great lent

“Fasting is a struggle for each Christian. But this struggle will bring spiritual joy,” Metropolitan Nicolae says

In his meditation at the beginning of Great Lent, the Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan of the Americas highlighted that the fasting season is a struggle for each Christian. “Today’s world and our responsibilities in it don’t encourage our fasting. During every fast, the struggle comes in trying to find a certain balance between our ascetical efforts and fulfilling…

Mar 17, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel officiates Great Canon at patriarchal residence: Strict fast supports humble prayer

On Monday, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel read the first portion of the Great Canon of Saint Andrew of Crete at the Patriarchal Residence’s historic chapel. On this occasion, His Beatitude emphasized that a strict fast supports humble and fervent prayer. “This practice of fasting means an abrupt beginning of the fight against sin,” the Patriarch…

Mar 17, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: Forgiveness is the first condition to enter Lent

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel said that forgiving the mistakes of others is “the first condition to enter this inner ascent towards Resurrection, which is Great Lent.” The Gospel on the Sunday of Adam’s Expulsion from Paradise shows us that forgiving others’ mistakes is “essential” for us to receive forgiveness from God. “Through forgiveness, we humble…

Mar 17, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

How to fast from our own selfishness: Bishop Ioan Casian

The Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Canada explains, at the beginning of Great Lent, how we can drive away personal selfishness through the act of fasting. Bishop Ioan Casian says that the main remedy lies in love for God and other people. “Through the love of God and of the neighbour one fasts of his own…

Mar 16, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew: Great Lent is also a quarantine

‘Some of you may wonder why the Church, in the midst of the current pandemic, would add to the already existing health restrictions yet another “quarantine,” namely Great Lent.’ “Indeed, Great Lent is also a quarantine, a period that lasts forty days,” wrote Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew in his catechetical message at the beginning of Great…

Mar 16, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

We begin the Great Lent with hope and courage: #FearNot

#FearNot is the meditation-exhortation we propose to you for the Lenten season. Why? Because these are the first words that resounded after the Resurrection: the angel said these words to the myrrh-bearing women at the tomb, and the Saviour addressed them directly to His disciples. The encouragement Christ gave centuries ago is timelier than ever,…

Mar 15, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

The Week in Pictures: March 2 – 8, 2020

The Orthodox World seen through the lens of photographers on March 2-8, 2020. Follow us on Twitter: @BasilicaNews We would gladly include one of your photos depicting Orthodox life in our weekly selection. All you have to do is send the picture(s) you have taken to our email address [info @ basilica.ro] along with a…

Mar 12, 2020Ștefana Totorcea

40 Patriarch Daniel Quotes for the Lenten Season

Orthodox Christians across the globe are entering Lent, the season of preparation before Easter. The 40-day period sees many Christians partake in a season of moderation, meditation, fasting, prayer and repentance. The exercises in discipline are undertaken to allow believers time to reflect on the life, words and sacrifices of our Saviour Jesus Christ. For…

Mar 11, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

It’s not too early to start thinking about Great Lent!

This year, Great Lent begins on March 11. Because we are caught up in the agitation of everyday life, we often do not reflect on this Lenten season. Only a few days before Lent we realize that we have not the slightest plan to improve our spiritual life for Easter. In a society defined by…

Feb 12, 2019Aurelian Iftimiu

Photo Gallery: Patriarch Daniel celebrates Divine Liturgy on Sunday of Veneration of Holy Cross 2018

On the third Sunday of Great Lent, that of the Veneration of the Holy Cross, 11 March 2018, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel of Romania presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Bucharest, having as concelebrants his Auxiliary Bishops Varlaam of Ploiești and Ieronim of Sinaia. Photography courtesy of Robert Nicolae/Basilica.ro

Mar 13, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

‘Let us make Christ the centre of our lives,’ Patriarch Daniel urges on 3rd Sunday of Lent

The symbolism of the cross, the reason why the Sunday of the Veneration of the Cross is in the middle of the Lenten season, the conditions for being a good Christian are the main topics addressed by Patriarch Daniel in his homily on the third Sunday of Great Lent. In his sermon, the Romanian Patriarch…

Mar 12, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu