great lent

Patriarch Daniel: Fasting is ‘a school of spiritual self-restraint and gradual liberation from selfish passions’

“Fasting is not a simple exercise in hygiene or aesthetics, but a school of spiritual self-restraint, a school of purification or gradual liberation from selfish passions in order to acquire the humble and merciful love found in Jesus Christ, Who became obedient unto death—even death on the Cross,” said Patriarch Daniel on Clean Monday. The…

Feb 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Petru says Great Lent re-places our being within the horizon of eternity

The season of Great Lent, which begins on Monday in the Orthodox Church, is a “time of inner examination, of clarifying the mind and of re-placing our being within the horizon of eternity,” Metropolitan Petru of Bessarabia and Exarch of the Territories said in a pastoral message. “Beyond the outward exercise of bodily abstinence, we…

Feb 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Archbishop Atanasie says forgiveness is the key to Great Lent

“Whoever understands the mystery of forgiveness understands that the Lord came to wipe away the sin of this world,” Archbishop Atanasie of Great Britain and Northern Ireland said on Sunday in his message at the beginning of Great Lent. Referring to the well-known liturgical hymn “Open to me the doors of repentance,” chanted during the…

Feb 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Bishop Ignatie urges digital detox as preparation for Holy Pascha

His Grace Bishop Ignatie of Huși on Sunday encouraged the faithful to undertake a fast from digital media as part of their preparation for the Resurrection of the Lord. Reflecting on the Gospel verse, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21), the hierarch stressed that the direction in which…

Feb 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarch says fasting is for loving God, not seeking praise

Romanian Patriarch Daniel said on Sunday that fasting should not be practised “to be seen or praised by others,” but in order “to love God more.” The Patriarch of Romania took part in the Divine Liturgy celebrated at the historic chapel of St George at the Patriarchal Residence, where he explained the Gospel reading for…

Feb 23, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Bishop of Canada says Great Lent is an invitation to light and joy

The beginning of Great Lent resounds in the Church’s hymnography as an unexpected invitation to light, Bishop Ioan Casian of Canada said in a message issued for the occasion. “Great Lent is a season which, although it calls for bodily and spiritual effort on our part, remains a time of light and of the joy…

Feb 20, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Romanian Patriarchate spokesperson urges fewer screens, deeper communion as Orthodox enter Great Lent

As Orthodox Christians prepare to enter Great Lent — the most profound and searching season of the Church year — the contrast between the stillness the Fast calls us to and the agitation of contemporary society becomes increasingly evident. In this context, Fr Adrian Agachi, Patriarchal Adviser and spokesperson of the Romanian Patriarchate, reflects on…

Feb 17, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox Christians begin Cheesefare Week ahead of Great Lent

Orthodox Christians enter Cheesefare Week on Monday, the final stage of preparation for Great Lent, a period during which the faithful abstain from meat but may consume dairy products, eggs and fish. The discipline of this week has a pedagogical purpose, helping believers ease into the ascetic effort of fasting through dietary restraint, intensified prayer…

Feb 16, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Humble prayer and fasting fill man with God’s sanctifying love

“Through humble prayer united with fasting, a person empties himself of ego and is filled with the humble, healing, and sanctifying love of God,” said His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel on Sunday at the historic “Saint George” Chapel of the Patriarchal Residence. In his sermon at the end of the Divine Liturgy, the Patriarch of Romania…

Apr 1, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Assistant Bishop Damaschin of Dorna explains: Why we commemorate the departed during Lenten Saturdays?

On Saturday, His Grace Bishop Damaschin of Dorna, Assistant Bishop to the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuți, celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the Lazaret Parish in Bacău and led a memorial service for the departed. In his sermon, Bishop Damaschin highlighted three key reasons why the Orthodox Church remembers the deceased on Saturdays during Lent.…

Mar 18, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Metropolitan Iosif joins patronal feast in Brussels: Fasting restores our place in Paradise

On Sunday, His Eminence Metropolitan Iosif of Western and Southern Europe celebrated the Divine Liturgy at the “Holy Apostles Peter and Paul and Saint Gertrude of Nivelles” Parish in Uccle, Brussels. “When we fast, we reclaim our place in Paradise, for Adam and Eve ate the fruits that God provided for them in Eden. When…

Mar 18, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu