Homilies

Patriarch Daniel hails Saint George as protector in times of trial at residence chapel feast

“Saint George became renowned, in both East and West, as a military saint who helps people in difficult circumstances,” Patriarch Daniel said Thursday during the patronal feast of the historic Saint George Chapel at the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest. In his homily, the Romanian patriarch recounted the life and martyrdom of Saint George, describing him…

Apr 24, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Apostle Thomas affirmed both Christ’s resurrection and divinity, Romanian Patriarch says

“Saint Thomas the Apostle confessed both the visible and tangible God and the invisible God. This is Thomas’s great transformation—that he confessed not only Christ’s resurrection, but also His divinity,” Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church said on Sunday at the historic “Saint George” Chapel of the Patriarchal Residence. He underlined that the Apostle…

Apr 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel says apostles’ mission is ‘a mandate for the whole world’ at Pascha Agape Vespers

“The sending of the Lord’s disciples is a holy mission. It is not about ordination for a parish, but about a missionary mandate for the whole world,” Patriarch Daniel of Romania said on Sunday during the Agape Vespers service of the first day of Holy Pascha, at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest. The Romanian Patriarch…

Apr 13, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel on St Mary of Egypt: Repentance and prayer transform sinners into Saints

“Prayer united with repentance and fasting helps sinners become saints, as shown in the life of Saint Mary of Egypt,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church said. The Patriarch took part on Sunday in the Divine Liturgy celebrated at the historic Chapel of the Holy Great Martyr George at the Patriarchal Residence.…

Mar 31, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Virgin Mary honoured as ‘living icon of the Church, obedient to God in humility’, Patriarch Daniel says

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church said on Wednesday that the Mother of God holds a central place in the history of humanity’s salvation, describing her as “a living icon of the Church, obedient to God in humility”. He underlined that the Feast of the Annunciation marks “the beginning of our salvation…

Mar 26, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Prayer united with fasting is liberating and powerful against passions and illness, says Romanian Patriarch Daniel

“Prayer united with fasting is necessary, living and powerful, liberating from passions, unclean spirits, illness and weakness,” His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of the Romanian Orthodox Church said on Sunday. In his homily delivered at the historic Chapel of the Holy Great Martyr George within the Patriarchal Residence in Bucharest, Patriarch Daniel highlighted the contrast between…

Mar 24, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarch: Self-denial and taking up the Cross lead to salvation

“Self-denial, taking up or accepting the cross and following Christ are the three conditions for being Christians and attaining salvation or eternal life through the union of man with God, the source of eternal life,” said Patriarch Daniel of Romania on Sunday. The head of the Romanian Orthodox Church explained that Christian life cannot be…

Mar 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: ‘The living Church is a communion of merciful love’

The living Church is a communion of merciful love, Patriarch Daniel of Romania said on Sunday, explaining that the four anonymous men who brought the paralytic to Jesus through the roof in the Gospel account symbolise the Church as a serving and compassionate community. “The Church prays not only for those present at its prayer,…

Mar 9, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel says icons invite us to prayer, holiness and communion on Sunday of Orthodoxy

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel underscored on Sunday the essential role of holy icons in the life of believers, stating that “icons invite us to prayer, to holiness and to communion with all the Saints of God.” The Patriarch of Romania attended the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, celebrated by his Patriarchal Auxiliary…

Mar 2, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Fasting is ‘a school of spiritual self-restraint and gradual liberation from selfish passions’

“Fasting is not a simple exercise in hygiene or aesthetics, but a school of spiritual self-restraint, a school of purification or gradual liberation from selfish passions in order to acquire the humble and merciful love found in Jesus Christ, Who became obedient unto death—even death on the Cross,” said Patriarch Daniel on Clean Monday. The…

Feb 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarch says fasting is for loving God, not seeking praise

Romanian Patriarch Daniel said on Sunday that fasting should not be practised “to be seen or praised by others,” but in order “to love God more.” The Patriarch of Romania took part in the Divine Liturgy celebrated at the historic chapel of St George at the Patriarchal Residence, where he explained the Gospel reading for…

Feb 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu