Modern-day saints

Relics of Saint Eulogia of Samurcășești exhumed, Bishop calls her an example of service

Venerable Evloghia Țârlea is, for the nuns of this monastery and for nuns throughout the Orthodox Church—especially within the Romanian Orthodox Church—“an example of service,” Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova said last Thursday as the relics of St Eulogia were exhumed at Samurcășești-Ciorogârla Monastery in Ilfov County. The saint, canonised last year by the Holy…

Jan 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

First Orthodox saints to have lived in the 21st century are all Romanian

Amid the rush of daily life, you may have missed an interesting piece of information: Did you know that the first five Orthodox saints who lived in the 21st century and have since been canonised are all Romanian? The list includes Saint Sofian of Antim, Saint Dionysius of Colciu, Saint Petronius the Prodromite, Saint Antonina…

Nov 26, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

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

Patriarch Daniel blesses reliquary ahead of local canonisation ceremony of Saint Sofian of Antim

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel blessed on Saturday the reliquary that will hold the relics of Saint Sofian of St Anthimos Monastery. The blessing service was officiated in the historic Chapel of Saint George the Great Martyr of the Patriarchal Residence, three days before the local proclamation of the canonisation of Saint Sofian the Confessor. On…

Sep 15, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania counts down 60 days to consecration of National Cathedral in Bucharest

Beginning Wednesday, August 27, only 60 days remain until the great consecration of the National Cathedral, scheduled for October 26, 2025, when Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew will come to Bucharest for this unique event dedicated to the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate. While construction teams are finalising the last installation works—particularly the fire suppression and smoke…

Aug 27, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

First Liturgy honouring newly canonised Bessarabian Hieromartyr Alexander Baltaga held in Călărași

The Holy Hieromartyr Alexander (Baltaga) of Bessarabia was commemorated on Friday for the first time since the local proclamation of his canonisation, in the “Saint Nicholas” Church in Călărași, the Republic of Moldova — the parish where the saint served for 54 years. The Divine Liturgy was celebrated by His Eminence Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia,…

Aug 11, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Chișinău to hold local canonization ceremony for Bessarabian Saints Heraclius and Alexander on August 3

The local proclamation of the canonisation of Saints Heraclius and Alexander of Bessarabia will take place on August 3 in Chișinău, the Metropolis of Bessarabia has announced. The solemn event will follow the hierarchical Divine Liturgy celebrated at the “Holy Apostles Peter and Paul” Church in the capital of the Republic of Moldova. The local…

Jul 25, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

16 saintly women to be canonized by Romanian Patriarchate, Patriarch Daniel announces

The Romanian Patriarchate will canonize 16 female saints in 2026, as part of the Commemorative Year of Holy Women in the Church Calendar, according to announcements made by Patriarch Daniel on Monday evening during the working session of the Metropolitan Synod of the Metropolis of Muntenia and Dobruja. A similar number of saints—16—were proclaimed during…

Jul 1, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Young Romanian Orthodox in America gather in New York for camp honoring 20th-century confessors

The Romanian Orthodox Youth in the Americas (ROYA) Camp took place at St. Demetrius Monastery in New York State, bringing together dozens of young people under the theme “The Saints of the Prisons.” In the context of the Commemorative Year dedicated to Romanian Orthodox spiritual fathers and confessors of the 20th century, forty Orthodox youth…

Jun 3, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Relics of Saint Seraphim the Enduring exhumed in Romania ahead of local canonization ceremony

The relics of Saint Seraphim the Enduring of Sâmbăta de Sus were exhumed on Saturday during a religious ceremony. The exhumation service was celebrated by Metropolitan Laurențiu of Transylvania, together with Bishop Andrei of Covasna and Harghita, Assistant Bishop Ilarion of Făgăraș (Archdiocese of Sibiu), and Assistant Bishop Sofian of Brașov (Archdiocese of Germany, Austria,…

Apr 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Relics of St Dometius of Râmeț exhumed: He offers great help through his prayers

The relics of Saint Dometius the Merciful of Râmeț were exhumed on Tuesday during a special service officiated by Metropolitan Laurențiu of Transylvania and Archbishop Irineu of Alba Iulia. The event was attended by members of the exhumation commission, Mother Apolinaria Barb, abbess of Râmeț monastery, alongside the monastery’s nuns and numerous clergy members. The…

Mar 19, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu