The Week in Pictures: May 25 – 31, 2026
The Feast of Pentecost, commemorating the Descent of the Holy Spirit, and the preceding week are reflected in moving images from across the Orthodox world in our photo feature covering the period May 25–31, 2026.…
Seven converts join Orthodox Church in Sweden as Bishop Macarie celebrates Pentecost baptisms
On Pentecost Sunday, His Grace Bishop Macarie of Northern Europe baptised six young people aged between 13 and 33 and a 50-year-old woman in Kalmar, Sweden. The new members of the Church were joined by…
Romanian Orthodox priest in Lisbon blesses three new Portuguese Police Officers
Fr Florentin Dobrescu, parish priest of the Romanian Orthodox community in Lisbon, blessed three newly appointed officers of Portugal’s Public Security Police (PSP) on Pentecost Sunday as they began their careers in law enforcement. One…
Romanian Orthodox Synod approves new Saints’ seasts, liturgical texts and academic programmes
On Wednesday, 3 June 2026, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church held a working session in the “Patriarch Teoctist” Aula Magna of the Patriarchal Palace under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel.…
Archbishop Timotei of Arad, oldest member of Romanian Orthodox Synod, turns 90
His Eminence Archbishop Timotei of Arad, the oldest member of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church, celebrated his 90th birthday on Thursday. He was born Traian Seviciu on 4 June 1936 in Timișoara…
Romanian Orthodox Synod accepts retirement of Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia
On Wednesday, 3 June 2026, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church convened for a working session in the “Patriarch Teoctist” Aula Magna of the Patriarchal Palace, under the chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch…
Digital Matericon: Women Saints of June
As part of the Romanian Orthodox Church’s Commemorative Year of Holy Women in the Calendar, Basilica.ro continues its Digital Matericon series, a monthly project dedicated to presenting the lives and spiritual legacy of women saints…
Pasărea Monastery to host local canonisation of two Romanian nuns
The local proclamation of the canonisation of St Philothea of Pasărea and St Elizabeth of Pasărea will take place on 5 June 2026. To mark the occasion, an extensive liturgical programme will be held at…
Fast-Free week underway: When the Apostles’ Fast begins
Orthodox Christians are observing a fast-free week, during which there is no fasting on Wednesday or Friday, before the beginning of the Fast of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. This year, the fast will…
Metropolitan Iosif Commemorates Romanian WWI Heroes at France’s Largest Romanian Military Cemetery
Romanian heroes of the First World War were commemorated by Metropolitan Iosif at Soultzmatt, France. The event was organised by several Romanian Orthodox communities in the region. The commemoration took place on Saturday at the…
Romanian women in history: Presbytera Elena Alistar, physician, educator and champion of Bessarabia’s Union with Romania
Elena Alistar, the first of seven children born to Fr Vasile Balan and Presbytera Elizaveta Balan in the village of Vaisal, Ismail County, was born on 1 June 1873. She married Fr Dimitrie Alistar, who…
Metropolitan Teofan, Estonian bishop highlight Holy Spirit’s work at Pentecost liturgy
On the Feast of Pentecost, His Eminence Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina concelebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Iași together with Bishop Damaskinos Olkinuora of Haapsalu from the Estonian Apostolic Orthodox…
Hon Metropolitan Nifon on Children’s Day: Children reflect God’s blessing upon the world
“Children are a testimony to the blessing poured out by God upon the world, renewing in our hearts an awareness of the greatness of the gift of life,” said His Eminence Hon Metropolitan Nifon, Archbishop…
Bishop Varlaam: All the Church’s work is accomplished through the grace of the Holy Spirit
Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Monday at the Patriarchal Cathedral, where he underlined that all the works of the Church are accomplished through the grace of the Holy Spirit…
Patriarch Daniel: Basilica Media Centre a gift from God to Church and Romanian people
His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, on Monday of the Holy Spirit, marked the patronal feast of the Basilica Media Centre by praising its role in communicating the life of the Church and promoting Orthodox values in…
