Christmas 2019

Romanian Bishop visits Viterbo prison on Christmas, encourages inmates

The assistant bishop to the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy made a special effort to visit the Viterbo prison on Christmas Day. His Grace Bishop Atanasie of Bogdania was accompanied by Fr Walter Gabriel Andriuta and several volunteers from St Callinicus of Cernica Parish in Viterbo. The bishop officiated a trilingual service in Romanian, Italian…

Dec 31, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Husi Bishop spends Christmas night with homeless people

His Grace Bishop Ignatie spent his Christmas night with 23 homeless people at a social night centre in Barlad. The bishop brought warm food and dined with the homeless. He listened to their life story and sufferings and shared with them encouragements. “He served them delicious and still steaming food, and they urged the hierarch…

Dec 31, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

We offer gifts to Baby Jesus through the peers we help, Patriarch Daniel says at Christmas Divine Liturgy

‘Just like the Magi offered gifts to the Baby Jesus, we all those who bear Christ’s name are called to offer Him gifts through the peers we help,’ His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said during the Divine Liturgy held on Christmas day at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest. The feast of spiritual and material gifts Addressing…

Dec 28, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Sibiu Christmas Market among most beautiful in Europe

About Time Magazine recently declared the Sibiu Christmas Market as the leader from the continent’s five most attractive to visit this winter. “Known for its Germanic architecture and picturesque old town, the city’s medieval centre is transformed into a traditional Christmas market, complete with a canopy of lights overhead and beautiful fairytale-themed illuminations beamed onto…

Dec 11, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop of Maramures: Intensify good deeds during Nativity Fast. God gave us, let us give in return!

‘We are during the Nativity Fast, a sacred time, during which the first Sunday gospel readings relate about the danger of wealth, about the fact that it is not enough to combine fasting with prayer,’ His Grace Bishop Justin of Maramures said during his homily last Sunday. ‘We need to do many good deeds, especially…

Nov 29, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel shares practical ways to prepare for Christmas

In a society that tends to distort the spiritual significance of the holidays by encouraging consumerism, Patriarch Daniel explained on Thursday how to better prepare for the feast of the Nativity of the Lord. “By more prayer, by reading the Holy Scriptures, by a more frequent Confession and Communion, and with acts of mercy. Let…

Nov 25, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Romfilatelia unveils 2019 Christmas stamps

Romfilatelia has launched its 2019 Christmas stamp collection which this year features brightly coloured traditional Nativity scenes. The Christmas set includes two denominated stamps indicating 1,70 lei reproducing images from the manuscript ‘Akathist Hymn to the Mother of God’ kept at the Romanian Academy Library. The scenes shown on the stamps are summarized by Romfilatelia…

Nov 19, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Visarion of Tulcea calls for prayer and good deeds in Nativity Fast message

His Grace Bishop Visarion of Tulcea is calling on the faithful to pray and perform good deeds during the Nativity Fast. In this year’s Nativity Fast message, the Orthodox Bishop of Tulcea invites believers to unite the liturgical life with Christian philanthropy, thus demonstrating to be brothers and sisters in Christ. ‘The Church urges us…

Nov 19, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Nativity Fast Begins: Let us receive Christ in the cave of our souls

The Nativity Fast is one of four main fast periods throughout the ecclesiastical year. Beginning on November 15 and concluding on December 24, the Nativity Fast gives individuals the opportunity to prepare for the Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Saviour in the Flesh on December 25. By abstaining from certain food and…

Nov 15, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Husi Bishop says we should be addicted to the Bible like we are to our smartphones

‘It would be wonderful if the dependence on the word of God were at least directly proportional to the addiction to our smartphone,’ wrote Wednesday His Grace Bishop Ignatie of Husi on his Instagram account marking the Bible Day. He stressed that we are in ‘the age of word inflation,’ an inflation which lacks the…

Nov 14, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu