Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești

Romanian Orthodox Church honours military chaplains at National Cathedral ceremony

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești celebrated a thanksgiving service (Doxology) at the National Cathedral in Bucharest on Monday to mark Military Clergy Day in the Romanian Armed Forces. Representatives of the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and military personnel attended the service. Bishop Varlaam congratulated those serving in the country’s…

Oct 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam: Martyrdom remains a constant reality in the life of the Church

“Martyrdom is a constant reality in the Church, because it is the sign under which the life of Christ’s Church unfolds in the world,” Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești emphasised on Sunday evening. His Grace celebrated the all-night Vigil service in honour of St Demetrius the Myrrh-Gusher at the Patriarchal Cathedral’s outdoor altar in…

Oct 28, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Greek Deputy Foreign Minister meets Romanian Orthodox bishop to discuss Christian heritage and religious freedom

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești received Ioannis Loverdos, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hellenic Republic, at the Palace of the Patriarchate in Bucharest on Thursday, 22 October 2026. Her Excellency Evangelia Grammatika, Ambassador of Greece to Romania, and Eleni Kyriakopoulou, Director of the Deputy Minister’s Diplomatic Office, also attended the meeting. During…

Oct 22, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam: St Sofian was a prophet, apostle and spiritual father of Bucharest

“During the dark years of communism, Antim Monastery was a lamp that remained continually burning, a light of resurrection here in the heart of Bucharest, while St Sofian was a prophet, an apostle and a father of this city, to whom both the most accomplished intellectuals and ordinary people would turn, seeking his kindness, forgiveness…

Sep 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bucharest Central Detention Centre opens chapel dedicated to Sts Moses the Ethiopian and Demetrius the New

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești consecrated a chapel on Saturday at the Central Detention Centre of the Bucharest General Directorate of Police (DGPMB). Concelebrating were Archimandrite Ciprian Grădinaru, ecclesiarch of the National Cathedral Chapel; Fr Ciprian Ion Ioniță, patriarchal adviser; Fr Mihai Hau, honorary patriarchal adviser; Fr Ionuț Bărbulescu, Archpriest of Bucharest’s Sector 4;…

Sep 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop, Albanian ambassador discuss closer cooperation

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești met on Tuesday with Albania’s Ambassador to Romania, Enkeleda Mërkuri, at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest. During the meeting, the two sides discussed opportunities for academic and spiritual cooperation between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Albanian Orthodox Church. The Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop recalled Romania’s significant contribution to the…

Jul 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop praises Latin American mission as clergy begin formation in Romania

Clergy serving Romanian Orthodox communities in South America were welcomed on Friday, 17 July, at the Patriarchal Palace by Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, who described their missionary work as “truly admirable.” The delegation from Latin America is visiting Romania for a month-long stay at Putna Monastery, where the clergy will deepen their knowledge…

Jul 22, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam: All the Church’s work is accomplished through the grace of the Holy Spirit

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Monday at the Patriarchal Cathedral, where he underlined that all the works of the Church are accomplished through the grace of the Holy Spirit in the name of the Holy Trinity. The hierarch emphasised the cooperation of the Persons of the Holy Trinity, noting…

Jun 2, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Greek delegation visits Romanian Patriarchate to strengthen bilateral ties

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești received an official delegation from Greece on Tuesday at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest during a meeting focused on dialogue and strengthening relations between the two countries. The delegation was led by Deputy Minister of the Interior Konstantinos Gioulekas and included representatives of academia, local administration, professional associations and…

May 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Benedictine theologians visit Romanian Patriarchate: St Dumitru Stăniloae among pilgrimage readings

A group of students and professors from Pontifical Athenaeum of Sant’Anselmo was received on Thursday by Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest. The Benedictine theologians said that, during their pilgrimage in Romania, they plan to study the works of Saint Dumitru Stăniloae, one of the most influential Orthodox theologians…

May 29, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam says Church unity is preserved through true faith and prayer

“The unity of the Church is preserved through the confession of the true faith, but also through prayer, through supplication offered to the Holy Spirit,” Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești underlined on Sunday. His Grace celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral on the Seventh Sunday after Pascha, dedicated to the Holy Fathers…

May 25, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu