Modern-day saints

Father Dumitru Stăniloae’s 120th birth anniversary

Today marks 120 years since the birth of Father Dumitru Stăniloae, one of the greatest Romanian theologians. Father Dumitru Stăniloae was proposed for canonization in 2025, when the Romanian Orthodox Church will celebrate 140 years of autocephaly and 100 years since obtaining the status of a patriarchate. A museum will be set up for the…

Nov 16, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

30th anniversary of Father Dumitru Staniloae’s blessed repose

Thirty years ago, on the night of October 4 to 5, Father Dumitru Stăniloae reposed in the Lord. The famous Romanian theologian is on the path to sainthood because he lived a virtuous life and endured torment for professing his faith during the atheistic communist regime. Priest Dumitru Stăniloae and several confessors will most likely…

Oct 5, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Banat Metropolitan reveals first icon of soon-to-be-saint Calistrat Bobu

During the diocesan assembly of the Archdiocese of Timisoara, His Eminence Metropolitan Ioan of Banat presented the first icon of Elder Calistrat Bobu, whose canonisation is being considered by the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church. Two years ago, the Holy Synod started the process of canonisation of several priests and monks who professed…

Jan 26, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Relics of soon-to-be canonised Romanian Athonite Elder exhumed

The Patriarch of Romania delegated Assistant Bishop Timotei of Prahova to attend the exhumation ceremony of the relics of Elder Dionisie Ignat, which took place at St George Cell of Colciu Skete on Mount Athos last week. The monks of Vatopedi Monastery, on whose territory the cell where Father Dionisie Ignat lived, unearthed the relics…

Nov 22, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Fr Dumitru Stăniloae remembered at his tomb: He said you can meet God in the reality of your life

At Cernica Monastery, a memorial service for Father Dumitru Stăniloae was held on Wednesday, marking 29 years after his blessed repose. Fr. Gheorghe Holbea, a professor at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest, presided over the memorial service with a number of hieromonks at the Monastery’s Church of St. Nicholas. Additionally, attendees prayed at…

Oct 7, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Oltenia Metropolis proposes three monastics for canonization

At its latest session at Lainici Monastery on August 6, the Metropolitan Synod of Oltenia discussed the proposals for the canonization of several holy men. During the meeting, the hierarchs approved the liturgical texts that will form the services for Fr. Gherasim (Iscu), Fr. Visarion (Toia), and Fr. John of Horezu, who are being proposed…

Aug 16, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Suceava Archdiocese shows plans for future skete of Elders Paisie and Cleopa at Vadu Negrilesei: VIDEO

A new video from the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți shows the impressive plans for the future Skete of Elders Cleopa (Ilie) and Paisie (Olaru). Both of these great 20th-century ascetics are among those who will be canonized by the Romanian Holy Synod in 2025, to mark the 140th anniversary of autocephaly and the 100th…

Mar 25, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Cell and spring of Elder Cleopas consecrated in mountains where he hid from communist regime

The memory of Elder Cleopas (Ilie), one of the greatest elders of the 20th century, who has been proposed for canonization by the Romanian Orthodox Church in 2025, was honoured in the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți on December 2 with the consecration of his mountain cell and a holy spring. December 2 marked the…

Dec 9, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

28th anniversary of Fr Dumitru Staniloae’s repose

Twenty-eight years have passed since Father Dumitru Stăniloae’s repose in the Lord. The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki first awarded him the title of Doctor honoris causa in 1976 on the recommendation of Athonite abbots. The theologian Olivier Clément called him “the greatest contemporary Orthodox theologian”, and the existentialist philosopher Emil Cioran said that “Philokalia is…

Oct 5, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Arad Theology Faculty rejoices in upcoming canonization of Fr Ilarion Felea

The approval of the local arguments regarding the canonization proposal of Father Ilarion Felea by the Synod of the Metropolis of Banat is a “gratifying fact for those who knew him, read his biography and pastoral-missionary theological work,” the dean of the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Arad, Fr. Cristinel Ioja, told Basilica.ro. “A joy…

Oct 4, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Synod of Cluj Metropolis approves arguments for Fr Liviu Galaction Munteanu’s canonization

The hierarchs of the Metropolis of Cluj, Maramureș and Sălaj met last week at the metropolitan residence in Cluj-Napoca. The agenda included the canonization file of Professor Rev. Liviu Galaction Munteanu, a martyr of the communist prisons. The hierarchs approved the local arguments for his canonization in 2025. His Eminence Metropolitan Andrei chaired the meeting…

Oct 4, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu