“The Transfiguration of the Lord is an exhortation for each of us to cleanse and transform our lives because He promises those pure in heart that they will see God,” said His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești on Tuesday. “The Hesychast Fathers, the great ascetics of Egypt, considered that the purpose of Christian…
The Metropolis of Bessarabia published impressions gathered from young participants at its Orthodox Youth Meeting ITO Bessarabia 2024. The event was organized by the Romanian Orthodox Parish “Saint Basil of Poiana Mărului” in Orhei, Republic of Moldova, with support from the Romanian government’s Department for Romanians Abroad. In the event feedback questionnaire, one young attendee…
On Tuesday, Patriarch Daniel participated in the historic patronal feast of Cernica Monastery. There, he spoke to the faithful about Christ’s glory, the reasons it was revealed on Mount Tabor, and the event’s significance. At the end of the service, the Patriarch of Romania was congratulated on the 37th anniversary of his monastic tonsure. The…
On Tuesday, Bishop Antonie of Bălți held a thanksgiving service to mark the 22nd anniversary of the Republic of Moldova’s official recognition of the Metropolis of Bessarabia. The service took place at the site of the future headquarters of the Diocese of Bălți, which will also include a cathedral. During the service, His Grace Bishop…
Last week, Adrian Lemeni, an associate professor at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest, addressed the young participants at the International Camp at Oașa Monastery. He stressed the importance of seeking and attaining authenticity in their lives. “Especially for you as young people, it is essential to have the courage of authenticity. Do not…
The Archdiocese of Iași celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Nemțișor Camp with special activities attended by more than 500 young people. The anniversary edition took place from July 22 to July 25 in the Friendship Glade at Nemțișor, a scenic area located in Romania, specifically within the Neamț County in the historical region of…
In July, the Diaconia Social Mission of the Metropolis of Bessarabia organized a summer camp for Ukrainian mother-child refugee pairs. The camp hosted 47 mothers and 62 children. According to a press release from the Diaconia Social Mission, the “Bridges of Solidarity” camp included activities to strengthen the bond between mothers and children, such as…
On Wednesday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel blessed twelve priests to become confessors (spiritual fathers) and elevated nine hieromonks to the rank of protosyncellus during a special ceremony at the historic Chapel of Saint George at the Patriarchal Residence. His Beatitudes addressed the clergy about confessors’ responsibility to exercise discernment in their pastoral duties, saying, “A…
On Sunday, July 28, His Grace Bishop Mihail, the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Australia and New Zealand, presided over the installation ceremony of Father Mihai Suciu, the new parish priest of St. Demetrios Parish in Brisbane. Father Mihai Suciu, who was ordained earlier this year, comes to the Brisbane community from New Zealand and brings…
At the beginning of the Dormition Fast, Metropolitan Nicolae of the Americas published a message describing the history and characteristics of this fasting season, which he described as the “appropriate time to read the Supplicatory Canon to the Mother of God and fervently ask for her help and protection.” His Eminence recalled that the Dormition…
The National Bureau of Statistics of the Republic of Moldova commended the Metropolis of Bessarabia for its assistance in organizing and conducting the 2024 Population and Housing Census. “Thanks to your support, data collection activities about individuals and their dwellings took place, which are extremely important and necessary for understanding the demographic, ethnocultural, and socio-economic…
“We are all called to weave a crown of good deeds, following the example of the Mother of God and the saints, by helping our brothers and sisters who are suffering at home and in hospitals, orphans and widows, the elderly burdened by loneliness, need, and frailty, and large families, combining good deeds with prayer,”…
The monumental ensemble “Heroes’ Way” by sculptor Constantin Brâncuși was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List on Saturday. The ensemble consists of the works “The Table of Silence,” “The Alley of Chairs,” “The Gate of the Kiss,” and “The Endless Column,” created by Constantin Brâncuși between 1935 and 1938. The National League of Women…
A study published this month shows that the number of conversions to Orthodoxy increased in the U.S. from 2022 to 2023. Most converts are aged 30-39 and are unmarried, with the majority coming to Orthodoxy from Protestantism, the research indicates. The study, conducted by the Orthodox Studies Institute at St. Constantine College in Houston, covered…
On Monday morning, Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova officiated the exhumation service of the holy relics of Saint Sofian of St Anthimos Monastery at Căldărușani Monastery near Bucharest. The venerable relics were placed in the cemetery church for a specific service before being transported to St Anthimos Monastery. “A specific rite was observed for such…
On Monday, Bishop Timotei of Prahova, the Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest, conducted a special service to exhume Saint Dumitru Stăniloae’s relics from the cemetery of Cernica Monastery. The bishop spoke about the desire of Saint Dumitru Stăniloae and other hierarchs and theology professors to “listen to the liturgy beneath the earth in…
Răzvan Mihai Clipici, the head of the Culture subdepartment of the Culture, Painting and Restoration Sector of the Patriarchal Administration, published an article with historical data about the priests Ilarion Felea, Ilie Lăcătusu, and Dumitru Stăniloae in response to various accusations that appeared in the public space after their canonization. Full text: Priests Ilarion Felea,…
Romania’s former Patriarch Teoctist Arapasu reposed in the Lord 17 years ago, on July 30, 2007. Patriarch Teoctist was born on February 7, 1915, in Tocileni, Botoșani county. He was named Teodor, being the tenth child of Dumitru and Marghioala Arăpașu. He went to Vorona Monastery as a novice in 1928 and continued to Neamț…
While attending the patronal feast of St Paraskevi Church in Constantinople last Friday, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew expressed his love for the Romanian community under His Holiness’s jurisdiction, as well as for the entire Romanian Orthodox Church. Additionally, the Patriarch of Constantinople announced that he was eagerly anticipating the events in Bucharest dedicated to the Centennial…
To mark the 2024 Solemn Year of pastoral care of the sick, Basilica.ro has compiled a selection of 25 quotes about suffering and healing from His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel. 1. “God desires to heal the whole of a person’s being; receiving His teaching is itself a condition for healing. From the Holy Scriptures, we clearly…