Romanian Orthodox Church

90-year-old Archbishop Pimen of Suceava and Rădăuți reposes in the Lord

Archbishop Pimen of Suceava and Rădăuți reposed in the Lord on Wednesday, May 20, 2020, at the Matei Balș Infectious Diseases Institute in Bucharest following a second heart attack. The archbishop died at 0:50 a.m. The 90-year-old Romanian Archbishop was transported to Bucharest by helicopter on April 20 after testing positive for the new coronavirus.…

May 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

First Sunday after state of emergency: This is how the pavement of church courtyards bloomed across Romania (PHOTOS)

This Sunday was the first Sunday Liturgy celebrated in churches across Romania with the participation of the faithful. Priests and parishioners found themselves with emotion and joy after the end of the national state of emergency. Many parishes prepared their courtyards with specific marks to help keep the social distancing requirements, drawing colourful flowers on…

May 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian priest donates blood plasma after recovering from COVID-19

After recovering from coronavirus almost one month ago, Father Ștefăniță Potra from Ilva Mică went to the Blood Transfusion Centre in Bistriţa to donate plasma to help critical Covid-19 patients. The priest who had officiated the funeral service for a coronavirus victim later tested positive for COVID-19 in April, reports Adevarul. The representatives of the…

May 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox priest wearing protective gear goes to COVID-19 patient at Timișoara infectious diseases hospital

At the request of a coronavirus patient, the Orthodox priest, who serves as chaplain at Timisoara’s infectious diseases hospital, put on the protective medical equipment and visited without any hesitation the person right in the hospital ward. Father Dorian Oprisor received the approval of the hospital’s management. ‘At Victor Babes Hospital, we treat not only…

May 18, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

In pictures: Believers meeting for first Sunday Divine Liturgy after national state of emergency

His Grace Bishop Timotei of Prahova presided over the Divine Liturgy at the baldachin next to the Patriarchal Cathedral on Sunday, May 17, 2020. This was the first Sunday Divine Liturgy people were allowed to attend after the end of the national state of emergency instated due to the coronavirus crisis. Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro…

May 18, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church’s guidelines for priests and faithful during state of alert

Considering that, from May 15, 2020, the state of emergency and the applicability of the Military Ordinances that limited essential aspects of the public religious life of the faithful cease, following consultation with the Romanian Government, the Romanian Patriarchate sends the following instructions to the cult units of the Romanian Orthodox Church regarding the access…

May 15, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Basilica Photos: First public Divine Liturgy after conclusion of national state of emergency

On Friday, May 15, 2020, believers were allowed to participate for the first time at the outdoor Divine Liturgy after the conclusion of the national state of emergency. Friday morning, people wearing protection masks attended the Divine Liturgy and the common Holy Unction officiated at a baldachin next to the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest. During…

May 15, 2020Raluca-Emanuela Ene

The Week in Pictures: May 4 – 10 2020

While the state of emergency instated in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic was coming to end, it was announced that, once it expires, the faithful would be able to participate in open-air religious services, provided they meet certain requirements. Last week seemed to be a preparation for this joy. Please find below our selection…

May 15, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Patriarch Daniel tells nurses they are ‘hands of God’s merciful love’

Patriarch Daniel issued a message for International Nurses Day referring to nurses as ‘the hands of God’s merciful love.’ His Beatitude praised the courage and dedication of all female and male nurses from Romania and abroad, ‘who combine the faith in God with love for their neighbour’ in their activity. ‘International Nurses Day, celebrated this…

May 14, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

We hope that we will meet again shortly at Church services, Patriarch Daniel says

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel Sunday expressed his hope that the faithful will be able to attend the divine services shortly. Especially during this period, ‘when many people suffer spiritually from anxiety and fear,’ church services are ‘a healing from solitude and restlessness.’ ‘In this period, we also suffer because our beloved faithful cannot physically, directly…

May 11, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romania’s first Metropolitan-Primate remembered as ‘a man who did a lot of good’ on 145th anniversary of repose

Romania’s first Metropolitan-Primate Nifon Rusaila was remembered as ‘a man who did a lot of good,’ during a memorial service held Tuesday at Radu Voda Monastery in Bucharest marking the 145th anniversary of the Metropolitan’s repose. ‘Metropolitan Nifon Rusaila was a man who did a lot of good. He fulfilled this commandment of helping others,’…

May 8, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu