coronavirus epidemic

The Week in Pictures: August 3 – 9, 2020

A week full of events, including the feast of the Transfiguration and the commemoration of three Romanian saints. We invite you to watch our selection of photos from August 3 to 9, 2020. Last week’s most-liked picture on Instagram:   View this post on Instagram   *RO: În data de 6 august 2020, Preafericitul Părinte…

Aug 11, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Paltin-Petru Voda Monastery receives fragment of St Nikephoros the Leper’s relics

Paltin-Petru Voda Monastery has received a fragment of the holy relics of Saint Nikephoros the Leper, a powerful intercessor for COVID-19 and every disease. The holy relics were donated by Father Simon from the Hermitage of St. Panteleimon from Greece, at the request of the abbess of Paltin Monastery, stavrophore Justina Bujor. Father Simon was…

Aug 4, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod meets under special conditions: First ever working session held at Patriarchate’s Palace

The Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church has met for the first time at the Patriarchate’s Palace under special conditions imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. The working session started Tuesday morning at Patriarch Teoctist Aula Magna, a room that has hosted only solemn sessions of the Holy Synod until now. Usually, the Holy Synod…

Jul 21, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Bishop Timotei attends memorial ceremony for Covid-19 victims at Madrid Royal Palace

Invited by King Felipe VI, His Grace Bishop Timotei of the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Spain and Portugal attended a ceremony at Madrid’s Royal Palace in memory of the almost 30,000 people who have died from the coronavirus pandemic in the country on Thursday. Tributes were paid to the victims of COVID-19, as well as…

Jul 17, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Serafim of Germany says today’s diseases are consequences of spiritual disease

His Eminence Serafim, Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of Germany, visited last weekend the Lord’s Resurrection Parish in Mannheim. He listened to people’s confessions, baptized three children, celebrated the Divine Liturgy, and ordained a deacon to the priesthood. He spoke to the faithful about prayer, honest confession of sins and forgiveness, and also about the “evil spirits who…

Jul 17, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Bishop Varlaam: The Basilica Media Centre has proved its social and spiritual utility

The Basilica Press Centre of the Romanian Patriarchate is placed under the protection of the Holy Trinity. At the Divine Liturgy celebrated on Monday in the courtyard of the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, special petitions were offered for the media centre and its staff. His Grace the Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești, who presided…

Jun 9, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

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

In pictures: Believers meeting for first Sunday Divine Liturgy after national state of emergency

His Grace Bishop Timotei of Prahova presided over the Divine Liturgy at the baldachin next to the Patriarchal Cathedral on Sunday, May 17, 2020. This was the first Sunday Divine Liturgy people were allowed to attend after the end of the national state of emergency instated due to the coronavirus crisis. Photography courtesy of Basilica.ro…

May 18, 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

Romanian Patriarchate offers 470,000-Euros worth of aid between April 20 and 27, 2020

The Romanian Patriarchate has announced that the amount of aid offered by the Church to the fight against the coronavirus pandemic exceeded 470,000 Euros (2,278,396 Lei) in the week of April 20-27. That brings the total aid offered by dioceses since the beginning of the health crisis to 3,080,015 Euros (14,876,474 Lei). The full text…

Apr 29, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Patriarch Daniel thanks Pope Francis for medical equipment donated to Suceava Hospital

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel thanked Pope Francis in a letter sent on April 23 for the medical equipment donated to the St John the New Hospital in Suceava. The donation, consisting of five lung ventilators, 200 overalls, 900 FFP2 masks, and 5,000 sanitary masks, was offered on the feast day of Saint George the Trophy-bearer,…

Apr 27, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu