Social

Bessarabia Orthodox bishops join charity campaign to support Easter meals for needy families

Hierarchs from the Metropolis of Bessarabia were seen on Saturday shopping in various commercial centers—not for themselves, but for the Easter meals of families in need. After expressing support last week for the national campaign “The Table of Joy” (Masa Bucuriei), the bishops are now directly involved in the initiative organized by the Diaconia Social…

Apr 14, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian parish plans neuromotor recovery and equine therapy center in Moldavia region

The “Saint Joseph the Merciful” Parish in the Bucium neighborhood of Iași plans to build the only neuromotor recovery and equine therapy center in the Moldavia region. The project is expected to serve approximately 150 beneficiaries annually, many of whom are children requiring rehabilitation and currently undergoing therapy at the center founded by Mihai Neșu…

Apr 14, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bucharest Parish marks Roma Day with aid packages and social services for vulnerable families

On Roma Day, the Mărcuța Parish in Bucharest distributed 150 aid packages containing food and personal hygiene products to people in need. “The Roma community is an integral part of our parish. We give them special attention on this day and throughout the year,” parish priest Dan Gheorghe told Trinitas TV. “To prevent social exclusion,…

Apr 14, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church representative attends Eurodiaconia General Meeting in Paris

Father Ciprian Ioniță, Patriarchal Counselor in the Social-Philanthropic Department of the Romanian Patriarchal Administration, is representing the Filantropia Federation of the Romanian Patriarchate at the General Annual Meeting of Eurodiaconia—a European network of churches and Christian NGOs providing social and healthcare services. While last year’s General Assembly was held in Bucharest and hosted by the…

Apr 4, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese funds deep-well project in remote Tanzanian village

The Social Department of the Romanian Orthodox Archdiocese of Germany, Austria, and Luxembourg, coordinated by Fr. Dimitrie Ursache, has funded the digging of a well in the village of Makombe, located in the mountainous Iringa region of central Tanzania. Nun Irina Savu, assigned to the Orthodox Mission Center in Kidamali, Tanzania, visited Makombe in mid-March…

Mar 27, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Iași Archdiocese to begin construction of Saint Emilia Maternal Center this spring

The Archdiocese of Iași plans to commence construction work on the Saint Emilia Maternal Center this spring. Metropolitan Teofan of Moldavia and Bukovina made the announcement in a video message marking the start of the Month for Life 2025 and was later confirmed by Pro Vita Iași in a recent Facebook post. A Shelter for…

Mar 5, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Bessarabian Orthodox priests trained to address domestic violence and gender stereotypes

A group of priests from the Metropolis of Bessarabia is participating in a training-of-trainers course titled “Domestic Violence and Combating Stereotypes in the Orthodox Perspective,” held on February 17-18. The training is organized by the Diaconia Social Mission of the Metropolis of Bessarabia in partnership with UN Women Moldova. One of the trainers is Father Ciprian…

Feb 18, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Work progresses on Romania’s largest hearing-impaired support center

Significant progress is being made on the largest center for hearing-impaired individuals in Romania, with the roof installation set to begin soon. The Archdiocese of Bucharest launched the project in 2022, and it is expected to be completed by the end of this year. The center is located in Bucharest’s Sector 5, at 7 Doina…

Jan 28, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Brothers of Christ: Metropolitan Ioan celebrates name day with homeless shelter beneficiaries in Timișoara

Last week, His Eminence Metropolitan Ioan of Banat marked his name day by sharing lunch with the beneficiaries of the Emergency Social Centre for Homeless People at Pădurea Verde in Timișoara, whom he called “brothers of Christ.” The metropolitan brought dozens of containers of warm food and dined alongside the shelter residents. “Do you see…

Jan 14, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Diaconia Social Mission of the Metropolis of Bessarabia wins Best Volunteer Management Award

The Diaconia Social Mission of the Metropolis of Bessarabia was named the organization with the best volunteer management at the 2024 NGO Gala. The awards ceremony took place on December 4 in Chișinău as part of the NGO Forum “Civil Society for European Integration,” organized by the NGO Council. “This recognition is due to the…

Dec 16, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

US Orthodox Bishops Assembly releases homelessness guidebook for parishes

A pastoral care and support guide for individuals who are experiencing homelessness or at risk of losing their residences has been made available by the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the United States to parishes. Theological insights are included in the publication, which is primarily focused on practical guidance for Orthodox missions that target…

Nov 29, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu