Covid–19

Archbishop of Athens: Let’s turn our homes into churches

On the day of the Third Salutations to the Theotokos, Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens asked the faithful to turn every house into a church. The Archbishop, stating that the right decisions have been made by the Hierarchy and the State, urged again the faithful to abide by the self-protection measures to prevent the spread of…

Mar 23, 2020Gheorghe Anghel

New measures regarding church services and social activities

Based on the Military Ordinance no. 1 of March 17, 2020, and the Military Ordinance 2 of March 21, 2020, which established successive measures to limit the freedom of movement and assembly of citizens, which also affects the public religious life of the believers, following the consultation with the Ministry of Internal Affairs on March…

Mar 23, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate calls for faith, temperance, and solidarity in face of coronavirus

Given Romania’s state of emergency due to the new coronavirus epidemic, the Romanian Patriarchate calls for responsibility, temperance and solidarity. The Romanian Patriarchate urges all priests of the Romanian Orthodox Church to implement with realism, lucidity and confidence the measures imposed by the state authorities, which temporarily affect the Church’s liturgical life. These regulations aim…

Mar 20, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Bishop of Canada calls social distancing a difficult ascetic feat, urges reordering of priorities

In a pastoral message linked to the coronavirus pandemic, Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada referred to the social distance (recommended as a preventive measure against infection) as to an ascetic effort on the #lentenpath. The Romanian hierarch advised the believers to observe the norms announced by the state authorities and called for a change of…

Mar 19, 2020Gheorghe Anghel

Alba Archbishop Irineu sends encouraging message: Our ancestors surpassed many hardships with Christian dignity

Archbishop Irineu of Alba Iulia has sent a message of encouragement context of containment for coronavirus disease (COVID-19), which ‘is affecting the lives of some and limits the freedom of movement and action of others.’ The Archbishop of the historic city of Alba Iulia referred to the ancestors of the Romanian people who surpassed many…

Mar 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Coronavirus: Râmnic Archdiocese Seminary offers 200 rooms for quarantine

The Archdiocese of Râmnic has announced that it has made the dormitory of its Theological Orthodox Seminary available to the country’s health authorities to take in patients, serve as a quarantine zone or even provide accommodation to health professionals. A total of 200 rooms will be available for quarantine. “In the Archdiocese of Râmnic, as…

Mar 19, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Holy Synod Chancellery publishes updated guidelines for parishes and monasteries

The Chancellery of the Holy Synod Wednesday published a set of updated guidelines for all parishes and monasteries within the Romanian Patriarchate in compliance with the new measures announced by the Romanian Minister of Internal Affairs to prevent infection with coronavirus. All parishes and monasteries have to respect the measures ordered by the public authorities…

Mar 18, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Covid-19 | Pastoral Message of His Eminence Archbishop and Metropolitan Nicolae

Reverend Fathers, Esteemed members of the Parish Councils, Beloved Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, Both in the United States and in more and more nations throughout the world the emergence of the Coronavirus has created a situation that is altering our normal way of life. Everyone is being tested, even those of us who…

Mar 17, 2020Gheorghe Anghel

Guidelines for parishes and monasteries to comply with preventive measures against the new coronavirus (Covid-19)

The Chancellery of the Holy Synod issued a document with protective measures against the new coronavirus (Covid-19) for all parishes and monasteries within the Romanian Patriarchate: This isolation and quarantine do not have to be considered as estrangement, but an opportunity to enhance communion and a humble love of God and a merciful love of…

Mar 16, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Coronavirus: Ecumenical Patriarchate urges prudence, patience, and the avoidance of panic

The Holy Synod of the Ecumenical Patriarchate on Wednesday urged prudence, patience and the avoidance of panic as the new coronavirus continues to spread and the number of confirmed cases rises throughout the world. In a communique signed by the Secretariat of the Holy Synod, the Patriarchate of Constantinople thanked all healthcare professionals and scientists…

Mar 12, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu

Bethlehem churches to close after suspected coronavirus cases: official

Several churches in Bethlehem including the Church of the Nativity have been temporarily closed for 14 days according to an order from the Palestinian Ministry of Health after some suspected cases at a Bethlehem hotel, RFI reports. Imad Shahadeh, head of the local health directorate, told AFP that a group of Greek tourists had visited…

Mar 9, 2020Aurelian Iftimiu