Christian martyrs

Ecumenical Patriarch marks Romanian parish feast in Constantinople, honours modern-day martyrs

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I presided over the Divine Liturgy on Sunday for the patronal feast of the Romanian Church of the Holy Virgin-Martyr Paraskevi in Constantinople. “With the certainty of this life and of the universal resurrection, we honour the memory of St Paraskevi, who suffered martyrdom for her faith in the risen Christ,” His…

Jul 28, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church establishes Synaxis of Military Martyrs

The Holy Military Martyrs, venerated by the Church as protectors of the Romanian Armed Forces and models of Christian witness, will now have a common feast day in the Romanian Orthodox calendar. The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church decided last week that the Synaxis of the Holy Military Martyrs will be celebrated annually…

Jun 8, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox confessor Aspazia Oțel Petrescu remembered eight years after death

Aspazia Oțel Petrescu died eight years ago, on January 23, 2018. She was among the women who bore witness to Orthodox Christianity during Romania’s communist era. She was born on December 9, 1923, in Cotul Ostriței, in Northern Bukovina. Between 1944 and 1948, she studied at the Faculty of Letters and Philosophy of Babeș-Bolyai University…

Jan 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate unveils new icon of the Assembly of Romanian Saints for Centennial celebration

On New Year’s Day, during the proclamation of the Solemn Year of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate and the Commemorative Year of Romanian Orthodox Spiritual Fathers and Confessors of the 20th Century, a new icon titled “The Assembly of Romanian Saints” was presented, marking this jubilee year. The artwork, measuring 90 x 60 cm,…

Jan 6, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Varsanufie hails courage of Saint Menas: “He believed that without death, there is no resurrection”

On Monday, Archbishop Varsanufie celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the “All Saints” Chapel in Râmnicu Vâlcea, highlighting the life and profound conviction of Saint Menas the Great Martyr. The archbishop shared that Saint Menas “firmly believed that without death, there is no resurrection.” “Saint Menas was convinced that without struggle, there are no crowns; without…

Nov 13, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

International Conference “The Beginnings of Christianity in Romania” brings together theologians, historians, and archaeologists

The international conference “The Beginnings of Christianity in Romania” brought together theologians, historians, and archaeologists from Romania and Germany in Bucharest. One goal was to raise awareness in the West about the antiquity and uniqueness of Christianity in Romania. The conference, which took place at the patriarchal palace on September 16-17, focused mainly on Scythia…

Sep 19, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu