Source: The Wheel Winter/Spring 2022 The Romanian Orthodox Church in the Age of Autocracy Ionut Biliuta In 2007, when Metropolitan Daniel Ciobotea of Moldova and Bukovina became the sixth Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, the theological and priestly worlds were brimming with expectation. A respected scholar of systematic theology with degrees obtained in the West, an ecumenical theologian, and a diplomat of the Church, he was the obvious choice for succeeding the old and beleaguered Patriarch Teoctist Arăpașu. Being the spiritual leader of one of the most significant Orthodox churches was no easy task in post-communist Romania. The Patriarchate…
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Source: Basilica.ro by Aurelian Iftimiu In gaining national independence, “the Romanian Orthodox Church played a significant role through the ministers of the holy altars, through its monastics and lay faithful,” Patriarch Daniel said. In a message for Romania’s Independence Day (May 10), His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel recalled the Church’s contribution to the struggle for gaining state independence, as well as the desire expressed by different personalities to build a National Cathedral “as a sign of thanksgiving to God for gaining Romania’s independence, a church building with the value of a national symbol.” This year marks the 145th anniversary of the…
Source: Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America Since Russian forces launched an attack on Ukraine on February 24, more than 100,000 refugees entered neighboring Romania. We ask you to help the refugees who continue to arrive in Romania and the Republic of Moldova. The funds raised will be directed to the Romanian Orthodox dioceses who are already involved in helping the refugees. May God bless you for your Christian love and concern exemplified through your prayers and generous donations. With blessings, +NATHANIEL, Archbishop The Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America
Source: Basilica.ro by Aurelian Iftimiu The Archdiocese of Suceava and Radauti announced on Friday night the measures taken to support refugees from Ukraine. The archdiocese’s photographer, Irina Ursachi, accompanied priests and volunteers from the Archdiocesan Administration and captured emotional pictures. An intervention committee for the situation of refugees was set up in the archdiocese, consisting of clergy of the Diocesan Centre, deans, exarchs and volunteer coordinators. The archdiocesan intervention committee is coordinated by Archim. Paraschiv Dabija, administrative vicar. Photo: Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți The archdiocese offers, from its own stocks, water, non-perishable food, household items and personal hygiene products, as…
Source: Orthodox Christianity [Bucharest, October 7, 2020] A new memorial house-museum has been set up in Bucharest, dedicated to Fr. Dumitru Stăniloae, one of the most respected Orthodox theologians of the 20th century. The museum was set up by the Old St. George parish on the ground floor of the parish house in the church’s courtyard, reports the Basilica News Agency. As the rector Fr. Sorin Tancău explained, “The initiative to organize a parish museum started from the fact that the famous theologian lived there for a while with his wife and daughter, Lidia, starting in 1947.” The memorial house, “brings to…
Source: Orthodox Christianity by Stefana Totorcea When the Romanian revolution took place in December of 1989, Fr Nicolae Tanase had been the rector of the Valea Plopului village church located in the Posesti Commune of Prahova County for ten years. He continues to serve there to this day. Here in Valea Plopului, during the darkest hour of the communist regime, he was able to build a church to replace the old one destroyed by the earthquake of 1977. During that period, it was practically impossible to obtain a building permit for the construction of a place of worship. Since they did…
Source: Euro News By Cristian Gherasim Google in Romania has been fined €2,000 after an internet user tagged the country’s massive new Orthodox cathedral with an insulting post on Google Maps. Romania’s National Anti-discrimination Council (CNCD) imposed the fine on June 17 after the People’s Salvation Cathedral in Bucharest was given a new tag that renamed the unfinished €110 million mega-project “The Cathedral for making a fool of the Romanian nation”. The cathedral, which was inaugurated in 2018 but is not expected to be finished until at least 2024, has been controversial in Romania. Critics say the project, which will be…
Source: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America On Friday morning, July 26, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew discussed the importance of observing the doctrines of the Church, as well as its genuine and authentic ecclesiology, as he celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church of Saint Paraskevi Pikridiou, which was granted by the Patriarchate to serve the Romanian-speaking community of the City (Constantinople). “Each place has one Bishop, regardless of ethnic origin,” His All-Holiness said emphatically. “Being baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, we live and grow and continue in the truly great Mystery of the…
Source: Basilica On Thursday, 21 February 2019, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church held its working session at the Synodal Hall of the Patriarchal Residence, under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, during which the following decisions were made: The Holy Synod appreciated the manifold and rich activities carried out in the Romanian Patriarchate marking the 1918 Great Union Centennial, culminating with the consecration of the Holy Altar of the National Cathedral on 25 November 2018. At the same time, the numerous social-philanthropic activities, summing up to over 114 million RON (approx. 24 million euros) were highlighted.…
Source: Public Orthodoxy by Fr. Marc Dunaway and Benjamin Dunaway This post is a two-part reflection by a father and son who traveled from Alaska to attend the inaugural conference of the International Orthodox Theological Association (IOTA) in Iasi, Romania. Fr. Marc Dunaway Many Christians are suspicious of “academic theologians,” and this is understandable. I remember as a young man eagerly tuning into TV documentaries about how the early Church grew or what the world Jesus lived in was like, only to realize in a few minutes that many of these supposedly “Christian” scholars didn’t actually believe in Jesus, or…
Source: Orthodox Christian Laity Happy New Year to all our supporters and friends! I had the privilege of representing Orthodox Christian Laity at the Inaugural Conference of the International Orthodox Theological Association (IOTA). The meeting was entitled “Pan-Orthodox Unity and Conciliarity.” It took place in the City of International Orthodox Academic Dialogue, Iasi, Romania, from January 9-12, 2019. What a prayerful and positive way to start the New Year! Over 470 Orthodox theologians, clergy, professionals and ecumenical observers participated, representing 40 countries. About 73 workshops were offered by at least 300 presenters. It has been called the largest gathering of…
Click here to go to IOTA’s YouTube Channel to view talks by Orthodox Christian scholars who participated in IOTA’s Inaugural Conference in Iasi, Romania in January 2019.