academic year

Patriarch Daniel urges balance of intellectual, professional, and spiritual education in message to students

Romanian Orthodox Patriarch Daniel marked the beginning of the 2025–2026 academic year with a message to students and professors, emphasising that intellectual and professional education finds its true fulfilment in spiritual life. In his blessing, the Patriarch prayed for God to enlighten the minds of students and professors, and to grant them progress in their…

Sep 30, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia urges responsibility as Republic of Moldova begins new school year

At the start of the new academic year in the Republic of Moldova, Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia issued a message calling for responsibility, maturity, and building life on strong foundations. In his message, he recalled that the first Romanian schools were born in the porch of the Church, where people always understood that education and…

Sep 2, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch of Romania urges intergenerational communion in new academic year message

In a message for the new academic year 2023-24, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel has urged students to pay more attention to older generations and be inspired by their “wisdom, patience and prayerful power.” The Patriarch of Romania suggested closer cooperation between the Church and universities to help “today’s young people cultivate with trust and love…

Sep 28, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Bp Varlaam to theology students: Society needs well-prepared priests

His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St Catherine University Chapel to inaugurate the new academic year at the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest on Monday, October 3, 2022. The patriarchal auxiliary bishop also officiated a Doxology, during which he prayed to God to bless theology students and…

Oct 7, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Besides intellectual instruction, young people also need prayer, Patriarch Daniel says as new academic year begins

At the beginning of the new academic year, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel sent a message to all students, urging them to combine study with prayer. The patriarchal message focuses on prayer as a way to enlighten the mind, warm the heart and enhance activity. His Beatitude also recalled that time is “the most precious gift…

Sep 27, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Varlaam to theology students: Use your years of study to ennoble your mind, soul and life!

“Dear students, we urge you to use the time of your years of study to ennoble your mind through study, your soul through prayer and your life by cultivating collegiality, sincere friendship, which you will keep for the rest of your life,” the patriarchal auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploieşti told theology students on Friday, October…

Oct 4, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel asks God, “the Source of Love and Wisdom,” to bless students and professors ahead of new academic year

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel extended his blessing to all students, professors and parents ahead of the new academic year 2021-2022. In his message, His Beatitude asked for God’s help upon students during their study, research, and other activities that develop and deepen “the scientific, educational, spiritual, cultural and practical values.” Blessing at the beginning of…

Sep 28, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s message for academic year 2020/21: “Students need more support from Family, School and Church”

In a message for the start of the new academic year 2020/2021, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel highlighted that given the health crisis caused by the new coronavirus, “young students need more support from the Family, School and Church to form themselves intellectually and professionally, but also spiritually and culturally.” The Patriarch noted that the Holy…

Sep 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s message for new academic year 2019/20

At the start of the new academic year 2019/20, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel sent a message to all the students and professors stressing that ‘integral education promotes scientific knowledge and the cultivation of spiritual values.’ His Beatitude extended his blessings to all students and professors in universities and postgraduate institutions, and wished them success so…

Sep 25, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Opening of 2018/19 academic year at Bucharest Faculty of Orthodox Theology

On Monday, October 1, 2018, the Patriarch Justinian Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Bucharest celebrated the opening of the 2018-2019 academic year. The opening ceremony was held at the Fr Dumitru Staniloae Hall of the Faculty. Prior to the opening ceremony, the patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiesti celebrated the Divine Liturgy at St Catherine…

Oct 2, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu