Holy Icons

Sunday of Orthodoxy Encyclical 2026: Church affirms the unique and eternal value of every person

On the Sunday of Orthodoxy—the first Sunday of Great Lent—the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church released its annual pastoral encyclical, signed by His Beatitude Patriarch Daniel and all members of the Synod. The letter, traditionally read in every parish during the Divine Liturgy, centres on the theme: “Man is the living icon of…

Feb 27, 2026Aurelian Iftimiu

The world changes through the inner revolution of each of us, Oradea Bishop says

On the Sunday of Orthodoxy, Bishop Sofronie of Oradea emphasized the stark contrast between the flood of negative images in contemporary society and the role of holy icons as windows to another reality—the Kingdom of God. Icons as a Remedy for a Troubled Society “How many distressing images—of turmoil, anarchy, malice, and violence—are spread across…

Mar 13, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Orthodox hierarchs unite for pan-Orthodox Vespers in Chicago

On the eve of the first Sunday of Lent, the Greek Orthodox Church of the Dormition of the Theotokos in Chicago became a beacon of living faith and Orthodox unity. Faithful from across the metropolitan area, along with their clergy and hierarchs, gathered to venerate the holy icons and participate in a Pan-Orthodox Vespers service…

Mar 13, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Pastoral Letter of the Holy Synod for the Sunday of Orthodoxy 2025

In its traditional pastoral letter for the Sunday of Orthodoxy, the Holy Synod of the Romanian Orthodox Church emphasizes the pedagogical role of holy icons, which serve as guides leading to Christ, the Source of all holiness. Within the context of the Centennial of the Romanian Patriarchate, the Synod states: “For us, Romanians, the Sunday…

Mar 7, 2025Aurelian Iftimiu

Pan-Orthodox Vespers in Chicago. Saints look at us from the icons and call us to have a pure vision, Metropolitan Nicolae says

Although organized at the last minute by the Chicago Orthodox Clergy Association, the Vespers service on the Sunday of Orthodoxy was a moment of Orthodox communion that seemed lost in the last year due to coronavirus restrictions, the Romanian Orthodox Metropolis of the Americas reports. Clergy and believers from the Chicago area met at St.…

Mar 23, 2021Sorin Ioniţe

Patriarch Daniel: The icon is a call to pray with the Saints and foresight of the Kingdom of Heaven

Patriarch Daniel presided over the Divine Liturgy at the Patriarchal Cathedral on the Sunday of Orthodoxy. In his sermon, His Beatitude highlighted the three roles of an icon: to profess the truth of the Incarnation of the Son of God; to call Christians to prayer discreetly but insistently, and to offer a “prophetic, anticipated view,…

Mar 23, 2021Aurelian Iftimiu

Photo Gallery | Holy Icons carried in procession on Sunday of Orthodoxy at Icoanei Church, Bucharest

His Grace Bishop Timotei of Prahova celebrated the Divine Liturgy at Icoanei Church in Bucharest on the Sunday of Orthodoxy, March 17, 2019. Following the Divine Liturgy, clergy, local officials and thousands of believers took to the streets carrying holy icons in a procession to Icoanei Park. Photo courtesy of Basilica.ro / Raluca Ene

Mar 18, 2019Raluca-Emanuela Ene

Greek President receives highest decoration of Greek Orthodox Church

At the end of the Divine Liturgy celebrated on the Sunday of Orthodoxy by His Beatitude Archbishop Hieronymos at the Metropolitan Cathedral in Athens, the President of the Republic of Greece, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, was awarded the highest decoration of the Greek Orthodox Church, the Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Paul the Apostle. Athens…

Mar 1, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

In pictures: Ecumenical Patriarchate celebrates 1175th Sunday of Orthodoxy

His Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew Sunday presided over the Divine Liturgy celebrated at the St George Patriarchal Cathedral at the Phanar in Constantinople, the city where Orthodox hierarchs gathered in a Holy Synod and restored holy icons for the use in services and private devotional life of Christians after a century-long ecclesiastical differences. Bishop Adrian…

Feb 27, 2018Aurelian Iftimiu

Hierarchs, faithful prayerfully celebrate St Gregory the Decapolite at Bistrița Monastery

On Monday, hundreds of believers from all across Romania attended the celebrations of Saint Gregory the Decapolite at Bistrița Monastery, where his holy relics are kept. On this occasion, eleven Romanian hierarchs concelebrated at the Divine Liturgy, the diocesan website reports. This year we celebrate the 520th anniversary of the placing of the holy relics…

Nov 21, 2017Aurelian Iftimiu

Patriarch urges Romanians abroad to gratefully honour the confessors of Orthodox faith

On the Sunday of Romanian migrants, which will be celebrated this year on August 20, His Beatitude Daniel, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, addresses the Romanian clergy and faithful living abroad, urging them to honour with gratitude the memory of all those who have professed Orthodox faith during difficult times. Please find below the…

Aug 17, 2017Aurelian Iftimiu