coronavirus

The Gospel invites us to know truth as reality and experience, says Bucharest assistant bishop

The assistant bishop to the Archdiocese of Bucharest presided over the Divine Liturgy at a baldachin next to the patriarchal cathedral on the Sunday of the Samaritan Woman. Joined by the faithful standing in marked spots to maintain social distancing guidelines, the liturgy on Sunday morning was the first hierarchal Divine Liturgy open to the…

May 18, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox priest wearing protective gear goes to COVID-19 patient at Timișoara infectious diseases hospital

At the request of a coronavirus patient, the Orthodox priest, who serves as chaplain at Timisoara’s infectious diseases hospital, put on the protective medical equipment and visited without any hesitation the person right in the hospital ward. Father Dorian Oprisor received the approval of the hospital’s management. ‘At Victor Babes Hospital, we treat not only…

May 18, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Orthodox Church’s guidelines for priests and faithful during state of alert

Considering that, from May 15, 2020, the state of emergency and the applicability of the Military Ordinances that limited essential aspects of the public religious life of the faithful cease, following consultation with the Romanian Government, the Romanian Patriarchate sends the following instructions to the cult units of the Romanian Orthodox Church regarding the access…

May 15, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Basilica Photos: First public Divine Liturgy after conclusion of national state of emergency

On Friday, May 15, 2020, believers were allowed to participate for the first time at the outdoor Divine Liturgy after the conclusion of the national state of emergency. Friday morning, people wearing protection masks attended the Divine Liturgy and the common Holy Unction officiated at a baldachin next to the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest. During…

May 15, 2020Raluca-Emanuela Ene

The Week in Pictures: May 4 – 10 2020

While the state of emergency instated in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic was coming to end, it was announced that, once it expires, the faithful would be able to participate in open-air religious services, provided they meet certain requirements. Last week seemed to be a preparation for this joy. Please find below our selection…

May 15, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Patriarch Daniel tells nurses they are ‘hands of God’s merciful love’

Patriarch Daniel issued a message for International Nurses Day referring to nurses as ‘the hands of God’s merciful love.’ His Beatitude praised the courage and dedication of all female and male nurses from Romania and abroad, ‘who combine the faith in God with love for their neighbour’ in their activity. ‘International Nurses Day, celebrated this…

May 14, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Spiritual message in times of pandemic (VIDEO)

Patriarch Daniel has addressed the faithful in a video message stressing that “the state of pandemic calls us to transform suffering into hope and isolation into a desire for more communion among people.” Please read the full text of the message below. Spiritual message in times of pandemic: full text The pandemic caused by coronavirus…

May 12, 2020Iulian Dumitraşcu

We hope that we will meet again shortly at Church services, Patriarch Daniel says

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel Sunday expressed his hope that the faithful will be able to attend the divine services shortly. Especially during this period, ‘when many people suffer spiritually from anxiety and fear,’ church services are ‘a healing from solitude and restlessness.’ ‘In this period, we also suffer because our beloved faithful cannot physically, directly…

May 11, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

World Red Cross Day

World Red Cross day is observed on May 8 to celebrate the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The day is observed on May 8 on the birth anniversary of Henry Dunant, who was the founder of the International Committee of the Red Cross. On this day, people pay tributes to…

May 8, 2020Sorin Ioniţe

Normalization of social life also means to attend church services, considering protective measures – Patriarchate’s Spokesperson

The Romanian Patriarchate’s Spokesperson Vasile Banescu said that the return to a normal social life also implies to allow people ‘to exercise their fundamental right to public religious life, that is, inside the places of worship.’ ‘The Romanian Orthodox Church, like the other religious denominations in Romania, will take natural and rigorously argued steps to…

May 6, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel expresses gratitude to Christian women for being ‘models of faith and courage in times of trial’

In his annual message occasioned by the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel expressed his gratitude to Christian women for being ‘models of faith and courage in times of trial.’ The message that will be read throughout the Romanian Patriarchate this Sunday reminds of the presence of the myrrh-bearing women at Christ’s tomb…

Apr 30, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu