Christian

Martyr Aquilina of Byblos in Syria; Triphyllius the Bishop of Leucosia (Fish permitted)

Orthodox Calendar, June 13 Holy Martyr Aquilina Anative of the Phoenician city of Byblos, she suffered under the emperor Diocletian (284-305). Her parents raised her in Christian piety. When the girl was only twelve years old, she persuaded a pagan friend to convert to Christ. One of the servants of the imperial governor Volusian accused…

Jun 13, 2026basilica.ro

Persecutions against Christians worsen during pandemic

More than 340 million Christians were severely persecuted in 2020 and the phenomenon worsened during the coronavirus pandemic, announced last week Portes Ouvertes, the Frech partner of Open Doors International. The numbers have gone up since the 2019 report, which found 260 million Christians persecuted globally. The organization monitors all the incidents, from daily soft…

Jan 20, 2021Ștefana Totorcea

For actor Jonathan Jackson, embracing Orthodoxy was not just conversion, it was “coming home”

American actor Jonathan Jackson granted to TRINITAS, the Television of the Romanian Patriarchate, an interview about his conversion to Orthodoxy and how he lives faith. Asked to describe Orthodoxy in three words at most, the actor chose “coming home”. He added: “to a place we’ve always known. I don’t really look at this like I’m…

Sep 18, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Over 9,000 Churches, Christian Buildings Attacked in Past Year: Open Doors

Leading Christian persecution watchdog nongovernmental organization Open Doors USA released it’s 2020 World Watch List Wednesday, an influential annual data report that this year highlights a drastic increase in attacks against Christian buildings and the imprisonment of Christians. The report, first launched in 1992, ranks the worst 50 countries in the world when it comes to…

Jan 17, 2020Gheorghe Anghel

Colosseum to be lit red for persecuted Christians

The Roman Colosseum will be illuminated by red lights later this month to draw attention to the persecution of Christians around the world, and especially in Syria and Iraq. On Saturday, Feb. 24, at 6 p.m. the Colosseum will be spotlighted in red, to represent the blood of Christians who have been wounded or lost…

Feb 8, 2018Sorin Ioniţe

Bucharest will welcome three Church leaders next week

At the invitation of His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel, the leaders of three Autocephalous Orthodox Churches will attend this year’s celebrations in honour of Saint Demetrios the New, Protector of Bucharest. His Beatitude Kirill, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia, His Beatitude Anastasios, Archbishop of Albania, and His Beatitude Rastislav, Metropolitan of the Czech Lands and…

Oct 20, 2017Aurelian Iftimiu

ITO2017 Welcoming Address by Met. Teofan: ‘It is an occasion for you to prove that despite many difficulties it is still possible to be a Christian, young and free’

Welcome address by His Eminence Teofan, Metropolitan of Moldavia and Bukovina, during the opening ceremony of the International Orthodox Youth Meeting, Friday, 1 September 2017. On behalf of the hierarchs, the parish priests, and the faithful in the Metropolis of Moldavia and Bukovina, I wish all those present: Welcome to Iasi! I welcome you, Your…

Sep 2, 2017Aurelian Iftimiu

Martyr Emilian of Dorostolum; Venerable Pambo the Hermit of Egypt

The Holy Martyr Emilian, who was a Slav, suffered for Christ during the reign of Emperor Julian the Apostate (361-363). Julian wanted to restore the cult of the pagan gods throughout the Roman Empire, and he issued an edict, according to which all Christians who failed to honor the pagan gods would be subject to…

Jul 18, 2017Gheorghe Anghel

Patriarch John X of Antioch: St Anthimos represents a loving icon, under which gather the faithful of the Churches in Romania, Georgia and Antioch

On the feast of Saint Anthimos the Ivirite (Iberian), 27 September 2016, His Beatitude John X, Patriarch of Antioch, presided over the Divine Liturgy officiated in an outdoor altar, next to the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest. His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, and Metropolitan John of Rustavi, delegate of His Beatitude Ilia II,…

Oct 4, 2016Aurelian Iftimiu