hesychasm

140 years since the birth of Father John the Stranger, a key figure in the Burning Bush hesychast movement

One hundred forty years have passed since the birth of Father John the Stranger, a priest who introduced the Jesus Prayer to the Bucharest-based Burning Bush hesychast movement, as he had learned it from the elders of Optina Monastery. “John the Stranger” is the name by which Father Ioann Kulygin, born on February 24, 1885,…

Feb 24, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Saint George of Cernica’s feast day: This celebration matters only if we leave determined to purify our souls

On Tuesday, His Grace Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop Varlaam of Ploiești celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Cernica Monastery in honour of Saint George, the monastery’s founder. The Patriarchal Auxiliary Bishop emphasized that the significance of this feast lies in the commitment to spiritual cleansing. “The celebration here is meaningful and fulfils its purpose only if we…

Dec 5, 2024Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel offers remedy for secularisation during Bucharest monastic synaxis

During the annual assembly of the superiors of all monasteries within the Archdiocese of Bucharest, which took place last Thursday at the Patriarchal Palace, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel shared his thoughts on prayer, hesychasm, and the antidote to secularisation. The most concise and intense prayer “The first duty of a monk or nun is to…

Nov 28, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Nativity Fast begins: We bring #peaceonearth with a Christmas online campaign

Basilica.ro remains a companion for its readers and friends during the 2022 Nativity Fast with a social media Christmas campaign titled #peaceonearth. The theme was inspired by the angels who sang the first Christmas carol in Bethlehem two thousand years ago: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”…

Nov 14, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

It’s not too early to start thinking about the Nativity Fast

At the end of the Solemn Year of Prayer and the Commemorative Year of the Hesychast Saints, you have another opportunity to pray more, calm and recharge your soul with the words of the Holy Scripture and the Holy Fathers of the Church: the Nativity Fast that begins in two weeks. The Nativity Fast “is…

Nov 3, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel on grace and hesychasm: St Gregory Palamas was a fruit of St Paul’s exhortation to pray unceasingly

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel spoke on Thursday about St. Demetrius the New as a hesychast saint and outlined his connection with the believers on both banks of the Danube River. His Beatitude also referred to St. Gregory Palamas, the Archbishop of Thessaloniki, and described him as a fruit of the work of grace among the…

Oct 28, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel’s address for welcoming the relics of St Gregory Palamas to Bucharest

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel addressed the pilgrims on Monday upon the reception of the relics of St. Gregory Palamas at the Patriarchal Cathedral. The relics were brought by a delegation of the Orthodox Church of Greece, led by Metropolitan Panteleimon of Veria, Naoussa and Kampania. Patriarch Daniel’s address for welcoming the relics of Saint Gregory…

Oct 25, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

The life of the Church Fathers promotes peace in souls and society: Patriarch Daniel’s message to Bose Int’l Conference

His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel sent a message to the participants of the 28th International Inter-Christian Conference on Orthodox Spirituality, held on September 6-9, 2022, at Bose Monastery in Italy. His Beatitude expressed his appreciation to the organizers, who have been promoting Orthodox spirituality and patristic theology for almost three decades. “In today’s world, dominated by…

Sep 23, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

“The models par excellence are the great hesychast saints,” says Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Oradea

“Let us humbly accept all trials and follow the example of the hesychast saints, making God’s will our will, and this is only possible through prayer,” said on Monday His Grace Bishop Sophronie of Oradea. The meeting was part of the diocesan events dedicated to the “Commemorate Year of the Hesychast Saints Symeon the New…

Sep 22, 2022Ștefana Totorcea

Patriarch Daniel explains why the Hesychasts were the most sought-after spiritual fathers and what is a prayerful reason

After investing thirteen priests from the Archdiocese of Bucharest as spiritual fathers, His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel explained why today people need more than ever prayerful priests. “Prayer that enables the mind to descend into the heart brings us peace and sets the praying reason in opposition to the rebellious reason,” Patriarch Daniel said during a…

Aug 18, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch Daniel: The Tabor Light, perceived by the Hesychasts, is sought by every Christian enlightened at baptism

The light that appeared on Mount Tabor at the Saviour’s Transfiguration “is the light that every Christian enlightened at baptism by water and the Holy Spirit seeks,” Patriarch Daniel said Saturday. Fruit of prayer and a symbol of hesychasm, this light “is given to those who pray much and live a Christian life of fasting,…

Aug 9, 2022Aurelian Iftimiu