan 9, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Basilica News Agency Director meets with Patriarch Theophilos of Jerusalem

Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem received on Monday Aurelian Iftimiu, Director of the Basilica News Agency of the Romanian Patriarchate, who travelled to the Holy City to attend the Christian Media Summit 2022. “We spoke of the mission of the Basilica News Agency and His Beatitude referred to the good relations with the Romanian Orthodox…

Dec 13, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

On Romania’s National Day, UNESCO recognizes Romanian blouse as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

UNESCO has decided to inscribe the Romanian blouse on the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The application was made by Romania in cooperation with the Republic of Moldova, because the cultural practice is common to both territories. An amazing coincidence was that the decision was made in a session which started on…

Dec 1, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

Romania’s central bank issues coin marking Kretzulescu Church’s 300th anniversary

The Romanian National Bank (BNR) has issued a gold coin to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the building of Kretzulescu Church in Bucharest. The obverse of the coin features Bucharest’s Kretzulescu Church, the year of issue “2022,” the coat of arms of Romania, the denomination “100 LEI,” and the word “ROMANIA.” On the coin’s reverse…

Nov 29, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Annual report on intolerance against Christians in Europe draws attention to chilling effect

The Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination Against Christians in Europe (OIDAC) released its annual report in the context of the International Day of Tolerance (Nov. 16). It focuses on three main developments of intolerance against Christians in European countries: Anti-Christian hate crimes, self-censorship and negative stereotypes and treatment of Christians in the media. OIDAC provides…

Nov 23, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel officiates Doxology at Alba Iulia marking Coronation Centennial of King Ferdinand, Queen Marie

On October 15, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel presided over a Te Deum service at the Cathedral of Alba Iulia commemorating the 100th anniversary of the coronation of King Ferdinand and Queen Marie. The celebration began with the unveiling of a plaque commemorating the centennial of the Coronation on the west side of the cathedral’s bell…

Oct 24, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu