Covid–19

US Assembly of Bishops launches Covid-19 Resource Centre for Orthodox Christians

The Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of the USA announces a resource center for clergy and faithful during the Covid-19 pandemic.  The Resource Center includes updated news from the various jurisdictions as well as practical guidelines and resources for families, ministry leaders, parish leadership, and everyone. The Center can be accessed here and will be updated…

Mar 31, 2020Iulian Dumitraşcu

Romanian Patriarch donates 2000+ Euro for acquisition of coronavirus protective equipment

Patriarch Daniel on Monday gave over 2,000 Euro from his salary to buy protection equipment for the volunteers involved in the Patriarchate’s social campaign ‘Help with joy’ geared to helping isolated patients all over Romania. The money will provide volunteers with the necessary equipment to support vulnerable people in their area. An online platform was…

Mar 31, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Wonderworking Icon of Theotokos carried through the streets of Craiova to ward off coronavirus

After the Divine Liturgy on the Feast of Annunciation, Metropolitan Irineu of Oltenia led a procession through the streets of Craiova carrying a wonderworking icon of the Mother of God known as Madonna Dudu and the relics of Saint Nephon of Constantinople to help fight the coronavirus outbreak. ‘In these difficult moments of trial, our…

Mar 31, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Ignatie believes sharing fake news on coronavirus creates panic and exploits people’s fears

His Grace Bishop Ignatie thinks that fake news is a ‘true plague’ in times of crisis because by sharing false information, people’s fears are exploited. Fake news ‘do nothing but create panic. (…) We become even more panicked, more stressed and anxious about what is being conveyed.’ The Bishop of Husi warned that ‘if we…

Mar 31, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel urges believers to intensify fasting efforts: Turn physical hunger and thirst into hunger and thirst for God

In words following the proclamation of the Gospel reading on Sunday, Patriarch Daniel highlighted the need to intensify the fasting efforts during Lent, noting that this law established in paradise reflects a hunger and thirst for God. ‘To intensify our fasting efforts means to turn our physical hunger and thirst into hunger and thirst for…

Mar 29, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Târgoviște Archdiocese donates vital sign measuring device to county hospital

The Orthodox Archdiocese of Târgoviște Thursday announced that it has purchased a vital sign measuring device that will be donated to the County Emergency Hospital. Fukuda Denshi’s latest patient monitor DS-8100N cost about 4,343 Euros and will serve the coronavirus patients in Targoviste. The archdiocese’s statement notes that the action “contributes to the national and…

Mar 27, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Matei Balș” thanks Romanian Patriarchate for its material and spiritual support

Romania’s National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Prof. Dr Matei Balș” thanked all those who have shown their willingness to support the institute with donations in money, food, sanitary materials and protective equipment amid Covid-19 outbreak. ‘Thanks to the Romanian Patriarchate for the material and spiritual support,’ the Matei Balș Institute of Infectious Diseases in Bucharest…

Mar 27, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Nine Romanian monasteries are sewing bed linen sets for hospitals amid Covid-19 outbreak

In the new medical crisis which has reached Romania, nine monasteries from the Archdiocese of Iaşi, in the northeastern part of the country, offered to help hospitals. They have started making bed linen sets to be donated to local hospitals which are treating or prepare to treat Covid-19 patients. In addition to the cotton linen…

Mar 26, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

Church of Holy Sepulchre closed for one week. Orthodox Church to continue all services

Israeli authorities have decided to close the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for a week as a precaution against the coronavirus pandemic. The closure does not affect the divine services, which will be performed according to the normal schedule, in the absence of the faithful. The church was closed shortly after 5:00 PM yesterday, as…

Mar 26, 2020Gheorghe Anghel

Patriarch Daniel urges believers to look after mental health amid coronavirus outbreak. Mother of God is of great help

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel Wednesday celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the St George chapel of his patriarchal residence in Bucharest to mark the feast of the Annunciation. During his sermon, the Patriarch referred to the Akathist Hymn to the Most Holy Theotokos and the special prayer placed at the end of the Akathist Hymn. “This…

Mar 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian faithful to jointly pray from their homes daily at noon

The Chancellery of the Holy Synod has announced a new program of prayer in the context of the coronavirus pandemic, beginning March 25, on the feast of the Annunciation, calling upon all faithful to join one another in common prayer daily at noon, each from his own home, while church and monastery bells ring out…

Mar 25, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu