Agape Vespers

Oltenia metropolitan says ‘all creation is renewed’ at Agape Vespers in Craiova

Metropolitan Irineu of Oltenia officiated the Paschal Agape Vespers, also known as the “Second Resurrection,” on Easter Sunday at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Craiova, saying that “all creation is renewed” on this day. In his sermon, the metropolitan explained why the Resurrection of the Lord is regarded as the “Feast of feasts.” “The Resurrection of…

Apr 15, 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

Agape Vespers Gospel Readings in 9 languages: All nations are called to salvation in Jesus Christ, Patriarch Daniel says

“All nations are called to salvation in Jesus Christ,” declared His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on Sunday during the Vespers of the first day of Pascha, commonly known as the Second Resurrection. He was joined in the divine service at the Patriarchal Cathedral by His Grace Bishop Qais of Erzurum (Patriarchate of Antioch); Their Graces the…

Apr 21, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel explains why, after the Resurrection, Christ never met those who hated or beat Him

At the Agape Vespers on the day of Holy Pascha, Patriarch Daniel noted that the Gospel shows us the crucified and risen Christ actively working and willing to meet those who believe in Him and love Him. “After His resurrection from the dead, Christ did not meet with those who hated Him or beat Him,…

Apr 27, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel at Agape Vespers: We rejoice when we meet the risen Christ

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel officiated the Agape Vespers at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest on Resurrection Sunday, May 2, 2021. Based on the biblical text (John 20: 19-25), read at this service in several languages, the Patriarch of Romania noted that the disciples rejoiced when they saw the risen Lord. “That is why, when we…

May 3, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: The marks of the Lord’s passion in His glorified body highlight the mystical connection between the Cross and the Resurrection

During the Agape Vespers on Easter Sunday, also known as the Second Resurrection, Patriarch Daniel spoke about the characteristics of the Saviour’s risen body stressing that the marks of His Passion remained in his glorified body. The Patriarch of Romania explained why the risen Lord passed through the locked doors to meet his disciples. ‘He…

Apr 21, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel at Agape Vespers: Peace and joy are two gifts that bring gladness to human soul

During his homily at the Agape Vespers on Pascha Sunday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel reflected on the gifts offered by the Saviour Jesus Christ after his resurrection, saying that ‘peace and joy are two gifts that bring gladness to the human soul.’ ‘People who lack peace, who are always troubled and concerned, always feel unsafe,…

Apr 29, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel reflects on joy and peace at Agape Vespers on Pascha Sunday

On Pascha Sunday His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel officiated the Agape Vespers at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, during which he offered his reflections on joy and peace as two great blessings of the risen Christ. Concelebrants for the Agape Vespers included Bishop Qais of Erzurum (Antioch Patriarchate), the Patriarch’s auxiliary bishops Varlaam of Ploiesti and…

Apr 10, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

All nations are called to listen to the good news of Christ’s triumph over death, Patriarch Daniel says at Agape Vespers

The Primate of the Romanian Orthodox Church officiated Sunday, 16 April 2017, the Vespers of Love, during which the gospel passage from John 20:19-25 was read in 12 languages. Also present were Their Graces Qais Sadiq, Bishop of Erzurum (Patriarchate of Antioch), Ieronim of Sinaia, Assistant Bishop to the Patriarch, and Timotei of Prahova, Assistant…

Apr 16, 2017Iulian Dumitraşcu

Patriarch of Romania during Agape Vespers: “Divine Peace is the harmony built in the human soul by the Holy Spirit”

The first gift offered by our Saviour Jesus Christ to His disciples after the Resurrection was the peace. On the morning of His Resurrection, He uttered to the myrrh-bearing women: Rejoice! Fear not! Peace and Joy are two divine gifts that ought to be received with gratitude; they ought to be pursued and cultivated. When…

May 4, 2016Aurelian Iftimiu