Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești

Vigil service for Saint Sofian of Antim. Bishop Varlaam: God has blessed us with a Saint from our times

On Monday evening, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești officiated the all-night vigil for Saint Sofian the Confessor of Antim, ahead of the local proclamation of his canonisation. In his homily, Bishop Varlaam emphasised the joy of honouring “a saint from our own days,” known personally to many faithful in Bucharest and beyond.…

Sep 16, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești urges students to seek spiritual growth at start of school year

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, where he spoke to the faithful about the Gospel of the rich young man, who, after his encounter with Christ, became His disciple. “It is no coincidence that today’s Gospel is read at the beginning of the…

Sep 2, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam and Prior Sabino Chialà reaffirm Orthodox–Catholic ties in Bucharest

On Thursday, May 15, 2025, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești,  Secretary of the Holy Synod, received Brother Sabino Chialà, Prior of the Roman Catholic Monastery of Bose (Italy), in an audience at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest. During their discussions, Bishop Varlaam emphasized the long-standing cooperation between the Romanian Patriarchate and the…

May 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Saint George named Patron of Liver Transplantation in Romania during National Transplant Day ceremony

Saint George the Great Martyr was named the patron of liver transplantation in Romania during an event held at the Library of the Romanian Academy on April 11. The saint was chosen because the first two liver transplant recipients in Romania were both named Gheorghe (George). The patriarchal decree was read during the National Transplant…

Apr 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Diplomatic and religious dialogue: Bishop Varlaam meets Georgian Ambassador in Bucharest

On Wednesday, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, Secretary of the Holy Synod, welcomed Her Excellency Tamar Beruchashvili, Ambassador of Georgia to Romania, at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest. Bishop Varlaam extended a warm welcome to the ambassador, emphasizing the strong and long-standing friendship between the Romanian Orthodox Church and the Georgian Orthodox…

Mar 5, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești praises Great Canon and calls for deeper repentance

On Monday evening, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești praised the Great Canon and its author, Saint Andrew of Crete, emphasizing the importance of both its message and regular recitation. After reading the first part of the Great Canon at the Patriarchal Cathedral, His Grace cited Archimandrite Teofil Părăian of Sâmbăta de Sus, who lamented…

Mar 4, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam urges rediscovery of Christian unity during Prayer Week celebration

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești represented His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel at the fourth evening of prayer for Christian unity this year, which took place Tuesday evening at the Armenian Archdiocesan Cathedral “Archangels Michael and Gabriel” in Bucharest. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, held worldwide from January 18-25, is focused this year on…

Jan 22, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

St. Stephen, Protector of diaconal ministry: Bishop Varlaam congratulates deacons for their mission

„The feast day of Saint Stephen the Archdeacon is also the patronal day of the deacons and archdeacons of our Church,” reminded His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, secretary of the Holy Synod, at the end of the Divine Liturgy celebrated on Friday at the Patriarchal Cathedral. „Therefore, today at the Divine Liturgy,…

Dec 30, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam celebrates feast of St. Spyridon, who continues to do good after his repose

On Thursday, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the “St. Spyridon” Metropolitan Cathedral in Bucharest, marking its patronal feast. Homily on St. Spyiridon’s Life and Miracles In his sermon, Bishop Varlaam spoke about the life and miracles of St. Spyridon, Bishop of Trimythous. “St. Spyridon was tirelessly active throughout his…

Dec 13, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate hosts Greek delegation led by Metropolitan Theologos of Serres and Nigrita

His Grace Varlaam of Ploiești, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop and Secretary of the Holy Synod, received a delegation from the Orthodox Church of Greece, led by His Eminence Metropolitan Theologos of Serres and Nigrita, at the Patriarchal Palace in Bucharest on Friday afternoon, December 6, 2024. Bishop Varlaam warmly welcomed Metropolitan Theologos and expressed gratitude for…

Dec 7, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Saint George of Cernica’s feast day: This celebration matters only if we leave determined to purify our souls

On Tuesday, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Cernica Monastery in honour of Saint George, the monastery’s founder. The Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop emphasized that the significance of this feast lies in the commitment to spiritual cleansing. “The celebration here is meaningful and fulfils its purpose only if we…

Dec 5, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu