Autocephaly

Georgian Church marks nine-day memorial for Patriarch Ilia II, highlights role in autocephaly recognition

Patriarch Ilia II of Georgia was commemorated on Wednesday, nine days after his repose, during a memorial service at the Patriarchal Sioni Cathedral in Tbilisi. The service was officiated by Metropolitan Shio of Senaki and Chkhorotsku, together with members of the Holy Synod of the Georgian Orthodox Church, in the presence of Georgia’s president, prime…

Mar 28, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

How the Romanian Orthodox Church became a Patriarchate: historians explain

A documentary produced by Radio Trinitas to mark the start of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate presents the evolution of the Orthodox Church on the territory of Romania until it achieved the status of a patriarchate, through the voices and expertise of two renowned professors of church history. Priests Ion Vicovan and Mihail Săsăujan,…

Mar 19, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Polish Orthodox Church celebrates a century of autocephaly

The Polish Orthodox Church marked its centennial anniversary of autocephaly on Wednesday. Following World War I, Orthodox Christians in Poland worked diligently to gain independence for their Church from the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1922, a synod was convened to proclaim the Polish Orthodox Church’s autocephaly, an initiative officially recognized by Ecumenical Patriarch Gregory VII…

Nov 14, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church marks 138th anniversary of autocephaly

On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, the Romanian Orthodox Church marks its 138th anniversary of autocephaly. After Romania gained its state independence in 1877 and was declared a Kingdom in 1881, the prestige of the Romanian Orthodox Church increased, making necessary the formal recognition of its autocephaly, long denied by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. On November 23,…

Apr 25, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Clarification regarding the decision of the Holy Synod of the Romanian Patriarchate to recognise the autocephaly of the Church in North Macedonia

On February 9, 2023, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church approved the recognition of the autocephaly granted to the Orthodox Church in the Republic of North Macedonia by the Patriarchate of Serbia through its synodal tomos issued on June 5, 2022. During the synodal session, the decision of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of May…

Feb 13, 2023Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church marks 137th anniversary of autocephaly

On Monday, the Romanian Orthodox Church marks its 137th anniversary of autocephaly. After Romania gained its state independence in 1877 and was declared a Kingdom in 1881, the prestige of the Romanian Orthodox Church increased, making necessary the formal recognition of its autocephaly, long denied by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. On November 23, 1882, the Holy…

Apr 25, 2022Sorin Ioniţe

Archbishop of Roman and Bacau hopes his predecessor Bishop Melchisedec Ştefănescu will soon be canonized

Archbishop Ioachim of Roman and Bacau expressed his hope that the canonization proposal of Bishop Melchisedec Ştefănescu, a former bishop of Roman, will be soon approved by the Holy Synod. His Eminence Archbishop Ioachim officiated a memorial service at the Archdiocesan Cathedral of Saint Parascheva in Roman on Bishop Melchisedec’s 198th birthday anniversary on Monday,…

Feb 16, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church marks 135th anniversary of autocephaly

On Saturday, the Romanian Orthodox Church marks its 135th anniversary of autocephaly. After Romania gained its state independence in 1877 and was declared a Kingdom in 1881, the prestige of the Romanian Orthodox Church increased, making necessary the formal recognition of its autocephaly, long denied by the Ecumenical Patriarchate. On November 23, 1882, the Holy…

Apr 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: The Church has promoted the Romanian people’s unity, freedom and dignity

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel stressed that the Church has promoted the unity, freedom and dignity of the Romanian people during a joint session held by the Romanian Patriarchate and the Romanian Academy at the Patriarchate’s Palace last Thursday. Addressing those present, the Patriarch of Romania pointed out the involvement of the Church leaders in the…

Jan 28, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

International conference: 8 centuries of the autocephaly of the Serbian Orthodox Church

In honor of the jubilee celebrating eight centuries of the autocephaly of the Serbian Orthodox Church (1219-2019) the Faculty of Orthodox Theology in Belgrade is hosting, December 10-14, 2018, an international scholarly conference dedicated to the event of independence of the Serbian Orthodox Church and eight centuries of its contribution to the history, theology, and…

Dec 11, 2018Florin Nicolaie

Best pictures from the meeting of Russian Patriarch Kirill and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartolomeu

His Beatitude Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and all Russia has arrived Friday morning at the Phanar district of Constantinople where the Ecumenical Patriarchate is headquartered. The Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinopole to discuss themes of common interest, while the dominant topic of the discussions will be the…

Aug 31, 2018Sorin Ioniţe