Christian persecution

Christian persecution worsens in more than half of countries studied, ACN report finds

Persecution of Christians has worsened in 10 of the 18 countries examined in the report Persecuted and Forgotten? 2024–2026, published by the international charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN). The report, covering August 2024 to June 2026, found that none of the countries studied recorded an overall improvement. In many cases, conditions deteriorated…

Nov 4, 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

Christianity most exposed to intolerance worldwide, Romanian ambassador to Holy See says

“At present, Christianity is the religion most exposed to intolerance and discrimination worldwide, with the phenomenon of Christianophobia being quite widespread globally,” Romania’s Ambassador to the Holy See and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta said on the occasion of the International Day Commemorating the Victims of Acts of Violence Based on Religion or Belief,…

Aug 24, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian bishop says Christians face ‘polite persecution’ in Europe

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Paisie of Sinaia warned Thursday of both violent and “polite” forms of persecution facing Christians today, speaking at the chapel of Romania’s National Cathedral on the feast of Saint George. In his sermon, the hierarch reflected on Christ’s words from the Gospel of the day: “The hour is coming when whoever kills…

Apr 24, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Middle East patriarchs renew appeal 13 years after Aleppo bishops’ abduction

Patriarch John X of Antioch and Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II issued a new joint appeal on Wednesday over the 2013 abduction of two Aleppo bishops, calling the unresolved case “an affront of deceit” and renewing a plea for truth and Christian solidarity in the Middle East. The statement referred to the kidnapping of Metropolitan Paul…

Apr 22, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Open Doors says persecution hits 388 mln Christians worldwide, families face growing pressure

According to the World Watch List 2026 report published by Open Doors, religious persecution targeting Christians has a direct impact on family life, with converts facing pressure, abuse and marginalisation even from their own relatives. The report points to a worsening of anti-Christian persecution worldwide, both in scale and intensity, with direct consequences for family…

Jan 21, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Over 5 billion live under religious discrimination, interfaith dialogue seen as remedy

More than two-thirds of the world’s population lives in countries where religious freedom is restricted or violated, according to a 2025 report published by Aid to the Church in Need (ACN International). The document notes that interreligious dialogue and cooperation between communities can help reduce discrimination and promote social peace. Analysing the situation in 196…

Jan 15, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Canada’s Romanian Orthodox bishop urges stronger inter-church solidarity for Middle East Christians

Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada emphasised at the gala of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA) on November 7 that supporting Christians in the Middle East requires “greater solidarity among all Churches,” given the ongoing conflicts that keep their situation fragile. He added that such gatherings are not only fundraising events but also opportunities…

Nov 22, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Saint Constantine stood, not sat on a throne, at Nicaea Council out of reverence for persecuted bishops

At the historic patronal feast of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel spoke about the deep respect that Emperor Constantine the Great showed toward bishops persecuted by his predecessors. Recalling the 1,700th anniversary of the First Ecumenical Council, the Patriarch emphasized that Saint Constantine initiated and presided over the ecclesiastical event. “When…

May 22, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Study reveals 380 million Christians persecuted worldwide, top risk zones identified

The Open Doors organization has compiled the annual World Watch List 2025, ranking the most dangerous countries for Christians. A report covering the period from October 1, 2023, to September 30, 2024, reveals that over 380 million Christians face high levels of persecution and discrimination for their faith: 1 in 7 globally, 1 in 5…

Jan 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Paisie warns of rising Christianophobia and the need for spiritual unity

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Paisie of Sinaia represented Patriarch Daniel at the first evening of prayer for Christian unity this year, held Saturday at the Parcul Domeniilor-Cașin Church in Bucharest. The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, observed worldwide from January 18 to 25, is guided this year by the theme, “Do you believe this?” (John…

Jan 20, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu