Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești

Bishop Varlaam explains the tradition of venerating holy relics: It does not lack biblical justification

On Monday, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the “St Petka” Church in the Drumul Taberei neighbourhood of Bucharest. During the service, the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop spoke about the tradition of venerating holy relics and emphasized the scriptural foundations of this practice. “This is not a gesture without…

Oct 15, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

“The Transfiguration of the Lord: A Call to Transform Our Lives” – Reflections by Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești

“The Transfiguration of the Lord is an exhortation for each of us to cleanse and transform our lives because He promises those pure in heart that they will see God,” said His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești on Tuesday. “The Hesychast Fathers, the great ascetics of Egypt, considered that the purpose of Christian…

Aug 7, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Christ dismantles prejudices and complexes, Bp Varlaam explains

Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Sunday at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest and underlined that the encounter between the Saviour Christ and the Samaritan woman illustrates the dismantling of specific prejudices and complexes. By speaking with the Samaritan woman, Jesus “overcomes this complex of the superiority of the Jewish…

Jun 5, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiești awarded Order of Crown of Romania

The patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploiești was among the personalities and institutions decorated by Her Majesty Margareta, the Custodian of the Romanian Crown, during a special ceremony at the Royal Palace in Bucharest on March 30. The Royal Order of the Crown of Romania in the rank of Knight was bestowed upon bishop Varlaam…

Apr 6, 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

Welcomed or rejected by people, Christ continues to knock patiently at the door of our hearts, Bishop Varlaam says

In his sermon on Sunday at the Patriarchal Cathedral, the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești contrasted the expulsion of the Saviour from Gadara with His warm welcome in Sychar and detailed how these two ways of relating to God have persisted in history until today. “The city of Gadara came out to meet Jesus…

Jul 19, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Gendarmerie celebrates its patronal feast. Bp Varlaam: Don’t forget to pray to the guardian angel

On Monday, the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Church “of the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel at the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Gendarmerie in the Bucharest. In his sermon, His Grace spoke of the work of angels in the history of salvation and urged believers never to…

Nov 9, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

We confess Christ by deeds: Bp Varlaam on feast day of Great Martyr Demetrius

His Grace Bishop Varlaam of Ploieşti on Tuesday spoke about the persecutions to which the Church was subjected in the past, but also about the current persecutions. Regarding the confession of Christ, the hierarch said that it must be fulfilled by the example of our lives, by works. On the feast day of the Holy…

Oct 27, 2021Aurelian 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

Bishop Varlaam: Teach children the importance of the cross!

On Tuesday, the patriarchal auxiliary bishop Varlaam of Ploieşti urged to teach children “how important the cross is in our lives and for the salvation of each of us.” Bishop Varlaam led the celebrations for the patronal feast of St Basil Church on Victoriei Ave in Bucharest. The church keeps the largest fragment of the…

Sep 15, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

The fasting season involves a spiritual struggle, Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam says

In his sermon delivered last Friday at the Patriarchal Cathedral, the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploieşti stressed that “the fasting season involves a spiritual struggle with ourselves, against the temptations that come from around us and, especially, against the spirits of evil.” His Grace said that the Mother of God comes to the aid…

Apr 20, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu